‘My Time at Heidelberg University Has Been a Great Influence in My Life’
Dr med. Dimitrios Paraskevopoulos, neural surgeon at St. Bartholomew's and The Royal London Hospital, London/UK
From October 2003 to March 2007 master's degree programme ‘Information Management in Medicine’ at Heidelberg University
When, how long and in what capacity did you stay at Heidelberg University?
I was in Heidelberg from October 2003 to March 2007. I was enrolled in the master's degree programme ‘Information Management in Medicine’; at the same time, I did experimental research for my doctoral degree at the Department of Neurosurgery of Heidelberg University Hospital under Prof. Dr Christian Rainer Wirtz. The subject of my doctoral thesis was ‘Application accuracy of commercial neuronavigation systems: experimental assessment of various registration methods and clinically relevant influencing factors’. After a short break for military service I returned to Heidelberg as a ‘Marie Curie Fellow’ and participated in an interdisciplinary research project on ‘augmented reality in surgical microscopes and endoscopes’. I also worked as a resident physician at the Department of Neurosurgery.
Why did you decide to come to Heidelberg University?
Heidelberg is a world-famous university whose reputation of excellence extends far beyond Germany's borders. After earning my medical degree and working a few years as a doctor, I decided to do part of my advanced training abroad. I wanted to receive an excellent education as well as play an active part in research and teaching. I have always been fascinated by the use of new technologies in neurosurgery. At the time I was very interested in neuronavigation and intraoperative imaging technology. The Heidelberg Department of Neurosurgery was a pioneer in this field and had a well-established interdisciplinary team. You could tell even then that this was an extraordinarily exciting field of research that was just beginning to expand. In addition, Heidelberg was the only place that also offered a master's degree in medical informatics. And finally, the Department of Neurosurgery offered an outstanding environment for my training.
What were your experiences in Heidelberg?
I have never forgotten my time in Heidelberg. I was able to take part in interdisciplinary research and work in a very dynamic neurosurgical department. I did research, studied, worked, learned, lived. I took my first steps in neurosurgery in the Centre for ENT, Head and Neck Surgery. I am still very grateful to my doctoral advisor and mentor Prof. Wirtz, the centre's director Prof. Dr Andreas Unterberg and all my other colleagues. Working together with medical informaticians from Heidelberg and engineers from Karlsruhe was a fascinating and fun experience. I met some very interesting people and made a few good friends with whom I still keep in touch. Heidelberg is a lovely city, with a rich history, extraordinary beauty, a stimulating academic environment and a world-class university. I still remember riding my bike every day to the Centre for ENT, Head and Neck Surgery, going for a drink in Untere Straße, evenings or Sundays in the Old Town and playing football with my colleagues from neurosurgery.
How did your career continue after your time in Heidelberg?
After I left Heidelberg in 2007 for family reasons, I finished my neurosurgical residency and spent the last year of this period as a Fellow of Pediatric Neurosurgery at Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Dana Childrens' Hospital. I went on to accept a fellowship in skullbase surgery and neuro-oncology in the Department of Neurosurgery of the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. Since January 2013 I have been working as a Consultant Neurosurgeon at St. Bartholomew's and the Royal London Hospital in London.
Would you recommend a research stay in Heidelberg University to colleagues in your professional network?
I would absolutely recommend doing research in Heidelberg. My time at Heidelberg University has been a great influence in my life. Today, seven years on, I still look back with great fondness on the years I spent there. Heidelberg University offers excellent research opportunities and has the potential to become one of the world's leading universities. I am honoured to be a member of Heidelberg Alumni International (HAI) and will take every opportunity to act as an ambassador for the university and the alumni network.
How do you rate the opportunities offered by Heidelberg Alumni International and the Research-Alumni Network?
I think Heidelberg Alumni International is a great idea. HAI and the Research-Alumni Network can increase the university's international impact and help both students and alumni in their careers. Here in the UK, we have been very busy starting a new initiative: With the Heidelberg Alumni UK (HAUK) group, we want to create a flexible and efficient network in a country that has a long tradition in alumni clubs. We have already organised a few very interesting meetings and a major event at Heidelberg's partner university of Cambridge, and we have set up a website. We live in the age of social, professional and scientific networks – the Research-Alumni Network can promote the exchange of knowledge and help students find mentors who will support them in building their career.
