Neurosurgery Residency in Finland

[Fergy09]

Hi everyone, I'm a medical student finishing my 5th year. I've long decided that I want to be a neurosurgeon, but what I still haven't figured out is where to do my residency. My first choice is Finland (preferably Helsinki). Unfortunately I couldn't find anything specific about this topic neither on this forum, nor on google itself. I found some general information, but not even close to what I need to know.
I'm very uninformed about the higher education system in Finland. All I know is that it's one of the BEST in the world, they have English programs, general living level is very high and plus my cousin is living there (he's not in medical field so don't tell me to ask him 🙂
If anyone has any ifnormation about this please, pleeease let me know about it. As I've mentioned I'm quite uninformed. Main question's that I'm interested in are: What are the requirements? How can I apply? What are the costs? and ect...

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[Doctor Bob]

Unfortunately I couldn't find anything specific about this topic neither on this forum, nor on google itself.

Goodness... do a google search for "finland neurosurgery residency". The top 3 hits are unrelated but the 4th/5th/6th/7th are all websites of Finnish hospitals with training programs.

If the information you're looking for isn't on their website then... call them.

Beyond that we're not going to be any more useful than a google search. There aren't a tremendous number of Finnish neurosurgery residents on this site.

 

[PatsyStone]

Hi everyone, I'm a medical student finishing my 5th year. I've long decided that I want to be a neurosurgeon, but what I still haven't figured out is where to do my residency. My first choice is Finland (preferably Helsinki). Unfortunately I couldn't find anything specific about this topic neither on this forum, nor on google itself. I found some general information, but not even close to what I need to know.
I'm very uninformed about the higher education system in Finland. All I know is that it's one of the BEST in the world, they have English programs, general living level is very high and plus my cousin is living there (he's not in medical field so don't tell me to ask him 🙂
If anyone has any ifnormation about this please, pleeease let me know about it. As I've mentioned I'm quite uninformed. Main question's that I'm interested in are: What are the requirements? How can I apply? What are the costs? and ect...

Graduate school programs are in English, but you'll need to speak Finnish (and technically also Swedish) if you're going to be a physician with direct patient contact. I'm not sure where you're from, but unless you're a native Estonian speaker, there is NO way you'll be able to learn Finnish. If you're an EU citizen, say from Romania/Bulgaria, and you're trying to land a residency in Western Europe, I'd focus on Germany/Austria/Belgium/Netherlands/Denmark/Sweden. Why? Finnish is just too difficult to learn, Helsinki is depressing (especially in Winter), and if you're competing against Finnish medical students, they're probably going to want to take spots in Helsinki, leaving behind spots in Oulo, Turku, etc

 

[Chyby]

France is an outstanding country for neurosurgery in Europe

 

[Fergy09]

Thank all of you for your replies it is really helping. I'm still figuring out my future plans and I'm soaking up all the info you are giving me, so thank you again I need all the information I can get about this topic.

 

[Fergy09]

I'd focus on Germany/Austria/Belgium/Netherlands/Denmark/Sweden.

I know about German programs, I'm just trying to avoid studying German language at this point, that's why I'm searching for English Languaged programs. How about Sweden? I know that in Germany and in Finland the education is free, but I have no info about Sweden. Do they have English Residency programs which are not catastrophically expensive?

 

[Winged Scapula]

I know about German programs, I'm just trying to avoid studying German language at this point, that's why I'm searching for English Languaged programs. How about Sweden? I know that in Germany and in Finland the education is free, but I have no info about Sweden. Do they have English Residency programs which are not catastrophically expensive?

First, if you gave us more information about your citizenship and country where you're currently studying, we could be of more help.

Secondly, I think you misunderstood the intent of her post. You must be able to communicate with patients in their native language. While there are medical schools with English instruction throughout Europe, all of them require at least some Proficiency with the native language to interact with patients. I'm not sure how you would expect to be trained otherwise.

Frankly I I have enough problems with the few Spanish only speaking patients in my office. I cannot imagine training in a country where I do not speak the mother tongue.

 

[Fergy09]

I'm form Republic of Georgia and I'm studying in a Tbilisi State Medical University. I do understand what you are saying and I absolutely agree. Of course if you can't communicate with a patient you can't really be a doctor. But on the other hand what is the purpose of English programs then? I mean if I have to learn the native language in order to study in certain country and it's impossible to do so without actually speaking the native language, why would the universities have English languaged programs at all? Doesn't that come out be a paradox?

For example if I knew Finish language I would apply for Finish languaged program directly, but since I don't know it, I'm applying for the program in language that I know, but here you are (I mean the university) telling me that I have to know Finish in order to study anyways. Well I wouldn't be applying for English program, if I knew Finish language right?

Do you understand what I'm saying? I don't mean to argue with you or anything, I'm just looking for the answers.

P.S
Regarding the ability to speak native language in order to have communication with patients, I was planning to study Finish during the period I would be there. Neurosurgery Residency last for 6 years, so I didn't think it would be such an issue.

 

[Chyby]

If you plan to learn Finish when you get there, don't forget that you will probably have doctor-patient interaction from the beginning of your residency.
Remember that a residency in neurosurgery is not like a PhD done in a lab on rats. You have to talk to your patients, examine them, ask questions. And they ask you tons of questions too.

If you have to write medical charts will you do it in English or in Finish?

UK is a country where you will learn about neurosurgery in English and use it with patients too.

 

[animando]

I think there is a huge difference between following an English program during med school and going abroad for residency knowing only knowing English (and not the local language). You keep using the word "studying". You don't study during residency, you primarily work. An university/med school may have an English program to accommodate with international students. A hospital won't offer such a program for residency. If you are really motivated to go there, I'd suggest you to first see how you could learn basic Finish (B2/C1) within a few months, maybe also do a rotation there first.

 

[s5260205]

As mentioned previously, there is no point asking a question where no one knows the answer to here on a forum frequented by predominantly American users. You should just directly contact the programs you are interested in for information.

 

[AppleMelba]

I quickly looked at the requirements for specializing as a doctor in Finland. First you need to apply for permission to work as a doctor in Finland. If you studied in an EU- or ETA-country your degree should automatically be accepted when you apply for it. Valvira which is the authority who will grant permission to be a doctor will not then ask for proof of language skills but any potential employer needs proof that you can manage the job. Since from what I understood you do not fall into this group, you would first have to provide a certificate of passing certain language tests before you can apply for the permission to work as a doctor. You would also need some practical training in a Finnish hospital to familiarize yourself with the healthcare system. Then there is also a written three part test which would include clinical and management skills.

After this if you wanted to specialize in the University of Helsinki, you would first need to find a job that would be accepted as service for the specialty you are interested in. After you would have been accepted for a job, you would then have to apply for the right to complete the specialist training. Even if you were from an EU- or ETA-country at this point you would still need to provide proof of language skills. To specialize in pretty much anything you would need 9 months of service in a community health centre. This would most likely be your first job and the one that would let you apply for the right to complte the specialist training. After that you would do 1 year and 3 months of basic training which would include 3 months of neurology, 6 months of other surgical specialties of your choise and 6 months of neurosurgery. Then you would do the specialization path which would be 4 years of neurosurgery. After this and of course passing some tests you would then be allowed to act as neurosurgeon in Finland.