Renewed zest, sharpened critical sense – and a big pat on the back
Renewed zest and energy to devote himself to his studies, a sharpened insight into research quality and a big pat on the back for his efforts as a student researcher are among the things that medical student Frederik Rønne Pachler got out of his research year.
"Not bad for a student researcher to be selected in front of so many established researchers and to present an abstract that describes original research within a scientific field which has recognised international specialists," says Professor Søren Laurberg from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital.
The student researcher in question is 27-year-old Frederik Rønne Pachler. His abstract is based on the research he carried out as a research year student at Professor Laurberg’s gastrointestinal surgical department at Aarhus University Hospital from August 2013 to August 2014.
The abstract – a summary of a scientific text – has been submitted to a European conference for colon and rectal surgery. Frederik Rønne Pachler will take part in the conference in Dublin at the end of September together with Søren Laurberg and others.
"During the conference we’ll find out whether he wins, but I think that under all circumstances, this is a very good achievement for a student researcher," says Søren Laurberg.
Needed a break from studying
Frederik Rønne Pachler had several reasons for taking a research year after receiving his Bachelor's degree diploma following six semesters as a medical student at AU:
"Most of all, it was a case of taking a break from studying after the first three years. I was tired of constantly having to think about a syllabus and at that time I had difficulty seeing how I would get through the final three years."
From the beginning of his degree programme, Frederik Rønne Pachler worked at a gastrointestinal surgical department at Hvidovre Hospital. A professor at the department put him in touch with Søren Laurberg, who in turn invited him to a meeting at his office. He also gave Frederik Rønne Pachler an idea for a research project.
"I wanted to get involved in something clinical (working in a hospital department, ed.), even though it’s possible to spend your research year at the university, because I would like to do research in a field that is clinically applicable."
In-depth study
– and sharpened critical sense
Frederik Rønne Pachler sees the opportunity for in-depth research as one of the major advantages of a research year.
"But I have also become critical in a much different way than previously in relation to the research I am presented for in scientific articles and the like. I have also sharpened my understanding of how important it is to be able to see through the research I will be exposed to daily working in medicine."
Really looking forward to studying again
Frederik Rønne Pachler has also benefited from his research year on a personal level.
"I was actually really looking forward to studying again after my research year, which also confirmed my decision to make gastrointestinal surgery my specialist area. I like to use my hands and as a surgeon you can help other people while at the same time using your own skill. What I want most of all is to be a clinician, but I also want to continue with research, because I believe that we make a difference with the knowledge we produce."
FACTS
Frederik Rønne Pachler’s research project
Frederik Rønne Pachler is the first person to examine both women’s and men’s fertility following an operation for inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis).
Men who have undergone surgery have more children than Danish men on average, which is completely new knowledge.
Frederik Rønne Pachler cannot say anything about the reason for this, since this aspect was not part of his study.
Women who have undergone surgery have far fewer children than Danish women on average, which is a confirmation of previous studies.
According to Professor Søren Laurberg, this is most likely due to the fact that one result of the operation is a fusion in the abdominal cavity, which makes it more difficult for women to have children.
Frederik Rønne Pachler’s research project has included a total of 42,000 patients with the chronic inflammatory bowel disease ulcerative colitis – or another chronic inflammation of the intestines called Crohn's disease – during the period from 1980 to 2010 (Statistics Denmark).
1,700 of these patients have undergone surgery for ulcerative colitis, and Frederik Rønne Pachler has written the abstract that has been selected for presentation at the conference in Dublin based on a partial study of this group of patients.
Translated by Peter Lambourne