Doctors at the health professions fair: Become a player instead of a follower!

On February 24, 2024, the Lernwerk in the Kubaai area in Bocholt will open its doors from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for the first health professions fair, a joint initiative of the city of Bocholt and the BOHRIS medical network. The event not only provides insights into more than 50 training and study opportunities in the healthcare industry, but also offers the opportunity to experience personal stories and visions. Exciting keynote speeches, the opportunity to check your application portfolio, delicacies from the food truck and numerous networking opportunities are offered.

This event is not only intended to appeal to students who are on their educational path, but is also aimed at career changers, returnees and people in the orientation phase – and last but not least at parents who accompany their children on their professional path.

Before the LernWerk welcomes its visitors, the board members of the BOHRIS medical network give Dr. Jens Winkelmann (managing director, right) and Dr. Christian Goebel (1st chairman and medical director, left) gave an insight into their visions and beliefs regarding the trade fair in an interview.

The fair presents over 50 training and study opportunities. What trends do you currently see in medical education and training?

“Specialization and task expansion, use of telematics infrastructure (TI) and artificial intelligence (AI), more independent and responsible work,” explains Dr. Jens Winkelmann.

Networking plays an important role at the trade fair. How can aspiring doctors and medical assistants benefit from this?

Dr. Winkelmann and Dr. Goebel are both of the opinion that short distances and flat hierarchies enable direct contact with experienced specialists. The personal exchange on site not only enables you to expand your own wealth of experience, but also allows for a quick exchange of knowledge. The use of modern telematics infrastructure (TI) also offers the possibility of remaining connected via digital channels. This direct interaction promotes the development of a strong team spirit, especially in a multi-professional healthcare industry.

The healthcare trade fair emphasizes multi-professional collaboration in the healthcare sector. How do you personally see the importance of this interdisciplinary collaboration in relation to effective patient care?

The tasks in the healthcare system are becoming increasingly complex, and the variety of therapy options requires a close-knit network of different specialists. Dr. Winkelmann emphasizes that without this interdisciplinary collaboration, the challenges in patient care would be difficult to overcome. Dr. Goebel adds that multi-professional collaboration is indispensable, especially against the background of changing requirements and a broader range of therapy options. Only through well-coordinated collaboration between different professional groups can optimal and comprehensive care for patients be guaranteed.

To what extent does the health professions fair help to increase public awareness of the diversity and importance of health professions?

“The importance of health professions should now be more than well known in the public consciousness. At the latest when you find yourself in front of a closed doctor’s office, have to wait 2 months for a physiotherapy appointment or the medication you are used to is not available again.” explains Dr. Jens Winkelmann. “In times of scarce resources, multi-professional care is becoming increasingly important – anyone who takes part in this development, for example as an MFA, is an important building block for strengthening the healthcare system and its future.” emphasizes Dr. 2

Christian Goebel. Dr. Goebel adds that the fair helps to expand existing ideas about health professions.

What role does the health professions fair play in attracting qualified young talent to the BOHRIS medical network?

“Even though BOHRIS is primarily a network of doctors, BOHRIS is committed to continuously improving the quality of care and the care itself. It is not possible without other healthcare professions to meet the common requirements for good patient care. In-depth training and the transfer of knowledge and experience are essential here. “Medicine and nursing is teamwork,” emphasizes Dr. Jens Winkelmann.

The health professions fair is not just about facts, but also about inspiration. Which story from your professional life impressed you most personally and could motivate young people to get involved in healthcare?

“People’s gratitude. The diversity of activities. The feeling of being needed.” shares Dr. Jens Winkelmann with. He wants to encourage people to pursue a fulfilling path in the healthcare professions. It’s not just about intellectual challenges, but also about emotional rewards and the feeling of making a meaningful contribution to society.

If you had the opportunity to visit any place in the world to use your medical skills, where would you go and why?

The question is answered by Dr. Jens Winkelmann with a surprising perspective: “Even if we partially see good examples of perhaps more optimal conditions in individual countries – exactly in our region! Here you can achieve something, have good infrastructure and everything you need for life. However, a little more optimism, satisfaction and motivation from the population and politicians couldn’t hurt.”

In the world of self-employment there are often unexpected twists and turns. What unusual event has most influenced your perspective as a doctor and practice owner?

“Over the years, I have noticed that resident doctors can work very well with each other as a team and it is no longer the case that one colleague doesn’t even give the other the black under the fingernail. Things used to be different!” explains Dr. Jens Winkelmann.

Imagine if the skills shortage was a puzzle that needed to be solved. What unconventional clues or strategies would you use to find the solution?

“Appreciation, appropriate pay, good working atmosphere, creating skills”, answers Dr. Jens Winkelmann, while Dr. Christian Goebel adds: “Promote personal responsibility.”

As a doctor, you see how patients perceive healthcare professionals every day. How could patients help improve the image of nurses and doctors?

“I think it’s more important to work on the image of patients! Trust and respect towards the staff are important and a basic requirement,” emphasizes Dr. Jens Winkelmann. “Gratitude towards the medical staff (which we have often experienced, fortunately) is a great boost to our image and a boost to motivation,” adds Dr. Christian Goebel added.

Just because you just heard from the neighbor or “Dr. Google” has picked up something, this does not replace in-depth training and years of experience. Medicine is not a hobby or pastime, emphasizes Dr. Jens Winkelmann.

If you had to create a “trade show message” to highlight the uniqueness of the healthcare trade show, what creative slogan would you choose to pique people’s curiosity?

Dr. Jens Winkelmann: “Become a player and not a follower!”