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From May 12 to 18, 2025, the 20th Teddy Bear Hospital of Freiburg medical students will take place in the park of the University Medical Center Freiburg in cooperation with trainees of the University Medical Center Freiburg / Colorful anniversary program

Playfully demonstrating how exciting a visit to hospital can be and that children need not be afraid of it - more than 250 Freiburg medical students are once again taking on this task with great commitment this summer. In cooperation with trainees from Freiburg University Hospital, the Offene Fachschaft Medizin Freiburg e.V. is organizing the 20th Freiburg Teddy Bear Hospital from Monday, 12 May to Sunday, 18 May 2025. Children aged between three and six can have their sick or injured cuddly toys examined by specially trained students, the so-called "Teddy Docs", at the Teddy Bear Hospital. The cuddly patients are treated daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the park of the Freiburg University Medical Center.

Daycare and kindergarten groups (from five children) are welcome during the week - registration is required, which has been open since the beginning of April. Families can visit the Teddy Bear Hospital at any time. Registration is possible for families from Monday, April 14 and helps to shorten waiting times. Around two hours should be planned for the visit.

Colorful anniversary program

"We are really looking forward to welcoming our young visitors. We have come up with some highlights for our 20th birthday: For example, for the first time there will be a teddy EEG to measure brain activity, which our students have built themselves. This allows the children to playfully learn how the brain is examined," says co-organizer Philipp Hafkemeyer. The children will also receive a lovingly designed book with a story about the Freiburg Teddy Bear Hospital.

From teddy bear school to the dentist

During their visit to the Teddy Bear Hospital, the children go through several stations that are modeled on a real hospital: After registering, they learn about the human body in the teddy school before the teddy docs examine their cuddly toys. Depending on the findings, this is followed by X-rays, surgery or pharmacy - and finally the dentist's tent awaits. On some days, the children can also look forward to a short activity program designed by physiotherapy trainees.

The patron of the Teddy Bear Hospital is Prof. Dr. Brigitte Stiller, Medical Director of the Clinic for Congenital Heart Defects and Pediatric Cardiology at Freiburg University Medical Center. The Teddy Bear Hospital is supported by the University Medical Center Freiburg and by donations.

Further information and registration at: www.tbk.ofamed.de/aktuelles

Caption: What's wrong with the teddy bear? An examination at the Teddy Bear Hospital provides the answer.
Image source: Fabio Smitka