Once again...sorry for the delay...internet is difficult to find for free in hostels.
The last few days of our trip spent in Berlin have been awesome! I would highly recommend going on a walking tour of Berlin with the New Europe tours. Even though I only was able to go for a couple of hours, I learned so much about the history of Berlin and certain sites we saw.
A definite highlight to the entire program was the visit to the Berlin Zoo. I have been on a “back-stage” tour of a zoo before, but this one was an amazing experience. Dr. Schuele was very knowledgeable and helpful. I especially enjoyed being able to get up close to the animals. Feeding a rhino…check. Throwing bread to a hippo and watching the vet “clean” the teeth with a water hose…check. Just getting up close to the animals was not the only benefit; we also learned a lot of new and interesting facts. I had no idea that hippos don’t know how to swim, but that they walk on the bottom of the body of water. Eels have a second set of teeth? Who knew?!? Going on this tour of the zoo reminds me how much I enjoy learning about exotic animals and pushes me further to wanting to work with such animals.
On a different note, after the zoo, I went with Jenny and Melissa to see the Holocaust memorial exhibit. We were so lucky that we randomly realized that a Holocaust survivor was talking about her family that was in one of the presented families in the exhibit. We decided to tag along and listen to her speak. There are so few survivors left— I would stop whatever I was doing to listen to one describe his/her experiences. The survivor we met was Elly Gross. She was 15 years old during the Holocaust and was the only one in her family who survived. Each step of the way she narrowly escaped death and is now here to tell us her story. I don’t know how we got so lucky to hear her. She literally was in Berlin for one day because she wanted to visit her parents’ graves one last time and then she was off to Romania to settle some business. Despite all the trials she went through, Elly Gross not only survived but also has a family and continues to tell her story. I admire the strength it took her to get through such horrors. I was recently reminded how important it is for everyone to be educated about what happened during WWII with the shooting that just occurred in the Holocaust memorial in Washington DC. An 88-year old man who thought the Holocaust was a hoax brought a gun into the memorial and a guard was shot. It blows my mind that there are still people out in the world like this. I just wish that people would open their minds to what happened so that these types of things can stop occurring.
So I don’t end on such a sad note, I really enjoyed our visit to the F. U. Berlin clinics. I was able to observe small animal surgery again. The suites were gorgeous and brand new. Compared to TiHo, the surgeries were in different rooms and therefore not as crammed in a small area. I know TiHo is getting new facilities soon, so hopefully they are as nice as the ones in Berlin. We got to see several orthopedic surgeries, which I had never seen before. There were a lot of Ph D students there who were very nice and helpful with answering our questions.
Overall this Germany trip was an amazing opportunity. I enjoyed spending time traveling with my peers. I learned about the culture, the language, the country, and veterinary medicine. I think that about sums up my personal goals as well as the goals of the trip. Who could ask for more? I just hope one day I can return to this beautiful country. I would absolutely recommend this trip to current and future A&M veterinary students.
Tchoos, Deutchland!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Thanks Novartis…I guess I could sell my soul for a nice hotel room.
Sorry this is so delayed...I just found available internet during my extended travels.
The trip to Novartis in Basel, Switzerland was really interesting. I knew there was a lot of work that went into creating a drug, but I had never been able to see the behind the scenes work that goes into creating a product. I was really impressed with their preparation for our visit. I really did not know much about their products before visiting their animal health department, but they gave very informative presentations.
I really enjoyed getting a tour of the facilities. They showed us where these products are created. There are so many obstacles to overcome and a great deal of research that as to be done before a product goes out in the market. Now it makes sense why it takes as little as 5 years for a product to go out. I was really interested in how they create a palatable pill, etc for the animal to take. The small details that go into each step are amazing. The powder has to be homogenous otherwise different amounts of the active ingredient will be distributed to each pill. Then the pill has to be coated so that it does not immediately dissolve in the mouth and dissolves at the pH of where the medicine should be digested. Additionally, they can add another coating that makes the medication taste better—whether within the pill or on the outside. Just one little problem with any step can lead to a set back in the distribution of the product.
I am also impressed (and I guess would also expect) with how much research goes into testing of the product and determining shelf life. The various products spend varying times (months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years) in the many “coolers” in the basement. These coolers are set at different temperatures and levels of humidity. Determination of shelf life appears to be a complex interweaving of different factors that have to be weighed out. The veterinarian that overlooked this portion of testing was very knowledgeable and answered many of our probing questions.
I think the St. Aubin Animal Health research center adds on to the layering that makes companies such as Novartis work so well. Working with the parasites and animals to have controlled studies that determine in what capacity the product should be used and if it works. I enjoyed seeing their colonies of dogs, cats, and even ticks and flies. My eyes have been opened to ideas I had never even thought of before.
Overall my experience at Novartis was a positive one (even if they didn’t let me keep my name badge) and I would definitely support their products in the future.
The trip to Novartis in Basel, Switzerland was really interesting. I knew there was a lot of work that went into creating a drug, but I had never been able to see the behind the scenes work that goes into creating a product. I was really impressed with their preparation for our visit. I really did not know much about their products before visiting their animal health department, but they gave very informative presentations.
I really enjoyed getting a tour of the facilities. They showed us where these products are created. There are so many obstacles to overcome and a great deal of research that as to be done before a product goes out in the market. Now it makes sense why it takes as little as 5 years for a product to go out. I was really interested in how they create a palatable pill, etc for the animal to take. The small details that go into each step are amazing. The powder has to be homogenous otherwise different amounts of the active ingredient will be distributed to each pill. Then the pill has to be coated so that it does not immediately dissolve in the mouth and dissolves at the pH of where the medicine should be digested. Additionally, they can add another coating that makes the medication taste better—whether within the pill or on the outside. Just one little problem with any step can lead to a set back in the distribution of the product.
I am also impressed (and I guess would also expect) with how much research goes into testing of the product and determining shelf life. The various products spend varying times (months, 1 year, 3 years, 5 years) in the many “coolers” in the basement. These coolers are set at different temperatures and levels of humidity. Determination of shelf life appears to be a complex interweaving of different factors that have to be weighed out. The veterinarian that overlooked this portion of testing was very knowledgeable and answered many of our probing questions.
I think the St. Aubin Animal Health research center adds on to the layering that makes companies such as Novartis work so well. Working with the parasites and animals to have controlled studies that determine in what capacity the product should be used and if it works. I enjoyed seeing their colonies of dogs, cats, and even ticks and flies. My eyes have been opened to ideas I had never even thought of before.
Overall my experience at Novartis was a positive one (even if they didn’t let me keep my name badge) and I would definitely support their products in the future.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Behind the Scenes in Berlin
although we only had a couple of days in berlin, i feel like i saw a lot...there's definitely another trip in store, though...i never fully understood how complex the berlin wall was and what its implications were...between the bike tour guide, dr. wasser, and the checkpoint charlie museum, i can imagine how terrible a life it must've been on the eastern side of the wall...the escape stories were remarkable, ranging from tunnels and scuba diving (with homemade equipment) to super low sports cars and hot air ballooning...the lengths those people went to to be reunited with their loved ones on the other side of the wall...it's still a little shocking to think that this was still so recent...perhaps the highlight of my limited berlin days was listening to a special holocaust survivor, elly gross...known worldwide, elly has recounted her story several times, but i am sure it does not get any easier...i don't think time can heal all wounds...while at the holocaust memorial for her family's memory, elly shared how a few simple things such as the point of a finger or a cough turned into miracles that allow her to continue educating today's generations of history's mistakes...it was really a rare opportunity and truly inspired me and deeply touched my heart...
So Many Bugs!
the folks at novartis were kind enough to open their super secret scientific doors to use curious vet kids...fortunately, they didn't open the doors to the breeding cages of fleas, ticks, flies, worms...now, i know i'm gonna be a vet, but all these creepy crawly creatures are still plain gross to me...it was a good wake-up call for my work to come!...i had no idea that novartis makes so many products across the board, from flea/tick preventitive to heart medications...i thought it was very interesting that the company goes through thousands of chemical compounds a week and tests every single one and all its derivatives in order to find the perfect combination...not only that, the integrity testing (with super cool walk-in fridges at obscene climate settings), pill/liquid formation, and even packaging is all done by the various novartis teams...it truly is a cooperative effort in all ways possible...the innovation level is absolutely a1, top-notch...apparently, the hill's research facilities are even more stellar...now that i gotta see!...(this was pre-written before actually being posted)
Country of Chocolate, but no Chocolate Fondue?!
free weekend number two was no less exciting than the first...jenny and i made our way over to switzerland early and visited the absolutely gorgeous geneva...very stunning was the breathtaking view from the former watchtower over the entire city, mountains and lake...somewhat scary was discovering that the church tower was built in 1527!...geneva is a great place to get a good workout, though...walking up and down stairs and hills all day...very cool was taking a tour of the un hq in nations plaza...the artwork in the conference rooms and the famous broken chair by the numerous fountains was amazing and truly told the story of all of what the un stands for around the world...we also visited the red cross museum, which was just so unique in the way it presented its history...the diverse and interactive media was so informative and just so great...only way to say it...they had a temporary exhibit of photography displaying natural disasters and other tragic occurrences in a different light..it was also very impactful...i'm looking forward to basel (maybe it'll be a bit less expensive?!) and our guided visit to novartis!...i hear their facilities are quite something! (this was pre-written before actually being posted)
Monday, June 8, 2009
week three: blog six
This was written the Saturday after the program. I would like to thank everyone involved in making this trip possible and all of my traveling companions for making this trip both memorable and spectacular.
The program schedule saved the funnest days for last. I really loved the Berlin Zoo. One of the two staff veterinarians gave us a back stage tour, which including giving the black rhinos and hippos a snack, walking through the zoo clinic, and listening to interesting lectures about the zoos inmates and history. We even saw Knut the polar bear and the Berlin Zoo's own giant panda.
We even cross examined x-rays taken of an eel that showed off it's second set of jaw bones. Really cool.
At the clinics in Berlin, several students and I had a blast in the surgery wing. They had just opened their new clinics about a month before. The staff were obviously very proud of their new facilities. They were very nice. The first surgery involved a hind leg fracture in a cat, the second, a osteo hematoma, and medial collateral and CCL ligament, also in a cat. The local veterinarians were very condsiderate.
I would recommend this experience to anyone interested in different cultures and veterinary medicine. Thanks Dr. Wasser! Danke, Steffie! Thank you, Texas A&M!
Lindsey Sampson
The program schedule saved the funnest days for last. I really loved the Berlin Zoo. One of the two staff veterinarians gave us a back stage tour, which including giving the black rhinos and hippos a snack, walking through the zoo clinic, and listening to interesting lectures about the zoos inmates and history. We even saw Knut the polar bear and the Berlin Zoo's own giant panda.
We even cross examined x-rays taken of an eel that showed off it's second set of jaw bones. Really cool.
At the clinics in Berlin, several students and I had a blast in the surgery wing. They had just opened their new clinics about a month before. The staff were obviously very proud of their new facilities. They were very nice. The first surgery involved a hind leg fracture in a cat, the second, a osteo hematoma, and medial collateral and CCL ligament, also in a cat. The local veterinarians were very condsiderate.
I would recommend this experience to anyone interested in different cultures and veterinary medicine. Thanks Dr. Wasser! Danke, Steffie! Thank you, Texas A&M!
Lindsey Sampson
week 3 blog 5
Having just finished the first half of the week in Switzerland, I must say that I've thoroughly enjoyed the last few days. First off, the hotel sponsored for us by the great people at Novartis was Amazing. The Ramada hotel was the nicest place I've ever stayed. Also, the presentation at the Novartis headquarters and lab was incredibly informative and interesting. It opened up a perspective on drug companies and marketing that I hadn't considered before. I really liked seeing the kennels and tableting machines. I wish that we could have seen the 'artificial cat,' which is used in breeding fleas, in person.
Expect a lot of very nice treatment when you meet the Novatis staff. They treated us as future colleagues and fellow professionals.
One thing about Switzerland, however. It is very expensive to shop and dine there. Don't expect to pay less that thirty euros on a meal. Shopping for other necessities is out of the question.
Expect a lot of very nice treatment when you meet the Novatis staff. They treated us as future colleagues and fellow professionals.
One thing about Switzerland, however. It is very expensive to shop and dine there. Don't expect to pay less that thirty euros on a meal. Shopping for other necessities is out of the question.
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