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Resident Exchange Program provides rare opportunity by Katherine Fore Public Relations The Resident Exchange Program in the Department of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery provides a rare opportunity and experience for residents interested in the observation of medicine outside of MUSC.  Terry Day, M.D., founded the program which is supported by Paul Lambert, M.D., chairman of the department at MUSC, and Volker Jahnke, M.D., of Humboldt University/Charite Campus in Berlin, Germany.  In 2001, the first German resident, Jan Sasama, spent a month at MUSC and MUSC resident, Irenee Duncan, spent a month in Germany. Currently, German resident Ulrike Foerster is enjoying her first visit to the United States.  Ulrike Foerster “The most enjoyable part of this experience is that I get to do what I am interested in,” Foerster said. “In Germany, ENT doctors are general and here I am able to specialize to what I enjoy doing.” Foerster finished school without the opportunity to travel abroad. Exchange programs have been more common for medical students rather than residents, until now. “I would recommend others participate in this program, because it is not usual for residents to be able to observe abroad,” Foerster said.  The differences in medical practice  in the U.S. and in Germany interests Foerster. “I find it fascinating that a procedure would be treated differently in another country,” she said. “I was able to learn new things about each surgery that differed from the way we do it in Germany.” The exchange program is designed to allow residents to experience and observe medicine in a different environment. The knowledge and training received by the residents at MUSC and Humboldt University will open new doors and create opportunities to advance  in future medical practice. For information contact Ann Durgun at 792-0719.     Catalyst Online is published weekly, updated as needed and improved from time to time by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to petersnd@musc.edu or catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Community Press at 849-1778.