Avatar Donation for University Children's Hospital
Avatar donation for the University Children's Hospital Magdeburg
The Bristol Myers Squibb Immuno-oncology Foundation donates an avatar to the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Unit at Magdeburg University Children's Hospital.
On November 26, the Pediatric Hematology and Oncology of the University Children's Hospital was presented with an avatar. The handover took place under strict hygiene conditions in the DZNE building on the campus of the University Medical Center. The avatar is a telepresence robot that enables children and adolescents suffering from cancer to participate in school lessons despite their stay in hospital by means of an app on the iPad.
The small robot is a donation from the Bristol Myers Squibb Immuno-oncology Foundation and was personally handed over by Dierk Neugebauer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Foundation, to Prof. Hans-Jochen Heinze, Medical Director of Magdeburg University Hospital, Prof. Denis Schewe, Director of the University Children's Hospital, and Dr. med. Antje Redlich, Division Head of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology.
Photo 1: Avatar handover
From left: Prof. Dr. Hans-Jochen Heinze, Medical Director of Magdeburg University Hospital, Prof. Dr. Daniela Dieterich, Dean of the Medical Faculty Magdeburg, Prof. Dr. Denis Schewe, Director of the University Children's Hospital, patient Aydan with parents, Dr. Kerstin Stachel, Commercial Director of the University Hospital, Member of the German Parliament Tino Sorge, Dierk Neugebauer, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation Immunoncology, Dr. med. Antje Redlich, Division Head of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at the University Children's Hospital Magdeburg.
Photographer: Sarah Kossmann/UMMD
"We are very pleased that Pediatric Oncology and Hematology at University Children's Hospital is getting an avatar. This novel technology is a great help for our young patients during an extended hospital stay, not only to participate in school classes, but also to overcome social isolation. The use of an avatar protects the child with a long-term illness from exclusion from everyday school life and the class community. I am convinced that such highlights not only improve the quality of life of young patients, but also have a positive effect on their life expectancy," Prof. Hans-Jochen Heinze welcomed those present.
Prof. Schewe also thanked the foundation for the donation, "The use of telepresence robots allows children with oncological diseases a piece of normality. The fact that the avatar not only represents the child or adolescent in the classroom, but is also taken by his or her classmates to the schoolyard during breaks and other activities within the peer group, provides daily strength and motivation for the cancer patients. Digital learning models will play a prominent role in future-oriented care for sick children and adolescents. We would like to thank the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation Immuno-oncology for the extraordinary support of this pilot project at the University Children's Hospital Magdeburg," said the director of the University Children's Hospital.
Prominent guest and sponsor for the donation handover was MdB Tino Sorge. "The Avatar project shows: Digital solutions can bring very tangible benefits to patients. They create new opportunities for social participation. As politicians, we want to continue to promote such offerings in the future. I am particularly pleased that I was able to establish contact with Magdeburg University Hospital as a sponsor, because people with particularly serious illnesses are treated here year after year. Those affected and their families deserve our full support," emphasized Tino Sorge emphatically.
The Immuno-oncology Foundation from Munich aims to contribute to improving the life expectancy and quality of life of cancer patients. Since its establishment five years ago, the non-profit foundation has been active throughout Germany: it supports third-party projects, particularly in the field of science and research on immuno-oncology; on the other hand, it initiates its own operational measures that focus directly on cancer patients, such as the "Avatar" initiative. This had its kick-off in May 2021 with the first donation of such a small, digital school companion to Münster. In Magdeburg, the foundation is now handing over the fifth avatar.
Photo 2: Avatar
Photographer: Sarah Kossmann/UMMD
"I am very proud that the Immuno-oncology Foundation is making a significant contribution with the avatars by bringing young cancer patients out of isolation, supporting them in the process of growing up, enabling them to participate in everyday school life and promoting a milestone in digital education. I am delighted that university hospitals like Magdeburg are encouraging the use of innovative projects and providing the best possible support for young patients and their families alongside outstanding medicine and care," says Dierk Neugebauer, Chairman of the Foundation's Board of Trustees.
Another prominent supporter of the Immuno-oncology Foundation's initiative is national soccer player Emre Can, who is not only an ambassador for the Avatar project, but has also been involved with the foundation as an honorary member of the Board of Trustees since spring 2020.
Media contact:
Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation Immuno-Oncology
Viola von Elsner
c/o Bristol Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA
Arnulfstrasse 29, 80636 Munich
Phone: 089 - 121 42 433