Between medicine and midfield: how Annabel Marx combines study and sport with passion
The UW/H medical student masters clinic, study phases and hockey as a team - and shows how sport becomes a source of energy for her in everyday life.
Annabel Marx loves a challenge - and on several playing fields at once. She is in her sixth semester at Witten/Herdecke University, where she is studying medicine. Away from the campus, Annabel is a regular member of the women's 1st team on the hockey pitch at TSC Eintracht Dortmund. Two worlds that couldn't be more different at first glance fit together perfectly for the 24-year-old.
Even during her school days, Annabel dreamed of studying medicine. After completing her higher education entrance qualification, she first trained as a physiotherapist. Even then, the ambitious hockey player was able to combine her enthusiasm for movement with her interest in medicine. At the UW/H, Annabel is now getting a little closer to her dream job as a doctor every day and is immersing herself in the various disciplines; she is particularly fascinated by orthopaedics. Alongside her studies, she works in the operating theatre at Dortmund Hospital and experiences first-hand how patients regain their ability to move thanks to expertise and good treatment.
The hockey stick for an optimal study-life balance
Between clinical placements, medical courses and study phases, sport has a firm place in Annabel's diary. "Hockey is a great way for me to clear my head," she says. "Talking about university is taboo for me on the pitch. It's good to get out of the medi-bubble now and again - especially during the exam period. After training, I have new energy to study again."
Annabel discovered her passion for hockey at an early age: "I also tried out other sports. But nothing gave me as much pleasure as hockey." She has been on the pitch with a stick since the third grade - initially for her home club in Mettmann. When she was accepted at UW/H, she switched to TSC Eintracht Dortmund. Today she trains twice a week, plus athletics training and at least one match at the weekend. She is pursuing clear ambitions with her commitment: "In the field and indoor season, we play as a team in the first regional league. It's definitely more demanding and performance-orientated than before - and I'm very proud of that. We might even make it into the second Bundesliga. The will is definitely there!"
Team spirit on and off the pitch
Behind every sporting success is a strong team. Annabel is joined on the pitch by her younger sister, who also studies at UW/H, and other fellow students. Thanks to their close relationship, the players understand each other almost blindly and complement each other perfectly.
Annabel also knows from her studies how essential it is to work together: "For interprofessional collaboration in everyday clinical practice, it's not only important to fulfil your own role, but also to respect other team members and give them space." Structure, perseverance and an eye for the big picture are just as crucial - both during her studies and on the pitch.
