Stuffed animals in good hands: The 17th Magdeburg Teddy Bear Clinic opens its doors again
Medical students in Magdeburg invite children to learn about the process of a doctor’s visit in a playful way and to help ease their fears
Whether it’s a teddy bear with a stomachache, a stuffed parrot with a broken wing, or a favorite doll with a cough—at the Teddy Clinic Magdeburg, young patients will once again receive loving care this year. From May 19 to 21, 2026, students from the Medical Faculty of the Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg invite children to visit a playful hospital together with their stuffed animals.
On the lawn at the dormitory at Fermersleber Weg 23, a colorful tent hospital will once again be set up, where children aged three to six can learn about the typical procedures of a doctor’s visit—from check-in and examinations to treatment. The children take responsibility for their stuffed animals themselves and experience the situation from a familiar perspective.
Through this project, the medical students aim to help children overcome their fear of medical examinations at an early age. “When children see their stuffed animals being examined, they can better understand many situations and often lose their fear of their own doctor’s visits,” explains medical student Christin Große from the organizing team.
The Teddy Clinic is taking place for the 17th time and has become a fixture on the event calendars of many Magdeburg daycare centers. More than 600 children have already signed up.
In addition to the registered daycare groups, there will again be an open consultation hour this year for all sick stuffed animals: Wednesday, May 20, 2026, from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m.
For more information, visit www.teddyklinikmagdeburg.de.
Contact
Teddy Clinic Magdeburg, Student Council of the Support Association for Medical Students in Magdeburg, teddyklinikmd@gmx.de
Photo (file photo): With great empathy, a medical student explains the “blood test” for a stuffed animal to a young visitor—at the Teddy Clinic, medicine is brought to life in a playful and child-friendly way. Photo: Sarah Kossmann/UMMD