Managing a variety of tasks as a PhD student in Toronto while fulfilling obligations in Norway can be challenging. While I cannot claim expertise in this matter, I learned a valuable lesson during my niece’s Martial Arts class. The instructor asked the children, “How are you doing?” and they enthusiastically responded, “Supergood and getting better!” Inspired by their attitude, I have adopted the mindset of striving to be supergood while continually improving.

During these past few days, I have embraced this approach. I have had the opportunity to witness and enjoy the Canadian celebrations of July 1st (Independence Day). Additionally, I dedicated time to working on the systematic review related to GBS and the GBS interactive case. Tomorrow, a new adventure awaits as I embark on orientation at the SickKids hospital, where I will be visiting for the next two months.

Though I cannot predict the exact challenges that lie ahead, I am committed to approaching them with enthusiasm, a willingness to learn, and the determination to excel.

Exciting day today discovering and navigating the public transport system in Toronto. Had a wonderful meeting with Division head Dr. Estelle Gauda who recently published a paper in Nature Pediatric research showing the amino acid L-citrulline (L-CIT) mitigating lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury in the early stage of lung development in the newborn rat. This is the first study describing the effect of L-CIT on the signaling pathways operative in bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in a preclinical inflammatory model of newborn lung injury. Excited to get to know the Neonatal department at SickKids during the next weeks, including presenting my PhD work in the Chief’s rounds and working on an interesting case report on reoccurring Group B streptococcus meningitis in a preterm infant for The Toronto Centre for Neonatal Health (TCNH).

Excited for me and my family to be visiting Toronto these next three months… I’ll be doing a medical observership at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto (Canada) and continuing working with the remaining PhD articles. One of the best things about being a PhD student at the Research group for child and adolescent health at UiT – The Arctic University of Norway is being able to meet and talk to different researchers in the same field of research, so I’m truly grateful that I get the opportunity to do a clinical and non-clinical observership in the field of pediatrics. Hopefully the whole family gains some new perspectives and friendships from this short life abroad project. Lots of thanks to UNN, Helse Nord RHF and my main supervisor Dr. Claus Klingenberg for making this observership happen!