Kuopio offers the best urban life
Mikael von und zu Fraunberg grew up in Rovaniemi, pursued higher education in Helsinki, began his clinical career in Lapland, but ultimately found his place in Kuopio. Northern Savonia offers everything one could hope for in a good life.
Fraunberg juggles two roles in Kuopio. He is in his third year establishing the National Neurocenter, works as a neurosurgeon at Kuopio University Hospital, and conducts research, as is customary at universities.
His journey to Kuopio was far from straightforward. From Rovaniemi, he moved to Helsinki for studies, returned to Lapland to begin his clinical career, but eventually specialized in neurosurgery, which brought him to Kuopio. And he has stayed ever since.
“My first night in Kuopio was spent at Puijo Tower. I’d checked the map and figured the university hospital wasn’t far. What I hadn’t accounted for was Kuopio’s hilly terrain, so I had quite the climb to reach the hospital,” Fraunberg recalls with a laugh.
Build a career alongside a family home
The main reasons Fraunberg decided to stay in Kuopio were the warm and friendly people and the genuinely welcoming atmosphere. For someone from Lapland, the sincerity he encountered in Kuopio felt familiar and helped him settle in.
“Kuopio offers everything a family with children could need. There are international-level football and ice hockey teams and extensive music and cultural activities. The city is safe, so kids can go to their hobbies on their own. Plus, the natural and lakeside landscapes are exceptional. ”
“Our family has a new hobby—we’ve been exploring Lake Kallavesi in an electric-motor-powered rowing boat, observing ducks, great crested grebes, and swans,” Fraunberg shares.
Kuopio isn’t just a place to build a family home but also a career. Alongside Helsinki, Kuopio is at the forefront of neurosurgical research and offers top-tier medical education. The city also presents unique career opportunities in the health sector, with numerous international companies and connections in health technology and medicine.
“Kuopio needs highly educated experts in neuroscience and medicine to strengthen its business and research sectors. In other words, we need more brainpower here! There are surprising opportunities,” Fraunberg emphasizes.
Kuopio truly is a city that punches above its weight. Its unique charm lies in the balance between peaceful nature and vibrant urban culture.
Text: Maiju Korhonen
The article was written during the Future Savo project in 2020-2021.
