Weill Cornell Medicine is ranked among the top clinical and medical research centers in the United States. Weill Cornell Medicine is a longtime partner of the OMI, having worked together for more than two decades. Not only are the physicians from Weill Cornell experts in their respective fields, but they are also philanthropically minded and willing to share their knowledge and expertise. The annual Weill Cornell Seminar in Neurology took place for the 25th time this week, from March 6-12, 2022.
Dr. Matthew E. Fink, Louis and Gertrude Feil Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurology at Weill Cornell Medicine, served as the course director, marking his 12th participation in an OMI seminar. Dr. Eugen Trinka, Professor and Chair of the Department of Neurology at the Paracelsus Medical University, co-led the course, commemorating his 15th participation in an OMI seminar. The faculty was comprised of a number of experts in Neurology, including Dr. Nele E. Bubel, Dr. Stanley Fisher, Dr. Dara G. Jamieson, Dr. Gudrun Kalss, Dr. Monika Killer-Oberpfalzer, Dr. Stefan Leis, Dr. Markus Leitinger, Dr. Ferdinand Otto, and Dr. Jai S. Perumal.
32 fellows from 20 countries gathered in Schloss Arenberg to hear 21 state-of-the-art lectures, including topics such as Ambulance Treatment/Triage of Acute Stroke, Drug Resistant Epilepsy: A Practical Approach, Immunosuppressive Treatment and COVID, Vaccines and Neuro Disorders, and more. Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday afternoon were dedicated to fellows’ case presentations, of which seven cases were selected by the faculty to be published on the OMI Online Case Library.
Although cold in temperature, the fellows were lucky to have a week of blue skies and sunshine. Additionally, they enjoyed a hard earned and much needed free afternoon on Wednesday, in which many decided to explore the city of Salzburg and soak up some Austrian culture. Thursday evening offered faculty and fellows a classical chamber music concert, right here in Schloss Arenberg. The seminar end can be bittersweet for fellows who are eager to get back to their hospitals, full of ideas and inspiration, yet yearning for more time with their new colleagues. Therefore, the fellows enjoyed the graduation ceremony and formal dinner they shared together on Friday evening.
Looking back at the week I feel very thankful and privileged to be able to have such an educational and transformative experience. It positively formed not only my approach as a clinician, but it taught me to constantly look for ways to better our practice.
