The 2022 Weill Cornell Seminar in Pulmonology took place from March 20 to 26 at Schloss Arenberg in Salzburg, Austria. Weill Cornell Medicine is ranked among the top clinical and medical research centers in the United States. The Open Medical Institute was established nearly 30 years ago in close collaboration with physicians from Weill Cornell Medicine, and more than 400 OMI seminars have been conducted under the academic leadership of Weill Cornell Medicine to date.
The OMI is beyond grateful to have had the Dean of Weill Cornell Medicine, Dr. Augustine M.K. Choi, serve as the course director for the week. He was present in Salzburg for the entire week, marking his fifth participation in an OMI seminar. Dr. Fernando J. Martinez from Weill Cornell Medicine was a co-course director and participated for the fourth time, this week remotely from the USA. Dr. Marco Idzko from the Medical University of Vienna, also co-led the course, marking his fifth participation. Additional faculty included, Dr. Robert J. Kaner and Dr. Michael S. Niederman from the USA, Dr. Tobias Welte and Dr. Dominic Dellweg from Germany and Dr. Daniela Gompelmann, Dr. Joerg Hutter, Dr. Irene Marthe Lang, Dr. Meinhard Kneussl, Dr. Helmut Prosch and Dr. Michael Studnicka from Austria.
This week’s course was the fourth in-person Pulmonology course at the OMI, with 28 fellows from 16 various countries present. Fellows had the pleasure of hearing 20 didactic lectures from the expert faculty members, including topics such as Sepsis, Management of Severe Airway Disease: Asthma, Bronchiectasis & MAI, Sleep Disorders, Pleural Effusion, and more. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons were blocked for fellows’ case presentations. Tuesday’s cases focused on Lung Infections & TB, Wednesday’s topic was ILD, and Thursday’s emphasis was on COPD/COVID. 8 cases were selected by the faculty as excellent case presentations, which will be published on the OMI Online Case Library.
Thursday evening offered the fellows some well-deserved rest and relaxation, as a chamber music concert took place at Schloss Arenberg exclusively for the faculty and fellows. On Friday evening, all participants enjoyed a formal graduation ceremony, complete with a three-course dinner.
This has definitely been one of the best experiences of my life. Salzburg and Schloss Arenberg are beautiful, the faculty members are all experts and very friendly. I had the opportunity to meet new people who are not only my colleagues, but now I can call friends. I learned so many things that I can apply in my country. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I was given to be here.
Dr. Helmut Prosch’s first lecture was amazing. I have never heard an explanation of interstitial lung disorders as he provided.
