Food allergies, asthma, anaphylaxis, Immunodeficiency…all such big obstacles for little ones, it is critical to ensure they are in good hands. This week’s Salzburg CHOP Seminar in Pediatric Allergy and Immunology enabled fellows to strengthen their knowledge and skills when it comes to ensuring proper health and treatment for the pediatric population. From January 22 to 28, 2023, 30 fellows from 24 various countries gathered in Schloss Arenberg. Dr. Rushani W. Saltzman, Attending Physician in the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, served as the course director alongside Dr. Zsolt Szepfalusi, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Head of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergy and Endocrinology at the Medical University of Vienna, who co-led the course. Additional faculty included Dr. Terri F. Brown-Whitehorn, Dr. Jennifer Heimall, Dr. Melanie Ruffner, and Dr. Rene Gaupmann.
Together, the faculty provided an outstanding schedule that consisted of 21 didactic lectures, including topics such as IgE Food Allergy, Allergic March, Functional Evaluation for Immunodeficiency, Asthma Management, Eczema and Contact Dermatitis, and more. Two afternoons of fellows’ case presentations provided participants the opportunity to share about their personal work experience and receive feedback from faculty regarding challenging, unusual, or confusing cases. This week, six cases were selected by the faculty to be shared on the OMI’s online case library.
After many hours in the lecture hall, Wednesday afternoon allowed fellows and faculty some time to relax and decompress. Many used the free afternoon to visit the beautiful city of Salzburg and surrounding areas, embracing the beautiful sites laden with snow. It wouldn’t be a proper visit to the “city of Mozart” without music. Therefore, Thursday evening offered a chamber music concert right here in Schloss Arenberg, exclusively for faculty and fellows of the OMI. The concert was performed by musicians from the local Mozarteum university, a prestigious music school. A week always flies by when you’re having fun. So last but not least, the fellows gathered one last time on Friday evening for the graduation dinner and ceremony, in which they could revel in their hard work and receive their seminar certificates.