Did you know that a single square inch of skin has about 19 million cells? The skin reflects the health of the body and acts as a barrier against injury and bacteria. Dermatology is the medical discipline that is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the skin, hair, and nails. Some of these diseases are rather common, like acne or eczema, while others are a lot more critical, such as skin cancers or lymphomas.
Dermatology, like many other medical fields, is very broad. Thus, the ten highly trained and experienced faculty members from Weill Cornell Medicine and the Medical University of Vienna tackled the two core areas of dermatology oncodermatology and surgical dermatology during this week-long seminar at the OMI in Salzburg.
The course began with a review of procedural dermatology with an emphasis on dermatologic oncology, adult and pediatric tumors, and diagnostic and surgical techniques for their treatment, including the surgical gold-standard, Mohs surgery. Other topics included advancements in cutaneous oncology diagnosis, such as the use of artificial intelligence.
A video workshop led by dermatologic surgery faculty demonstrated step-by-step advanced reconstruction techniques and pediatric faculty discussed special considerations for skin surgery in pediatric populations. Finally, a focus on cosmetic dermatology completed the seminar with several talks highlighting practical tips on the use of neurotoxins, fillers, lasers, and other emerging energy-based devices with special consideration given to skin of color.
The cohort consisted of course director Dr. Richard D. Granstein, co-course director Dr. Georg Stary, as well as Drs. Karen Chernoff, Christoph Höller, Constanze Jonak, Eva Kerby, Jack Levy, Kira Minkis, and Simona Saluzzo. Many of the faculty members were new to teaching at Schloss Arenberg, but they quickly adjusted into their roles with the help of long-time OMI supporters Drs. Granstein, Stary, Chernoff, Minkis, and Saluzzo.
Dr. Levy explained that “it was a privilege to join esteemed colleagues at the Open Medical Institute in Salzburg this year. As a new faculty member, I was impressed by both the breadth of countries represented and the level of engagement demonstrated by fellows. It’s both personally and professionally rewarding to collaborate so intimately and to advance the global efforts and reach of our specialty. Indeed, it’s even more fulfilling that our collective experiences can impact patients thousands of miles away.”
Romania, Mexico, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Nepal, Vietnam, and Ukraine were only some of the home countries that were represented by the 36 fellows during the course. The members of this lively and multinational group asked thought-provoking questions after the lectures, engaged in intellectual discussions about the latest medical advancements in dermatology with faculty and peers alike, and seemed highly motivated to share their newly gained knowledge with their colleagues in their home countries upon returning.
Dr. Elena Codruta Cozma
OMI Fellow from Romania
“OMI Dermatology is not just another scientific dermatology course; it is an experience that influences one’s future evolution as a dermatologist.”
Dr. Phat Trinh
OMI Fellow from Vietnam
“What could be better for a young dermatologist from a developing country, like myself, than to be trained by the world’s leading dermatologists in a professional environment like Schloss Arenberg?”
Dr. Grecia Figueroa Ramos
OMI Fellow from Mexico
“One thing that really stood out to me was the absence of religious, political, or cultural differences in this space. Here, we’re just a group of individuals united by a deep common interest in dermatology, all eager to learn together.”
