“The local coordinators’ meeting gives us the opportunity to exchange ideas and experiences, ask questions, and network with one another,” explains Mrs. Zaneta Savickiene from Vilnius, Lithuania. She is one of more than 20 dedicated individuals who spent the last four days at Schloss Arenberg attending a very special biennial gathering.
The OMI local coordinators are the glue holding the OMI community together, building bridges between the OMI headquarters in Salzburg and thousands of fellows worldwide. Across the globe, 26 committed individuals work tirelessly to promote the OMI programs in their respective countries, provide administrative and logistical support to applicants, track fellows’ career developments, establish valuable connections within the local healthcare systems, and sometimes even facilitate fundraising campaigns. Most of them are OMI alumni who have built successful careers in their home countries, thus serving as local role models for their colleagues.
After one year, the long-awaited OMI local coordinators’ meeting took place again at Schloss Arenberg from February 16 to 20, 2025. OMI staff and 22 coordinators spent four intense days together at Schloss Arenberg to reconnect, share ideas, and discuss challenges. Dr. Lola Asanalieva, OMI local coordinator from Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan expresses that “It is wonderful to know that we are part of such a supportive community.” It was especially exciting to welcome one newly appointed coordinator, Dr. Malik Ejubovic from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
This year’s event opened with an introduction round and an insightful presentation by Dr. Wolfgang Aulitzky and Ms. Stephanie Faschang on the past, present, and future of the Open Medical Institute. In well-prepared presentations, each of the coordinators shared the impact of the OMI seminars in their countries, their involvement in applicants’ invitation processes, their promotional work, their follow-ups with fellows, fellows’ success stories, and more. Through these country-specific reports, attendees received insights into each other’s work and could learn from each other’s methods. In individual bilateral meetings, each local coordinator was given the chance to discuss challenges and ideas in more detail.
The OMI tremendously appreciates the valuable effort of its coordinators’ network. To thank the coordinators for their work – some of them have been serving the program for more than 20 years – they were treated to a traditional Salzburg Nockerl cooking class hosted by Schloss Arenberg’s chef, Mr. Manfred Rossmann, and a lovely chamber music concert.
Thanks to our local coordinators for their continuous support and for expanding our global network!
