The year was 1996, and the month was August, when the first OMI Otolaryngology course ever took place. 30 years later, during the first week of February, the ENT seminar remains one of the OMI’s most popular programs, and the 37 fellows from 4 continents and 31 countries were thrilled to deepen their knowledge in their specialty and expand their professional networks. Dr. Chukwuma Ikem Okoye from Nigeria explains excitedly that being able to listen to international experts was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: “It was very enlightening and inspiring to see that individuals with so much experience want to share their expertise and want to help young surgeons like me to do big things.”
Our partner institutions, Weill Cornell Medicine and the General Hospital of Salzburg, are known for their exceptional patient care. The Department of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery at Weill Cornell stands out for blending elite clinical care with innovation and the arts. Beyond treating complex ENT conditions, the department is known for pioneering procedures like implantable nerve stimulation for sleep apnea, advancing AI-driven diagnostics, and leading research in voice, swallowing, and aging. Uniquely, the department is also the administrative home of the Center for the Performing Artist, an official healthcare provider for the Metropolitan Opera, the Manhattan School of Music, Juilliard, and Carnegie Hall.
From the renowned US institution, we hosted four specialists this week, while five experts joined from multiple impressive Austrian hospitals. OMI board member and course director Dr. Michael G. Stewart attended for the 21st time. He is Professor and Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine. Long-time OMI supporter Dr. Gerhard Rasp once again served as co-course director, making this his 30th time serving the OMI program. He is Chairman of the Department of Otolaryngology at the General Hospital of Salzburg. The remainder of the faculty cohort was made up of Dr. Natalya Chernichenko, Dr. Madeleine A. Drusin, and Dr. Andrea Wang (Weill Cornell), Dr. Dietmar Thurnher (Medical University of Graz), Dr. Doris-Maria Denk-Linnert (Medical University of Vienna), Dr. Eva-Maria Zimmermann-Balogh (General Hospital of Salzburg), as well as Dr. Cem Meco (Ankara University).
Joining us in Salzburg for the first time from New York were Drs. Chernichenko, Drusin, and Wang. We were thrilled that they took part in this educational endeavour!
“The curriculum included pediatric otolaryngology, head and neck cancer, rhinology and sinus surgery, sleep medicine and surgery, and comprehensive otolaryngology. Both medical and surgical management of several conditions, including recent advances, were addressed,” explains the course director.
Key sessions highlighted head and neck oncology, including HPV-associated, laryngeal, glottic, and thyroid cancers, along with rehabilitation after treatment. Additional topics, such as vascular malformations, pediatric hearing loss, and ear surgery, were also explored. Paired with a workshop on how to design and publish a research study, fellows’ case presentations, and lively Q&A discussions, the lectures provided practical, clinically relevant insights.
Faculty member Dr. Meco explains the success of the course in a powerful statement. “It was a wonderful week with extremely engaged fellows, who were exposed to state-of-the-art lectures that fostered learning, encouraged discussions with faculty, and, most importantly, inspired participants as they look toward a bright future ahead. A highlight was the unique networking opportunity between faculty and fellows.”
Konrad Szydlowski, MD
OMI fellow from Poland
“Dr. Stewart is a true living legend in the field of Otolaryngology and the author of many important scientific publications. The opportunity to attend his lectures, as well as to chat with him in the hallways, was incredibly inspiring.”
Tijana Jordanova, MD
OMI fellow from North Macedonia
“This course provided me with the most up-to-date medical knowledge from outstanding experts in the field. I gained many insights and skills that I can take back and implement in my work. These have been the most enriching days of my career so far, offering far more than any other course I have attended.”
Kofi Agyeman, MD
OMI fellow from Ghana
“The case presentations stood out to me. It was reassuring to see how much we share in terms of clinical conditions and management approaches. Faculty feedback made the sessions both educational and enjoyable; a model I would love to replicate back home in Ghana.”
