Whether healing after injury, facing cancer, or reclaiming independence after surgery, rehabilitation medicine focuses not just on treating conditions, but on rebuilding lives. The OMI teamed up with Weill Cornell Medicine and the Medical University of Vienna to make this week’s seminar on Rehabilitation Medicine a huge success. The course took place from April 12 to 18, 2026, and drew 177 applications.
The seminar was led by none other than course director Dr. Nasim A. Chowdhury from Weill Cornell Medicine and co-course director Dr. Richard Crevenna from the Medical University of Vienna. Dr. Chowdhury is the inaugural Chief of the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, and Dr. Crevenna is Head of the Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine at the Medical University of Vienna.
The two professionals were joined by three US faculty members from Weill Cornell Medicine: Dr. Kristen de Vries, Director of Cancer Rehabilitation, Dr. Caroline J. Lee, Assistant Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation Medicine, and Dr. Ben Shin, Assistant Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation Medicine. The remainder of the cohort was made up of four Austrian faculty members from the Medical University of Vienna: Dr. Mohammad Keilani, Deputy Head and Attending Physician at the Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Occupational Medicine, Dr. Gerold Ebenbichler, Research Associate Professor and Senior Clinical Specialist, Dr. Katharina Kerschan-Schindl, Associate Professor, as well as Dr. Othmar Schuhfried, Research Associate Professor.
The nine specialists were keen on sharing their expertise with the 35 fellows from four continents and 20 countries. The course brought together a diverse group of participants representing a wide range of specialties, including orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, neurology, and, of course, physiatry. This diversity was complemented by the extensive expertise of the faculty, fostering high-level discussions across key topics such as women’s health, cancer rehabilitation, neurological rehabilitation, and performing arts medicine. The curriculum also included focused teaching on ultrasound, highlighted by hands-on sessions that reinforced practical application.
Faculty member Dr. Kristen de Vries specializes in cancer and women’s health rehabilitation. Dr. de Vries is an Assistant Attending Physiatrist and Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine/NYPH. She was also appointed the Director of Cancer Rehabilitation and is collaborating with several oncologists on creating multi-disciplinary clinics to enhance care and survivorship for cancer patients, particularly those with breast and gynecologic cancers. Dr. de Vries is a newcomer to the OMI’s programs and immensely enjoyed her stay at Schloss Arenberg, where she held four lectures on pelvic pain, impairments in breast cancer, early mobilization in cancer, and fracture risk in metastases. She described her first impressions as follows:
“It was both a privilege and a pleasure to participate as a lecturer at the OMI. From the outset, the atmosphere was genuinely warm and welcoming, creating an environment where meaningful exchange and learning felt natural and encouraged. As a speaker, I especially appreciated the engaged fellows, whose thoughtful questions made each session more dynamic and rewarding. The program was exceptionally well-organized. The team showed remarkable attentiveness, making certain that all needs were promptly met. I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute and to learn alongside such a committed group of professionals. I would highly recommend this program to colleagues and would be delighted to be involved again in the future.”
Marta Elda Brito de León, MD
OMI fellow from Mexico
“The pelvic floor dysfunction talk by Dr. de Vries touched a special interest of mine. I was very pleased to learn that the protocols we follow in Mexico align well with those used in state-of-the-art institutions. Her lecture gave me valuable insight and motivation to further expand my knowledge and provide the best possible treatments to my patients.”
Frida Manyanga, MD, BSc
OMI fellow from Tanzania
“Dr. Katharina Kerschan-Schindl’s presentation on osteoporosis truly broadened my understanding, especially regarding the importance of exercise. This was new to my practice, as I had previously discouraged strengthening exercises for osteoporotic patients due to concerns about causing fractures.”
Katarina Marija Kobeščak, MD
OMI fellow from Croatia
“Dr. Crevenna delivered an incredibly motivating talk on oncological rehabilitation, CIPN, and extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT). His lecture highlighted that we should not hesitate to utilize physical therapy modalities for oncological patients. Since we have recently introduced focused ESWT at my hospital, I found his insights into its various applications particularly timely and valuable.”
