Developing Specialized Care in Latin America

Specialized care in pediatric pulmonology remains limited in many parts of the world, especially in low and middle-income countries. Respiratory diseases are among the leading causes of illness and death in children under five, yet the number of trained pediatric pulmonologists is still far from sufficient. In Latin America, this gap is visible. In countries like Nicaragua and Bolivia, access to the subspecialty is extremely limited, with only a small number of specialists serving large populations (Pan American Health Organization).

Targeting this challenge in Latin America, OMI MEX marked an important step forward with its first seminar dedicated to pediatric pulmonology in Mexico City. Together were 32 fellows from across the region, including Bolivia, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, and Nicaragua.

The seminar was led by our outstanding partner in Pediatrics, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Dr. Danna Tauber, professor of clinical pediatrics and senior medical director for inpatient pulmonary and sleep medicine at CHOP, served as course director. She was joined by co-course director Dr. Ernst Eber from the Medical University of Graz, representing Europe. Additional faculty from CHOP included Dr. Pelton Phinizy and Dr. Ambika Shenoy. The local faculty was represented by Maria Jose Pecero Hidalgo, Medical Subdirector of the Mexican National Institute of Pediatrics in Mexico City.

Over three days, the seminar combined lectures and hands-on sessions covering key areas in pediatric pulmonology. As described by Dr. Tauber:

“Over the course of the three days of talks and hands-on sessions, we covered multiple topics in pediatric pulmonology that affected infants, children, and young adults worldwide. We had lectures on airway and lung malformations, cystic fibrosis, understanding presentations of upper and lower airway obstruction, foreign body aspiration, advanced diagnostic bronchoscopy and interventional bronchoscopy, pediatric obstructive sleep apnea, mechanical ventilation, and pulmonary manifestations of neuromuscular disease. We conducted hands-on sessions in flexible bronchoscopy, airway intubation, and using pulmonary function testing to aid in diagnosis of pediatric lung diseases. I think the heart of the course academically was how to approach common and uncommon lung and airway diseases in infants and children, and also to highlight advances in diagnostic evaluation of these disorders.”

Reflecting on her experience, Dr. Tauber noted:

“It was eye-opening. Lung and airway diseases in infants and children are worldwide, and the commitment to caring for these patients is universal despite differences in resources that exist. These young clinicians are embracing every opportunity to expand their knowledge with such creativity, which I found inspiring. I feel like I learned as much, if not more, from them than they learned from me.”

This first OMI MEX seminar in pediatric pulmonology not only addressed a critical gap in specialized training but also strengthened connections across institutions in Latin America. The seminar reflected a shared goal of OMI and CHOP: to improve care for children with respiratory diseases through education, collaboration, and skill-building.

We extend our sincere thanks to CHOP for its continued partnership and commitment to advancing pediatric education across OMI’s three hubs in Salzburg, Mexico City, and Vietnam. Looking ahead, we remain focused on expanding access to specialized training and creating lasting impact in pediatric care where it is needed most.