714 - Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Report 2020
714 - Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Report 2020
714 - Pediatric Allergy and Immunology Report 2020
I C A L INSTI
MED
OPEN
o l o g y
d I mmun
r g y a n 2 02 0
ric A l l e RE P O R T
e d i a t I N A R
P SEM
Table of Contents
2. Schedule
3. Faculty Biographies
5. Diaries
a Program of the
™
Introductions Overview of IgE FA Preschool Wheeze Biologics & Asthma EoE & FPIES
08:00 09:00
Pre-Seminar Test
Livia M. Gona-Hoepler, MD Zsolt Szepfalusi, MD Rene Gaupmann, MD Laura Gober, MD
PID Overview Anaphylaxis Persistent Asthma Angioedema Rhinitis & Ocular Allergy
09:00 10:00
Jennifer Heimall, MD Livia M. Gona-Hoepler, MD Zsolt Szepfalusi, MD Rene Gaupmann, MD Terri F. Brown-Whitehorn, MD
10:00 10:30 COFFEE BREAK COFFEE BREAK COFFEE BREAK COFFEE BREAK COFFEE BREAK
Workshop
16:00 17:00 How to Present a Case
Rushani W. Saltzman, MD
Workshop
Case Presentations
17:00 18:00 by Faculty to Fellows
Rushani W. Saltzman, MD
Zsolt Szepfalusi, MD
FACULTY MEETING TO
18:00 19:00 FAREWELL RECEPTION
REVIEW THE WEEK
DINNER
GRADUATION DINNER
19:00 20:00 DINNER FACULTY DINNER DINNER DINNER
Certificates Awarded
WELCOME RECEPTION & IN PRIVATE HOME
DINNER
20:30 – 21:30
20:00 21:00
CHAMBER MUSIC CONCERT
Learning Objectives for Participants
At the conclusion of this seminar, the participant should be better able to:
1. Understand the clinical presenting signs and symptoms for common primary immunodeficiencies, discuss their diagnosis, and review current treatment modalities.
2. Compare and contrast IgE-mediated and non-IgE mediated food allergies (diagnosis, management, treatment) and highlight state of the art food allergy therapeutics. Review strategies for primary prevention
of food allergy.
3. Discuss the evaluation and diagnosis of asthma in children, including a review of preschool wheezing and asthma mimickers. Compare and contrast guidelines for asthma treatment used in the United States vs.
Europe. Discuss emerging therapies like biologic agents used in specific asthma endotypes.
4. Review additional atopic conditions seen in pediatric patients including allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, angioedema, venom allergy, and drug allergy.
FACULTY
Wolfgang Aulitzky, MD is the Medical Director of the
American Austrian Foundation. He is Associate Dean for
International Medicine and Distance Learning, Adjunct Prof. of
Clinical Urology and Adjunct Prof. of Clinical Reproductive
Medicine at the Weill Medical College of Cornell
University/New York Presbyterian Hospital. In 2016, he was
appointed Adjunct Professor of Pediatrics in the Associated
Faculty of the Perelman School of Medicine at the Children’s
Hospital of Philadelphia. He is also Associate Prof. of Urology
at the Medical University of Innsbruck and Visiting Professor
at the Medical University of Vienna. Amongst others he is a
member of the American, German and Austrian Societies of
Urology and was awarded the Zuckerkandlpreis of the
Austrian Society of Urology in 1989. In 1995 he received the
Silver Medal, in 2007 the Golden Medal for Merits to the
Republic of Austria and in 2014 the cross of honor of the Land
Salzburg. As Director of the Medical Program of the American
Austrian Foundation he has initiated the Open Medical
Institute, a scientific and educational collaboration of Weill
Cornell and the NewYork Presbyterian Hospital, the Children
Hospital of Philadelphia, Duke University, Columbia
University, the Cleveland Clinic and leading hospitals in
Austria. Dr. Aulitzky earned his medical degree at the
University of Innsbruck in 1977, was a research associate at
the University of Uppsala, Sweden and the Rockefeller
University, New York. He received his training as an urologist
at the University of Innsbruck and the General Hospital of
Salzburg. He is the author of more than 140 publications on
Urology, Andrology and Health Care issues and is co-author
of books on basic and clinical urology/andrology.
Wolfgang Aulitzky, MD
Phone: +43-1-533-8658
Fax: +43-1-533-8658-10
Email: w.aulitzky@openmedicalinstitute.org
Rushani W. Saltzman, MD (Course Director) is a Pediatric
Allergist and Immunologist who has a special interest in food
allergies. Dr. Saltzman was born in Philadelphia, PA and was
raised in Cinnaminson, a South Jersey suburb near
Philadelphia. She graduated from a combined B.S.-M.D.
program through Temple University and Temple University
School of Medicine in Philadelphia. For her General Pediatrics
internship and residency, she was trained under Dr. Stephen
Ludwig at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
She remained at CHOP to serve her fellowship in Allergy and
Immunology. As a fellow, she led two research studies for
food oral immunotherapy, where patients with food allergy to
milk and egg were successfully desensitized to milk protein
and egg protein, respectively. She was appointed to the
faculty at Perelman School of Medicine at the University of
Pennsylvania in 2014 and serves as a Clinical Assistant
Professor in the Department of Pediatrics. She is board-
certified by the American Board of Pediatrics as well as the
American Board of Allergy & Immunology. She is also a fellow
of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and
Immunology (AAAAI). Dr. Saltzman primarily practices in the
New Jersey CHOP specialty care offices. While she enjoys all
aspects of care in A/I, she has a special interest in food
allergies, associated co-morbidities, and treatment modalities,
including food desensitization protocols. She continues to
participate in research protocols with the division and has
published in peer-reviewed journals in the field. Dr. Saltzman
takes great pride in offering comprehensive care for her
patients. She has received numerous “Top Doctor” awards
through South Jersey Magazine. Most recently, she was
awarded the prestigious Master Clinician Award by the
Department of Pediatrics at CHOP in 2019. In addition to
participating in patient care, Dr. Saltzman enjoys teaching and
outreach. She works with medical students as well as
residents and fellows not only at CHOP, but from community
programs as well. She has presented workshops as well as
seminars and oral and poster sessions with the AAAAI and
the ACAAI. She serves as a co-course director for the annual
A/I CME session sponsored by the Division of Allergy &
Immunology. In addition, she conducts lectures with local and
regional pediatricians and providers.
Rushani W. Saltzman, MD
Attending Physician
Division of Allergy & Immunology
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Specialty Care Center
1012 Laurel Oak Road
Laurel Oak Corporate Center
Voorhees NJ, 08043
USA
Phone: +1-215-590-2549
Fax: +1-215-590-6849
Email: saltzmanr@email.chop.edu
Born in Vienna, Zsolt Szepfalusi (Co-Course Director)
made his scholarship (french school 1981) and undergraduate
studies (medical faculty 1989) in Vienna. He was involved in
early times in research projects at the Harry Pearlman
Biochemical Institute in Miami/US. After graduation (1989) he
returned to finish his studies until starting his postgraduate
studies in Immunology at the Institute of Pathophysiology with
Prof. Kraft. Early development of IgE-mediated allergies and
the mode of materno-fetal interaction in this context were his
primary research topics. These fields inspired him to work
with children and thus merged to the Department of Pediatrics
(Prof. Urbanek) in 1993. He started his training in pediatrcis
and continued his research activities on materno-fetal allergen
interactions. He was able to show in various human models
(including an ex-vivo materno-fetal perfusion model) that
prenatal materno-fetal allergen transfer happens and induces
an allergen-specific immune response in the offspring. He
was involved in many EU-funded projects (ALLERGEST,
REDALL, GALEN, EUROPREVALL, GLOFAL and FWF-
funded single projects, FSB (Forschungsschwerpunkt) and
SFB (Schwerpunktforschungsbereich). Zsolt Szepfalusi heads
a large research group, members of which having received
research fellowships at Harvard Medical School (Dr. Eleonora
Dehlink; Austrian Academy of Sciences) and the Swiss
Institute of Allergy Research in Davos (Dr. Thomas
Eiwegger). Both colleagues have been appointed in reknown
international institutes (Imperial college of London; Sickkids
University in Toronto). Szepfalusi published more than 140
publications in peer-reviewed journals. Since his graduation to
an associate professor 1999 he is permanently involved in
teaching activities (over 30 doctoral thesis in medicine and
food sciences; 5 PhD thesis in Immunology; 2 habilitations;
involvement in 3 doctor med. scienciae/PhD programmes in
„Immunology“ and „Transplantation“ and “Mollecular, Cellular
and Clinical Allergology”). In 2009, Zsolt Szepfalusi has been
appointed “Europ. Pediatric Allergologist” according to the
UEMS criteria. In 2015 Zsolt Szepfalusi has become head of
the task group of pediatric pneumology and allergology of the
Austrian Society of Pediatrics (until 2020).
Zsolt Szepfalusi, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
Head
Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergy, Cystic Fibrosis and Lung
Transplantation
Division of Ped. Pulmonology, Allergy and Endocrinology
Department of Pediatrics
Medical University of Vienna
Waehringer Guertel 18-20
1090 Vienna
Austria
Email: zsolt.szepfalusi@meduniwien.ac.at
Terri F. Brown-Whitehorn, MD is an Associate Professor of
Clinical Pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the
University of Pennsylvania and an Attending Physician in the
division of Allergy and Immunology at The Children’s Hospital
of Philadelphia. She graduated from the University of
Missouri, Kansas City, and did a post- doctoral research year
at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis,
Tennessee. She did both her residency and fellowship at The
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. While her primary clinical
and research interests have been in the care of children with
food allergies (including those with anaphylaxis, IgE mediated
food allergy, food protein induced enterocolitis and
eosinophilic esophagitis), she loves seeing patients with
asthma and allergic rhinoconjunctivitis. She also enjoys her
work with trainees (medical students, residents and fellows)
as well as mentoring young faculty. She is one of the
pioneering clinicians in “joint clinics”, where patients are seen
by multiple specialists at the same time. In recognition of her
dedication to the care of patients, in 2010, she was nominated
by her colleagues and received The Children’s Hospital of
Philadelphia Master Clinician Award. Over her career, she has
co-authored peer reviewed papers, book chapters, and
recently edited her first book. In addition, she has spoken
locally, nationally, and internationally.
Terri F. Brown-Whitehorn, MD
Associate Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of
Pennsylvania
Attending Physician
Buerger Center for Advanced Pediatric Care
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
3500 Civic Center Boulevard, Wood Building, Room 3300
Philadelphia, PA 19104
USA
Phone: +1-267-426-5277
Fax: +1-215-590-6849
Email: brownte@email.chop.edu
Rene Gaupmann, MD is a resident at the University Hospital
of Vienna at the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent
Medicine, division of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergoloy and
Endocrinology. Before his clinical career, he attended the
Medical University of Vienna, during that time he spent one
year as an exchange student at the Karolinska Institutet in
Stockholm. Beside clinical care of pediatric patients, he is
doing his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Szepfalusi
and Dr. Dehlink in the research field of organ failure, focusing
on cystic fibrosis (CF) and primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD),
the clinical and physiologic consequences of CFTR-
dysfunction and mucociliary clearance. Apart from respiratory
disorders, the research group focuses mainly on atopic
diseases, especially pediatric food allergies, implementation of
oral food challenges from the inpatient setting into daily life.
Rene Gaupmann, MD
Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
Medical University of Vienna
Waehringer Guertel 18-20
1090 Vienna
Austria
Email: rene.gaupmann@meduniwien.ac.at
Laura Gober, MD started her career in allergy and
immunology as a postdoctoral research fellow in a basophil
biology lab at Johns Hopkins in the division of Allergy and
Clinical Immunology studying the role of basophils in patients
with chronic urticaria. She then embarked on clinical training
as a fellow in allergy and immunology at The Children’s
Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) with research focusing on
eosinophilic esophagitis. Now as an attending physician at
CHOP, Dr. Gober spends the majority of her time seeing
patients in allergy clinic or the Center for Pediatric
Eosinophilic Disorders (a multi-disciplinary clinic with allergy,
nutrition, and gastroenterology). When not in the clinic, she
supervises food challenges or medical students, residents,
and fellows in the inpatient and outpatient setting at CHOP.
She is also co-director of “Practical Review for the Clinician:
Pediatric Allergy, Immunology, and Infectious Diseases” at
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, a one day course
targeted towards physicians, nurse practitioners, and nurses
providing up-to-date discussions on “hot topics” in the fields of
allergy, immunology, and infectious diseases. She also gives
lectures in the community on a wide variety of pediatric allergy
topics. Dr. Gober strongly believes that providing streamlined
strategies for our colleagues in the community on the
management of allergic disorders such as atopic dermatitis
and food allergies can drastically change the quality of life of
patients and families and improve efficiency in the healthcare
system by targeting those children requiring subspecialty
attention and providing effective management strategies for
those that do not.
Laura Gober, MD
Attending Physician
Division of Allergy & Immunology
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Brandywine Valley Subspecialty Care Center
Department of Allergy & Immunology
819 Baltimore Pike
Glen Mills, PA 19342
USA
Phone: +1-267-425-8518
Email: goberl@email.chop.edu
Livia M. Gona-Hoepler, MD is a pediatric resident doctor who
specializes in allergology and pulmonology. Dr. Gona-Hoepler
grew up and studied in Vienna and graduated from the
Medical University of Vienna. She began her pediatric
residency in the working group of Allergology and
Pulmonology led by Prof. Zsolt Szepfalusi at the pediatric
department at the Medical University Vienna. Pediatric
specialties treated in the department are allergology with oral
food challenge, asthma, primary ciliary dyskinesia, cystic
fibrosis and lung transplantation. She is going to complete her
residency in 2020. Dr. Gona-Hoepler’s research interests
include interstitial lung disease of the childhood. She lives in
Burgenland with her husband and children.
Livia M. Gona-Hoepler, MD
Division of Ped. Pulmonology, Allergy and Endocrinology
Department of Pediatrics
Medical University of Vienna
Waehringer Guertel 18-20
1090 Vienna
Austria
Jennifer Heimall, MD
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Division of Allergy and Immunology
Wood 3301
3401 Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
USA
Phone: +1-215-590-2549
Fax: +1-215-590-4529
Email: heimallj@email.chop.edu
Fellow Booklet 714SPPS20 Pediatric Allergy and
Immunology
Tina Ahačič, MD
Hospital Jesenice
Department of Pediatrics
Trata 49
4270 Jesenice
Slovenia
tinajuros@gmail.com
Aliya Amangeldiyeva, MD
Institute of Pediatrics and Child Health
Department of Pediatrics
Alfarabi 146
05006 Almaty
Kazakhstan
dr.aaa14@mail.ru
Matthias Brandlmaier, MD
Landeskrankenhaus Salzburg
Department of Dermatology
Muellner Hauptstrasse 48
5020 Salzburg
Austria
m.brandlmaier@salk.at
Gayane Danielyan, MD
Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi
Department of Pediatrics
Muratsan 114
0075 Yerevan
Armenia
gaianadanielian@yahoo.com
Teresa Fuchs, MD
Medizinische Universität Innsbruck
Department of Pediatrics
Anichstraße 35
6020 Innsbruck
Austria
teresa.fuchs@tirol-kliniken.at
Elina Gelman, MD
Ha-Emek Medical Center
Department of Pediatrics
Itzhak Rabin Square, 21
183411 Afula
Israel
elinahelman@gmail.com
Sabina Khalilova, MD
Azerbaijan Medical University
Department of Pediatrics
Babek Avenue 85 k
AZ1000 Baku
Azerbaijan
dr.sabrina@mail.ru
Gvantsa Kvantaliani, MD
Mrcheveli - Pediatrics
Department of Pediatrics
Chavchavadze 49
0177 Tibilisi
Georgia
kvantalianigvantsa94@gmail.com
Alina Makeeva, MD
Novosibirsk State Medical University
Department of Pediatrics
Zalesskogo 6 k.9
630075 Novosibirsk
Russian Federation
alina.ngmu@mail.ru
Magdalena Maneva, MD
General Hospital Kichevo
Department of Pediatrics
Marshal Tito 42
6250 Kichevo
North Macedonia
magdalenamaneva@yahoo.com
Lamesginew Melaku, MD
Wachamo University
Department of Pediatrics
Hossana
22 Hossana
Ethiopia
lamesginm@yahoo.com
Maria Milenina, MD
Saint-Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University
Department of Pediatrics
Litovskaja, 2
190000 Saint Petersburg
Russian Federation
alemaria@mail.ru
Olesea Nicu, MD
3th City Children's Clinical Hospital
Department of Pediatrics
149, Grenoble
MD-2060 Chisinau
Moldova
nicu.olesea8@gmail.com
Ieva Nokalna, MD
Riga Stradiņš University
Department of Pediatrics
Dzirciema 16
LV-1007 Riga
Latvia
ieva.nokalna@gmail.com
Jorge Ocampo, MD
Hospital General Silao
Department of Pediatrics
San Bernardo 39
36112 Silao
Mexico
jocampo_martin@hotmail.com
Eugenia Petrescu, MD
Clinical Emergency Hospital for Children "Grigore Alexandrescu"
Department of Pediatrics
B-dul Iancu de Hunedoara nr 30-32
011743 Bucharest
Romania
eugenia.voiasciuc@gmail.com
Daniela Potyszova, MD
Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Alergomed
Department of Pediatrics
Nam. Svobody 528
73961 Trinec
Czech Republic
daniela.potyszova@gmail.com
Ledia Qatipi, MD
ABC Health Foundation
Department of Family Medicine
Rr. QEMAL STAFA NR.260
1001 Tirane
Albania
gatipilediamd@gmail.com
Alejandra Ramirez, MD
Hospital Christus Muguerza Reynosa
Department of Pediatrics
Tiburcio Garza Zamora km 5.5
88610 Reynosa
Mexico
dra.alejandraivonne@gmail.com
Anastasiia Romanchuk, MD
Shupyk National Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education
Department of Pediatrics
Sholudenko, 4
01135 Kyiv
Ukraine
burdeyna19@ukr.net
Jelena Roomet, MD
East Tallinn Central Hospital
Department of Pediatrics
Pärnu road, 104
11312 Tallinn
Estonia
jelena@loginet.ee
Aleksandra Rucinska, MD
Oncology Center of Zagłębie
Department of Pediatrics
Szpitalna 13
41300 Dąbrowa Górnicza
Poland
doktorola@interia.pl
Taulant Shala, MD
Univeristy Clinical Center of Kosovo
Department of Pediatrics
Pristina 10000
10000 Pristina
Kosovo
taulant.shala@hotmail.com
Khatia Shukakidze, MD
Tbilisi Pediatric Private Clinic
Department of Pediatrics
Temka, me-11 Microdsitrict
0178 Tbilisi
Georgia
khshukakidze@yahoo.com
Dominika Snaukova, MD
Children University Hospital Banská Bystrica
Department of Pediatrics
Námestie Ludvika Svobodu 4
97409 Banská Bystrica
Slovakia
snaukovad@gmail.com
Bastsetseg Ulambayar, MD
Grand Prix Dermatology and Allergy Clinic
Department of Dermatology
Sukhbaatar District, 11th khoroolol, Orient Center
14171 Sukhbaatar district, Ulaanbaatar city
Mongolia
bastsetseg0413@gmail.com
Maria Zoto, MD
Hygeie Tirana
Department of Pediatrics
Autostrada Tirane-Durres
1000 Tirana
Albania
maria.zoto.22@gmail.com
SEMINAR DIARY FROM FELLOW
Alina Makeeva, MD
Novosibirsk State Medical University
Novosibirsk, Russian Federation
February 2 - 8, 2020
February 2, Sunday. I arrived at Salzburg Airport in the early morning and despite a 14-hours trip I
didn’t feel tired. The sun was shining, I saw beautiful mountains, breathed in extremely fresh air and
my mood was just perfect. By bus I was at Schloss Arenberg in 25 minutes. The App maps.me and Sbg
Verkehr helped me to find a right bus and be confident in Salzburg. After having a breakfast at Schloss
Arenberg I decided to go for a walk and explore Salzburg. I was walking along the river Salzach,
watching old buildings, the Mönchsberg, visited the Cathedral and bought some Mozartkugeln in the
Fürst Konditorei. In the evening, we had the Welcome Dinner. I was really inspired and motivated by
Prof. Aulitzky´s speech. I also met the Faculty members, my colleagues from Eastern Europe, Africa and
Mexico and then we had a tasty dinner.
February 3, Monday. Today it was the first day of the Seminar. In the beginning we wrote the pre-
seminar test, which was very important for me, because I realized my weak sides and to what lectures
I should pay more attention. Then Jennifer Heimall, MD had many interesting lectures about
immunodeficiencies and autoinflammatory syndromes until 3 p.m. It was a little bit difficult, but we
learned a lot useful things. Then Rushani Saltzman, MD told us, how to present cases. It was raining all
day, but I decided to go for a walk outside and climb a small hill. I was amazed by the colors of nature:
orange and red trees, dark green grass and very bright green moss. It seemed like it was late autumn.
In the evening my colleagues and me from the former Soviet Union were discussing clinical cases from
the Faculty Members, shared our clinical experience and had a dinner. After a dinner we were in the
Soros Library and were editing our presentations according to Rushani Saltzman’s recommendations.
February 4, Tuesday. Today I woke up a little bit nervous, but at the same time very excited, because
we should present our clinical cases in the afternoon. In the morning we had lectures about food
allergy and got a lot of useful advice for a clinical practice. Then it was my first experience of presenting
in English. My colleagues were very professional and I was proud that I am amongst such excellent
specialists. After the dinner the fellow from Salzburg showed us the Old Town and then we went to a
bar with its own brewery near the University Clinic of Salzburg. We had a really good time there.
Salzburg is wonderful at night even when it’s raining and cold outside.
February 5, Wednesday. In the morning we had lectures about asthma. It’s very important for me to
distinguish better asthma, pre-school wheezing and asthma mimickers, because sometimes it’s really
difficult in an outpatient setting. One of my Czech colleagues had her birthday today, so we bought
flowers and sang a song “Happy birthday to you!” altogether. I hope she was glad and happy. After
lunch another Czech fellow invited us to a Spring Immunological School in Kutna Hora. Another
opportunity to become a better specialist and help more children with primary immunodeficiencies.
Today it was snowing, I was enjoying it like a child. I like all types of weather, especially in such a
beautiful place. We had a free afternoon, so me and my Czech and Slovak friends went shopping, then
I visited the “Museum der Moderne”, because I adore modern art. In the evening we continued
celebrating the birthday at the Armenian Lounge. We were playing football and laughing a lot.
February 6, Thursday. Today we received new information about biologicals in asthma, angioedemas
and chronic urticarias. All lectures during the whole week were just superb and I even can’t say which
one was the best. After lunch we had another workshop. I was enjoying clinical cases of my colleagues,
I think sharing experience between doctors from different countries will help me to be a better
specialist. In my opinion it’s extremely important and useful. After dinner we went to a Chamber Music
Concert. I’ve had a great range of emotions during the concert. I was crying, I was smiling, I was
dreaming. I’m so grateful that except excellent seminars we have also a great cultural program. Now
I’m going to enjoy wine and share my emotions about the concert.
February 7, Friday. Today was the saddest day, because it was the last day here. We’ve had other
useful lectures about drug and insect allergies, which is very common in my region. Later I decided to
take the “Untersbergbahn” to climb the Untersberg, because we had some free time. It was just great.
In the evening we had a final dinner and congratulated the best fellows. It was the best week I’ve ever
had!
Daniela Potyszova, MD
Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Allergomed
Trinec, Czech Republic
February 2 – 8, 2020
February 2, Sunday. I reached Schloss Arenberg several hours in advance. We were accommodated in
nice comfortable rooms. In the evening we gathered in the lobby to meet the faculty members and
other participants and then enjoyed a tasty dinner in a pleasurable atmosphere.
February 3, Monday. At 8 a.m. we took the pre-seminar test, I was not completely sure about all the
questions but hopefully I will get the right answers during the week. After that we had several lectures
on immunodeficiency given by Dr. Jennifer Heimall from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, which
really helped me to understand more about this complicated topic. After a short break, the course
director Dr. Rushani Saltzman gave us some useful tips on how to present the case and introduced
CHOP. Although it was raining all day, we decided to take a walk to the city center before dinner.
February 4, Tuesday. First talks of the day covered the basics of IgE mediated food allergy and
anaphylaxis and were given by Dr. Livia Gona-Hoepler from Vienna. After the coffee break Dr. Rushani
Saltzman continued with more profound aspects of food allergy, therapy and prevention. In the
afternoon hours the first half of fellows were presenting their case studies, I think all of us really
enjoyed it even though we finished after the scheduled time. One participant of the seminar was from
Salzburg and showed us a little of the Salzburg center, but due to the heavy snowing we ended up in a
local brewery to have a glass of beer.
February 5, Wednesday. Today´s talks about preschool wheeze, asthma and spirometry were
presented by Dr. Szepfalusi from Vienna and Dr. Brown-Whitehorn from CHOP and were followed by
rich discussion. After lunch we had a free afternoon. We could enjoy Salzburg highlights: the historic
city center, Hohensalzburg fortress, Mirabell Schloss or have a cake and cup of coffee in some of the
nice local coffee bars. Some of us went shopping for souvenirs and presents for the family and friends.
February 6, Thursday. The programme started with biologics in asthma treatment and was followed
by talks about angioedema and skin diseases. After lunch the second half of fellows presented their
cases. Even though presenting can cause some discomfort and be a little stressful, I find it really useful
because you can discuss the diagnostic procedures and treatment of rare or common diseases and see
how they are managed in different parts of the world. After dinner we could enjoy a nice chamber
music concert.
February 7, Friday. As the last day came, the atmosphere became a little bit nostalgic. The first half of
the day was dedicated to other interesting topics including the overview of venom and drug allergy
and we finished with the post-seminar test. Overall, I enjoyed the seminar very much, it was well
organized, the topics presented by professionals covered most areas of Pediatric Allergy and
Immunology. Last but not least I met new friends from different parts of the world. I would be very
grateful to be selected for the seminar again.