Weill Cornell Medicine ophthalmologists take part in medical missions, research collaborations, and educational programs throughout the world. They can diagnose and treat eye conditions in a full range of complexities, are committed to the excellent provision of a complete range of ophthalmic services, as well as educate other physicians around the world on how to do so. This includes the long time Salzburg Weill Cornell Seminar in Ophthalmology, which took place at Schloss Arenberg this week for the 17th time.
The highly regarded faculty was led by Dr. Gary J. Lelli Jr., Vice Chair and Associate Professor of Ophthalmology as well as Director of Ophthalmic Plastic, Reconstructive and Orbital Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Herbert A. Reitsamer, Chairman of the Department of Ophthalmology and Director of the research program of experimental Ophthalmology at the Paracelsus Private Medical University/SALK in Salzburg, was the co-course director for the week, and Dr. Marc J. Dinkin, Dr. Kyle J. Godfrey, and Dr. Leila Rafla-Demetrious were present from Weill Cornell Medicine. Dr. Susanne Binder, Dr. Johann Colvin, Dr. Christiane I. Falkner-Radler, and Dr. Ulrike Stolba served as local Austrian faculty.
35 fellows from 26 nations joined the seminar, attending 22 didactic lectures that covered topics such as orbital tumors, decision making in glaucoma therapies, surgical cases in retina: macular hole, update and pearls in periocular trauma, current treatment in retinal detachment, innervisions: cortical disorders of vision, and more. Two sessions were dedicated to fellows’ case presentations, which gave fellows the opportunity to present unique cases that fellows and faculty could discuss and provided feedback on. Eight cases were chosen by the faculty as excellent case presentations, which will be published on the OMI’s e-learning platform.
Salzburg weather in April is unpredictable, so a rainy, free afternoon on Wednesday encouraged fellows to visit local cafes, museums, or to stroll the streets with an umbrella while soaking in the beautiful Austrian architecture. The US faculty ventured to Munich for the afternoon, taking a well-deserved break from the academic program.
Although the fellows were flooded with updated information this week, it always feels like the time goes too fast. The Friday evening graduation dinner and ceremony concluded the seminar and gave the fellows and faculty the opportunity to reminisce about the week and to be excited about all they have learned and can now apply to their practices back home!
Gary J. Lelli Jr., MD
OMI Course Director
Weill Cornell Ophthalmology partnered with Austrian ophthalmologists to deliver this week’s OMI seminar to 35 fellows from more than 25 countries. We focused on current concepts and updates in oculoplastic surgery, glaucoma, and retina. The fellows were outstanding – collaborative, motivated, and dedicated to furthering their knowledge. The goal is for them to share this new information with their colleagues and patients in their home countries.
