Medical imaging is a crucial aspect of care when children face health issues like illnesses, sports injuries, or broken bones. Pediatric patients have different needs than adults and therefore require the expertise of radiologists with subspecialized training in pediatric radiology.
Surrounded by the gorgeous autumnal scenery of the Georgian capital city of Tbilisi, the OMI satellite symposium in Pediatric Radiology took place from September 19 to 20, 2024. The event marked the fourth OMI symposium of 2024, with the other three having taken place in Slovakia, Kyrgyzstan, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The event was organized by OMI alumna Dr. Elene Gotsiridze and hosted by the Medical Center Mrcheveli, European Limbach Diagnostic Group. Since its establishment in 1993, this institution has been known for its medical excellence in Georgia.
Dr. Gotsiridze is a staff physician in the radiology department of this center. She attended the 2018 radiology seminar followed by the 2019 pediatric radiology course. In addition, the doctor completed an OMI observership in pediatrics at the Medical University of Graz in 2014 under none other than Dr. Erich Sorantin.
From her past medical education through the OMI, Dr. Gotsiridze was inspired to organize a satellite symposium in pediatric radiology in her home country. She decided to reach out to her past mentor, Dr. Sorantin, to ask him whether he would be willing to share his wisdom with her eager colleagues in Georgia. Dr. Sorantin promptly agreed to this educational endeavor and traveled to Georgia to teach at the symposium.
Dr. Sorantin’s dedication to improving children’s health worldwide is evident through his commitment to educating young medical professionals. He has participated as part of the faculty cohort in nine OMI seminars over the years.
Besides bedside teaching and an ultrasound workshop, there was a mixture of seven didactic lectures, two fellows’ case presentation sessions, a round table event with faculty and experts from the region, where the participants discussed the newest theories and technologies. Some of the lectures given by Dr. Sorantin were “Lung Ultrasound/ Chest Films in Children”, “Urogenital Tract Imaging”, and “Bone Tumors and Tumor Mimics in Children”.
The event was very well received with 70 young radiologists and pediatric radiologists from the region in attendance.
We would like to thank Dr. Erich Sorantin and Dr. Elene Gotsiridze for making this educational event such a success. We look forward to many more satellite symposia hosted in Georgia in the future!
