I know, I know. You’re wondering, what would be worth a second trip across the Atlantic just one week after returning from London? I’ll tell you. The Salzburg Seminars, that’s what.
This was my third time serving as a volunteer faculty member at the Open Medical Institute’s Salzburg Seminars – a week long intensive training for physicians from Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the former Soviet Union, and this year for the first time, Qatar. Funded by the American Austrian Foundation and held at the beautiful Schloss Arenberg (photo above), the Seminars are a great chance to update the old slide set and meet some amazing individuals who practice medicine without the resources we take for granted here in the United States.
This year, I gave lectures on Family Planning, Vaginal and Vulvar Diseases and Menopause. My colleagues from Weill Cornell Medical College and the University of Vienna tackled Uterine Fibroids, Gynecologic Cancers, Obstetrical Ultrasound, Ob and Gyn Hemorrhage and Emergencies, Ethics, Patient Safety and the Internet in Medicine. The international fellows gave some amazing case presentations for discussion.
We had lots of conversations about healthcare in our respective countries. And all I can say is, despite all the issues we have in the United States, I wouldn’t want to be practicing medicine anywhere else but here. Not when I hear tale of docs whose only way of surviving financially is to take tips from patients who pay to squeeze into the surgical schedule ahead of the cue. Or of abdominal emergencies handled in hospitals that don’t have a CT scanner. And not a single fellow has a microscope in their office, forcing them to rely on gram stain only for management of vaginitis. (A poor substitute for an in office wet prep in my opinion.)
Most of these docs would give their eye teeth to spend some time learning medicine in the United Sates, be it something as simple as an observership or as complex as a second residency. Unfortunately, visa regulations in their countries and ours make this extremely difficult. But all of them will be offered observerships in Vienna and in Germany at the Institute’s expense.
I’ve been part of the Salzburg Seminars for nine years now, and each time I return anticipating that there can’t be much for me to teach these doctors now that the Internet has reached Eastern Europe. But up to date information, while freely flowing, is not free. I forget that my own unlimited access via Cornell’s Online Medical Library is a luxury most physicians do not have. Just having the latest English-language textbook in their field is considered a major coup for these hard working docs, who grilled me on which textbooks I recommended. I admitted that I left textbooks long ago for online access, and advised them that a better use of their limited funds might be an annual subscription to Up To Date. (At least the exchange rate will be in their favor…).
One thing we can all afford to do is to stay in touch, and I look forward to keeping in contact with all the wonderful doctors I met last week. (Already I’ve gotten two new friend requests from them on Facebook). I gave them the address of my blog, and told them all about the medical blogosphere and Grand Rounds. Who knows? There could be an aspiring medical blogger among them…
Next up – A Little Tour of Salzburg, and of course some food photos.
Sounds like a great seminar.
UTD is a fantastic recommendation for them. I interviewed at a county hospital that only has ONE COMPUTER IN THE BASEMENT that has UpToDate, and there is often a line to use it. I am not ranking them on my match list 🙂
I agree… even though the system is not perfect, we here in the US are very lucky.
Sounds like a great conference, it’s great that you guys are willing to go and volunteer your time.
Canada is a great place to practice too, and we have universal health insurance! Just putting that out there…
I am sure the seminar was great…
You are not anonymous anymore! Do you feel liberated? Do you have Diana Ross’ “I’m Coming Out” song playing in the backgroud?
Very big and bold step. Congrats!
Schruggling –
It feels great. (I don’t know what I was waiting for…)
Peggy
I must say that as a user of health services here in Germany, after having used top of the line services in NY (including the Hospital of Special Surgery)- I think medical care is great here. I also have many relatives by marriage that are doctors in Germany and Austria and they are darned happy with their lives and the medical degrees which they have at an earlier age (no undergrad degrees- you go straight through) and woth absolutely no debt. It seems their QOL is so much better than my surgeon/neurologist/pediatrician friends at home. And there is top of the line medicine here as well, so I think the Eastern Europeans will do very well with internships in Germany and Austria.
And wow- I was amazed at your “outing”. Congratulations on feeling so comfortable.
(My word is “whimpo” and that’s what I am about my anonymity!)
G-
You won’t get an argument from me regarding the high quality of healthcare in Germany and Austria, and the fellows from the program I met are going to get great training in Vienna. But that doesn’t seem to stop them all from wanting to come to the US.
Go figure.
Thanks for your thoughts.
I. LOVE. SALZBURG!!!
Can’t wait for more pics…
Dear Prof. Polaneczky,
I am one of the participants of this seminar, I was impressed by the wonderful lectures and the medical knowledge I got. I must admit that, Salzburg seminar “opened my mind and my eyes”, changed the way of thinking. After that I was granted and attended a research course at WHO in Geneva, Switzerland, a school in reproductive health in Trieste, Italy and at the moment I am an observer in gyne-oncology in Birmingham, UK. And if possible, I will be happiest to enroll a fellowship in gyne-oncology in the USA, but plan is still in progress.
I got so excited seeing your pictures and reading about you impressions of Salzburg, even one year later. It was one of the nicest experiences I have ever had.
Wish you all the best.
Kind Regards,
Tanja Nikolova
Tanja-
So nice to hear from you, and so happy to hear that our lectures are worthwhile for you! I always have such a wonderful time at the seminars meeting all of you, and for me also these are some of my most wonderful times.
Best of luck as you pursue your career!
Peggy