Puebla, Mexico: October 13-14, 2016

The WAO through the ESP/WATS Committee conducted a World Allergy Training School in Puebla, Mexico October 13-14, 2016. Testing out a new format and audience, we enrolled 30 residents in Allergy and Immunology from Mexico City and the area surrounding Puebla, Mexico. Dr. Maria del Rocio, president of the Puebla College of Allergy and Immunology and Dr. Desiree Larenas Linnemann from Mexico City were both our local organizers and local faculty for the school. The organizers, program directors, and residents selected the topics for discussion and hands-on workshop.

Our ESP/WATS committee developed the program with Dr. Richard Weber, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado teaching the first module on “Contact Dermatitis and Patch Testing”. Dr. David Khan, University of Texas Southwestern University, Dallas, Texas, taught the module on “Drug Allergy” with interactive case discussions. The final modules, “Anaphylaxis and Food Allergy” were taught by Dr. Dana Wallace, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Local moderators and discussion leaders, in addition to the organizers, included Dr. Aida Lopez and Dr. Euberto Mendez.

The emphasis throughout the 1 ½ day school was for interactive student participation, hands-on experience, and case-based learning. The residents felt that getting up at 4 AM and riding the bus for 3 hours to Puebla, staying in class until 5 PM, and dining with WATS faculty and local allergists in the evening made for an enjoyable and very worthwhile educational experience. They wanted to know if we could repeat the school in 2017 with new topics! As you can tell from the photos posted on line, they were an enthusiastic, delightful, energetic group of young allergists. Even after long hours of traveling, lecturing, and very little sleep, the faculty all had smiles on their faces and knew that it had all been worthwhile.

Dana Wallace, MD
ESP/WATS Committee Chair