Baku, Azerbaijan: 8-9 May 2025

The Azerbaijan Society of Allergology, Immunology and Immunorehabilitation hosted its first World Allergy Training School (WATS) in Baku, Azerbaijan.

WATS is part of WAO’s Emerging Societies Program (ESP), with the objective to develop learning communities appropriate to a specific regional context while strengthening existing knowledge and skills for treating all allergic diseases. The WATS are made possible through the support of the World Allergy Organization and the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI).

The international WAO faculty included allergy experts from the United States and Egypt. Dr. Dana Wallace (United States), past Co-chair and Advisor of the ESP/WATS committee and faculty lead was joined by Dr. Elham Hossny (Egypt) and Dr. Mervat Nassef (United States). The local organizers, Prof. Tahira Panahova and Prof. Emil Hidayatl, served as moderators along with Prof. Lala Allahverdiyeva and Prof. Kamal Hajiyev.

The WATS agenda incorporated an interactive teaching approach and included lectures on asthma, drug allergy, atopic dermatitis, urticaria, angioedema, anaphylaxis, and diagnostic testing. Attendees participated in hands-on workshops corresponding with each lecture.

With 107 registered WATS/conference attendees, representing students, residents, allergy fellows, and established practicing physicians, this educational event provided an excellent learning experience combining didactic lectures and workshops with collaboration and informal sharing of practice experience. Many thanks to all who participated and helped to organize this successful event.