Moscow, Russia: 19 October 2018

The Emerging Societies Program (ESP), a joint program of the World Allergy Association (WAO) and American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI), held a World Allergy Training School (WATS) at the Radisson Royal Moscow Hotel, Moscow, Russia on 19 October 2018, with over 100 participants from Russia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, and Moldova participating. The majority were medical students, residents, fellows, and young practicing physicians who were eager to enrich their medical education in the field of allergy and immunology.

The WATS was held the opening day program of the XII World Congress on Asthma, COPD and Immunopathology, organized by the Commonwealth of Independent States Society of Allergology and Immunology (CIS Society) under the direction of Professor Revaz Sepiashvili. The WATS was supported by multiple international organizations including WAO, ACAAI, and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI).

The WATS faculty, Professors Elham Hossny (Egypt), Bryan Martin (United States), Allan Kaplan (United States), and Dana Wallace (United States), presented a combination of lectures and hands-on workshop on allergy skin testing and immunotherapy, chronic urticarial/angioedema, asthma, and contact dermatitis. The excitement of seeing a positive prick skin test to dust mite and practicing filling Finn Chambers for patch testing was experienced by all. The WATS participants continued to form a large part of the general congress audience for the remainder of the congress which concluded on 21 October 2018.

The WATS faculty also participated in the general congress, each presenting on two key topics in allergy/immunology. Dr. Martin and Dr. Wallace had an opportunity to participate in the pre-opening ceremony that was held at the Allergy Training Program and Research Institute at RUDN University in Moscow. It was an intense, rewarding 4 days spent enriching and advancing the field of allergy/immunology.