By Dr Leong Jern-Lin, Prof Bradley Marple & A/Prof Wang De-Yun
Course Directors
1st International Basic Allergy Course

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We are proud to announce the 1st International Basic Allergy Course which will be held in Singapore from 28-30 July 2010.

This course is co-presented with the American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy (AAOA) and the ASEAN Rhinology Society (ARS). This marks the first time that such a course which follows closely the ‘Basic Allergy Course’ curriculum by AAOA is held in Asia!

Allergy is one of the most common and important diseases which ENT specialists and all medical practitioners face in their daily practice. As it is a multi-systemic disease, it can manifest in many areas of ENT practice. Therefore, having an in-depth knowledge of ENT Allergy will enable the practitioner to manage their patients better.

ENT Allergy practice in Southeast Asia is fairly varied. There are centres of excellence in ENT Allergy and yet some other practices are still at its infancy. We are thus grateful to have both the support of the AAOA International Task Force and prominent regional ENT Allergy specialists in bringing this course together. This course would serve as a platform for everyone to learn from both international and regional experts in ENT Allergy. Hopefully, this would help to expand ENT Allergy practice in this region.

This 3-day course focuses on basic allergy concepts. Understanding of the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment will be emphasized. Other topics including food allergy, asthma and sublingual immunotherapy will be taught. There will also be hands-on practicum on intradermal and skin prick testing. The latest innovation and the future of allergy treatment will also be shared. At the end of the course, a ‘Certificate of Merit’ will be given to participants who have attained a certain standard in the end-of-course MCQ examination.

Over the years, we have come to realise that we share our patients with health care professionals of different backgrounds. This includes nurses, pharmacists, family physicians as well as traditional medicine practitioners. Thus our course is open not only to ENT doctors but also to all others in the medical field. This presents a unique opportunity for us to understand and interact with one another for the benefit of our patients.

We aim and hope to make the 1st International Basic Allergy Course the best ENT Allergy academic event in this region and we look forward to your participation and support.