Internal medicine is part of cognitive medicine, always investigational and incorporating the principle of ‘know-how’. With that characteristics Internal medicine is team – oriented with strong tie – making between peers and colleagues. That’s why it was so important that we all met and discussed in Saas-Fee in the January of 2013. We were all united under the banners of Internal medicine and scientific curiosity.

The Saas-Fee school of 2013 made of all its residents more aware of new scientific achievements. But above all I must underline that we have made possible to learn from each other. Learning process is not about facts and figures but about making brainstorming possible between friends and peers. To learn how others think on the current problem. We all encounter similar or even same controversial problems in our practice but we all differ in the ways we manage them. By working together we are able to have an insight on how our peers and colleagues think and adopt these frameworks of mindset and adjust them into our thinking processes thus making us even better in what we do.

I think that Winter School of Internal medicine is a challenge for us all. It challenged me to beat myself and to be able to grasp new context of Internal medicine in issues that are for universal concern. It is a competition – making me try harder and harder to be the best. The important annotation that I have made while listening to the lectures and being inside the workshops is that I always pushed myself to be better and better. When you have peers from all over the Europe it is natural to find yourself among the best of the best in Europe. I always thought that school brought together all of the ‘crème de la crème’ of young internists of Europe. I truly felt that I am where I belong.

Also, another thing that must be emphasized is that the perfect place for the school has been found. Switzerland. Why Switzerland? The answer is easy – ‘Because it’s Switzerland’. The name of that Alpine country has been the synonym of quality for decades and decades before. So, it was natural to be the host of young internists who are trying and going beyond boundaries. Switzerland is wonderful, full of spirit of science and knowledge – It gives you time to be alone when contemplating about clinical problems and yet you are surrounded with diversity of people when you wish to be with others. And not only with anybody, the presence of sophisticated technology amidst the beautiful landscapes and mountain sceneries which are breathtaking. Where else to host such a school as ESIM Winter school but in Switzerland. It should be and stay an eponym for future reference when Winter school is concerned. To be able to watch icy mountain tops through the windows of the congress center in Saas-Fee and at the same time listen to lectures or participate in clinical – pathological confrontations and conferences is an memorable experience.

Overall experience of the school was overwhelming and valuable taking into account every segment of the school hours spent. I would suggest some improvements. I think we should have a segment during the school which will be devoted to practical and manual skills. In this way we will ease the monotony of lecture type learning and transform it into more interesting and sometimes even fun practice of certain manual techniques and skills. I think that every day of the school should be consisted of theoretical but also practical knowledge and experiences. Also, for that occasion we can use phantoms or mannequins on which manual techniques can be tried out.

In the end I wish to express my warmest gratitude to Professor Daniel Sereni for providing bursaries for several residents to attend the Winter school. Dear professor, your work is very important allowing young internist to medically evolve and be better and better.