May 2012

Feature: Nominate or Submit to IMpact Today!

ACP wants to hear from you! IMpact is currently looking for submissions and nominations from Medical Student Members. There are a few ways you can be involved:

Check out our archives to read examples of previous submissions and nominations.

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Medical Student Perspectives: Doctors' Day: Learning How to Advocate

Half-listening to the agenda items of the Arizona House Health and Human Services Committee, I flipped hurriedly through one-page papers about the issues important to the American College of Physicians. In a few hours, I would be face-to-face with a state senator, then a district representative - I had no clue what I would say to either of them. I thought I'd arrive at the state capitol to learn how to advocate for my chosen profession by shadowing seasoned lobbying physicians. It never crossed my mind that I'd be chatting up state politicians with the hope of educating them about matters important to the more than 3,000 doctor and medical student members of the Arizona Chapter of the ACP.

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My Kind of Medicine: Real Lives of Practicing Internists: Robert Holman, MD, FACP

Dr. Robert Holman was exposed to the field of medicine and the importance of helping others at an early age. His grandfather, Dr. Edward W. Hayes, Sr., was a retired physician specializing in the treatment of tuberculosis and dedicated his retirement to treating underprivileged children suffering from cleft lips and palates. His grandfather would transport children, who would otherwise not be able to afford medical care, from Mexico to Los Angeles Children's Hospital for corrective surgery. "I remember standing at my grandfather's funeral and being astonished that a former child he had helped showed up at his funeral. That had a profound impact on me."

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Internal Medicine Interest Group of the Month: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Internal Medicine Interest Group (IMIG) was revitalized in 2009 after a hiatus of a few years when the group went inactive. Since 2009, the group has grown in size and popularity, starting off with only one officer in 2009. It now has four officers, as well as class representatives from each of the four classes at the UAMS College of Medicine. The officer positions include president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer. Officers and class representatives are elected by general election conducted via the UAMS e-mail listserver. This year, we have also added an appointed position for a community service coordinator, which will transition to being an elected position in the following years.

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Ask the Program Director: Finding the Best Residency Program

How would you suggest finding the best residency program?

See what Program Directors have to say!

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Advocacy Update: New Policy Papers Released at Internal Medicine 2012

At Internal Medicine 2012 in New Orleans the College released two new policy papers. Reforming Medicare in the Age of Deficit Reduction looks at what changes ACP feels need to be made to the Medicare program to ensure that it remain solvent and effective for beneficiaries. Strengthening the Public Health Infrastructure calls for adequate resource allocation and funding to sufficiently protect the public health of U.S. residents

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Commentary Corner: High Yield Professional Conference Guide for Students: Lessons Learned from Internal Medicine 2012

Are you interested in attending professional conferences to help further your education or career? Are you a novice to attending professional meetings? ACP Council of Student members recollected their experience at Internal Medicine 2012 in order to compile helpful tips for future professional conferences.

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Winning Abstracts from the 2012 Medical Student Abstract Competition: Xylobezoar (Paper Bezoar) in the Sigmoid Colon Masquerading as Diverticulitis

Introduction: Bezoars are accumulations of indigestible material such as vegetable matter, hair or medications in the gastrointestinal tract. These concretions are most frequently found in the stomach and can cause serious medical problems such as bowel obstruction, impaction and perforation.

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Subspecialty Careers: Gastroenterology

Gastroenterology encompasses the evaluation and treatment of patients with disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, pancreas, biliary tract, and liver. It includes disorders of organs within the abdominal cavity and requires knowledge of the manifestations of gastrointestinal disorders in other organ systems, including the skin. Additional content areas include nutrition and nutritional deficiencies, and screening and prevention, particularly for colorectal cancer.

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In the Clinic: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease

In the Clinic

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders in Western industrialized countries. Men and women develop GERD with equal frequency, but complicated GERD occurs more frequently in men and with advanced age. It is typically the result of prolonged exposure of the esophagus to gastric acid due to impaired esophageal motility, defects in the lower esophageal sphincter, and impairments in the antireflux barrier at the gastroesophageal junction. The acid exposure can damage the esophageal mucosa, potentially leading to Barrett's esophagus and esophageal cancer. GERD is a chronic disease, and many patients require lifelong therapy. Treatment helps to reduce symptoms, promote esophageal healing, and reduce the risk for cancer.

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In the Clinic is a monthly feature in Annals of Internal Medicine that focuses on practical management of patients with common clinical conditions. It offers evidence-based answers to frequently asked questions about screening, prevention, diagnosis, therapy, and patient education and provides physicians with tools to improve the quality of care. Many internal medicine clerkship directors recommend this series of articles for students on the internal medicine ambulatory rotation.

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Highlights from ACP Internist® & ACP Hospitalist®

Drug Shortages: Drugs come up short for doctors, patients
Drug shortages, especially among injectables and cancer medications, have left physicians and patients alike wondering where their next doses will come from. Even simple antibiotics have become scarce commodities.

Medical Education: Programs start early to promote health careers
Rural facilities are recruiting their next generation of doctors early-from high school. They're offering paid, entry-level jobs to immerse the youngest scholars in a health care environment with the hope they'll pursue careers in the field.

Here, there, but not everywhere: Localized fungi complicate pneumonia diagnosis and treatment
What do a bat with a white nose, rust-colored wheat and your pneumonia patient who winters in Arizona have in common? The answer might be fungus.

Expert Analysis: Sepsis and fluid management
Early, aggressive fluid use can mitigate effects of tissue hypoperfusion.

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