August 2021

ACP IMpact

Feature

IM Residency Applications Increased During Pandemic

(from the July/August 2021 ACP Internist)

As a specialty, internal medicine (IM) has been getting a lot of attention lately.


I.M. Internal Medicine

Spotlight: Avital Y O’Glasser, MD, FACP, FHM

Read more about how Dr. O’Glasser started college pursuing a lifelong dream to become a paleontologist, but instead, became a hospitalist specializing in preoperative medicine.


ACP Council of Student Members (CSM) Spotlight

Internal Medicine Virtual Showcase: A New Way to Experience Residency Programs

The typical interview visit not only includes the interview itself but also the chance to tour the hospitals one will be working in and talk to current residents in a less formal setting, such as a pre-interview social. For students, this is a key opportunity to understand the culture, mission, and values of a particular program and see if these are compatible with their own.


Medical Student Perspective

Five Reminders for Medical School From Five Geriatric Patients

I spent 2 years working in a nursing home before medical school. My days were spent feeding, toileting, and bathing—but, most of all, providing companionship to—all the residents there.


Analyzing Annals

Clinical Practice Points: Appropriate Use of Short-Course Antibiotics in Common Infections: Best Practice Advice From the American College of Physicians

This guideline describes best practices for prescribing appropriate and short-duration antibiotic therapy for patients presenting with acute bronchitis with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation, community-acquired pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and cellulitis.

Annals of Internal Medicine is the premier internal medicine academic journal published by the American College of Physicians (ACP). It is one of the most widely cited and influential specialty medical journals in the world.


Winning Abstracts

Atypical Presentation of Functional Vitamin B12 Deficiency from Whippet Abuse

Commonly known as “laughing gas”, nitrous oxide (N2O) is an anesthetic frequently used in medical and dental settings. It is also sold as “whippet” canisters for making homemade whipped-cream; however, whippets are commonly used as recreational drugs due to their rapid onset and euphoric, relaxant properties.

Want to have your abstract featured here? ACP holds a National Abstracts Competition as part of the ACP Internal Medicine Meeting every year. Find out more at ACP Online.


Subspecialty and Combined Training Careers

Hospice and Palliative Medicine

Palliative medicine aims to relieve symptoms and pain a patient suffers due to a serious illness. Goals of palliative care include reducing suffering, improving the quality of life for a patient, and supporting the patient and family throughout the treatment process.

Hospice care is provided for patients facing a terminal diagnosis who no longer wish to undergo curative treatment. Goals of hospice care include relieving symptoms and supporting patients in the end-of-life stages.

See all the career pathways open to internal medicine doctors and explore a “day-in-the-life” of an IM specialist/subspecialist at the bottom of our “Medical Student Career Path” page.


In the Clinic

Depression

Most psychiatric care is delivered in primary care settings, where depression is the most common presenting psychiatric symptom. Given the high prevalence of depression worldwide and the well-established consequences of untreated depression, the ability of primary care clinicians to effectively diagnose and treat it is critically important. This article offers up-to-date guidance for the diagnosis and treatment of major depressive disorder, including practical considerations for delivering optimal and efficient care for these patients.


ACP JournalWise

See What's Trending

ACP JournalWise helps you keep current with the latest medical literature. It filters the content from more than 120 journals based on your preferences and delivers e-mail alerts straight to your inbox. Best of all, it's included with your membership so there's no cost to you. Customize your preferences today.


Why I Chose My Career Path

IM Specialists & Subspecialists Explain

Check out our NEW “Why I Chose My Career Path section at the bottom of our Medical Student Career Path page. There you'll find articles from ACP member specialists and subspecialists explaining what a typical day is like in their profession, and what advice they would give to trainees interested in their specialty or subspecialty.


Chapter Chatter

Texas Chapter GIM Statewide Preceptorship Program (GIMSPP)

The Texas Chapter General Internal Medicine Statewide Preceptorship Program (GIMSPP) has provided mentoring experiences since 1992. These preceptorships match a practicing internist volunteer to give personal training to a first- or second-year Texas medical student interested in learning more about the field of internal medicine. Together with physician mentors, students learn to build healthier communities through the practice of internal medicine. Although the preceptorship experience differs for every student, the objectives are designed so that each student will receive a well-rounded experience. The program’s emphasis is to familiarize medical students with the operation of a clinical practice and allow them to experience the full range of activities in the life of a General Internist. Preceptorship exposes the student to many of your activities as a physician and member of the community. Learn more.


MKSAP 18

“Quiz Me!” Question

Test your medical knowledge each month with questions from The Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program® (MKSAP).

A 58-year-old woman is evaluated in the emergency department for sharp, nonradiating pain in the left lower quadrant that has persisted for 2 days. She reports no fever, diarrhea, or blood in stools and has not traveled recently. Her last colonoscopy, performed 1 year earlier, showed pandiverticulosis.

The Medical Knowledge Self-Assessment Program® (MKSAP) has been the “go-to” resource for board prep and lifelong learning since 1967. Learn more.


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