August 2022

ACP IMpact

Read ACP’s just released Annual Report of the Executive Vice President and CEO, which highlights the College’s efforts over the past year on behalf of our internal medicine community. ACP made significant progress on strategic initiatives and important goals to help support internal medicine physicians and advance the profession of internal medicine.

Feature

Adding Contraception to the Conversation

(from the July 6, 2022, ACP Hospitalist)

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision last month to reverse Roe v. Wade left many Americans wondering what they could do to help women avoid unintended pregnancies and maintain their reproductive health.


I.M. Internal Medicine

Spotlight: Seger S. Morris, DO, MBA, CPE, FACOI, FACP

Read how Dr. Morris defines doing right by his patients.


Council of Student Members (CSM) Spotlight

Seeing Clinical Rotations Through the Lens of Gun Violence

I grew up in small-town New Mexico, where the local haunts for a teenager were a friend's garage or a mall that contained about eight businesses total. With little to do and wide-open desert spaces, it was commonplace to drive to the middle of nowhere and go shooting for entertainment: just four teenagers shooting a parent's gun at aluminum cans and glass bottles. It was our normal.


Medical Student Perspective

Doctor/Patient Panel

“Unlock, press down on the green button, and wait 10 seconds.” I read the instructions for the subcutaneous injection over and over again for what seemed like hours. My hands clammy, I finally took a deep breath, positioned my hand, and heard a loud “click”—a click that would pretty much turn my whole life upside down, but in the best way possible.


Advocacy Update

ACP Urges Government to Bolster Food Insecurity Response

(from the July 8, 2022 ACP Advocate)

Food insecurity is a growing threat to public health in the United States, and a new American College of Physicians policy paper calls on the federal government to address the issue.

Read the full article in ACP Advocate.

The ACP Advocate is a bi-weekly e-newsletter that provides ACP members with news about public policy issues affecting internal medicine and patient care.


Analyzing Annals

Affirmative Action Bans and Enrollment of Students From Underrepresented Racial and Ethnic Groups in U.S. Public Medical Schools

Between 1985 and 2019, eight states enacted laws that banned affirmative action during the selection of applicants into 21 public medical schools. This study examined whether the bans affected enrollment from racial and ethnic groups that are underrepresented in medicine.

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

Dermatology Clinical Trials Investments by Top Pharmaceutical Companies

Clinical trials are necessary to develop novel therapeutics and they represent a major investment of both time and money. Due to the high costs associated with bringing new drugs to the market, there has historically been a lack of diversity among drugs developed and targeted conditions in dermatology. Off-label use of medications is commonly used in dermatologic practice and the lack of Level 1 evidence for approved treatments makes clinical trials for new drug approval vital. In this study, we aim to analyze characteristics and patterns of the top ten pharmaceutical companies' investments in dermatologic clinical trials.

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

Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease (typically referred to as “cardiology”) focuses on prevention, diagnosis, and management of disorders of the cardiovascular system.

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

Prevention and Initial Management of HIV Infection

Although eradication of HIV infection remains an elusive goal, there have been meaningful improvements in our ability to prevent HIV infection and to manage patients who have been infected.


IMIG Event Inspiration

Practice Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE)

Last year, internal medicine interest group members at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas worked in pairs to practice OSCEs. One student played the role of standard patient (SP) and the other played the physician. The “physician” gathered a history of present illness (HPI), performed a focused physical, and wrote a SOAP note. Students then swapped roles and went through the same process with a different chief complaint. Both trainees were provided with a video recording of the OSCE for them to review and receive feedback. See more IMIG event ideas.


Chapter Chatter

ACP Connecticut Chapter Wellness Retreat

The Wellness Committee of the ACP Connecticut Chapter, led by Dr. Sujata Prasad, moved its activities outdoors last month, hosting a wellness retreat on May 21 at Mercy by the Sea in Madison, CT. Activities included a discussion on the benefits of meditation followed by a meditation session, yoga overlooking the Sound, high tea and pastries, and walks on the beach.

The membership of ACP is divided into 85 chapters and regions, each uniquely tailored to the needs and interests of its members. See what events are coming up in your local chapter.


MKSAP 19

“Quiz Me!” Question

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

A 66-year-old woman is evaluated for a 10-year history of pain in the hands and knees. She has tried occupational therapy, with minimal benefit; she is enrolled in a weight loss program. She has hypertension and chronic kidney disease. Current medications are lisinopril and amlodipine.

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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