February 2023

ACP IMpact

Feature

IM Physicians Join Health Inspections at the Border

(from the January 2023 ACP Internist)

It was not a typical day of practicing internal medicine. On June 15, 2022, two ACP members joined a group of physicians and government officials on a tour of two U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) facilities near the Texas/Mexico border.


I.M. Internal Medicine

Spotlight: Maria (Gaby) Frank, MD, FACP, SFHM

Learn how Dr. Frank's training in internal and emergency medicine provided her with the necessary background for her position as Medical Director for the Denver Health Biocontainment Unit (BCU).


ACP Council of Student Members (CSM) Spotlight

The Impact of Proper Communication and Empathy in Hospitalized Patients with Limited English Proficiency

As her primary team, we strived to give her complete understanding of our plan each day; however, the complexities in providing care for a non-English speaking patient remained daunting. Despite the use of proper translation, there remained undeniable cultural and language barriers that produced misperceptions regarding Ms. Martin's medical history and current symptoms.


Medical Student Perspective

Lost and Found – My Medical Career

I joined medical school and entered the college full of hopes but I didn't seem to fit in there. I used to get up and go to the classes but I could not comprehend what I was doing. For 3 years, I sat in classes every day but nothing seemed to enter my head.


ACP Clinical Guideline

ACP's Updated Depression Guideline Recommends CBT, Second-Generation Antidepressants

ACP updated its guideline for major depressive disorder (MDD) to recommend either cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or second-generation antidepressants (SGAs) as initial treatment in adults with moderate to severe cases and suggests the combination of both as an alternative initial treatment option.


Analyzing Annals

Outpatient Treatment of Confirmed COVID-19 and Ongoing Need for Clinical Trials and Contemporary End Points for Outpatient COVID-19

Review the results of a living, rapid review that assessed the benefits and harms of different COVID-19 treatments in the outpatient setting and rapid practice points developed by the Scientific Medical Policy Committee of the American College of Physicians (ACP). The practice points summarize the best available evidence on the treatment of adults with confirmed COVID-19 in the outpatient setting.

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 from the 2022 Abstracts Competition

Demographic, Clinical, and Biochemical Predictors of Pica in High-Intensity Blood Donors

Frequent blood donors who contribute multiple times annually are key at maintaining an adequate blood supply, but repeated donations can exacerbate iron deficiency, which could lead to pica, a condition characterized as repeated eating or chewing of a non-nutritious substance such as ice, clay, and dirt.

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

Sleep Medicine

Physicians trained in Sleep Medicine focus on the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disturbances and disorders. Examples of conditions seen by sleep medicine physicians include sleep apnea (obstructive and central), insomnia, narcolepsy, somnambulism (sleep walking), and circadian sleep disorders.

See what makes internal medicine unique and all the career pathways open to internal medicine physicians. Be sure to also explore a day in the life of an IM specialist/subspecialist at the bottom of our Medical Student Career Path page.


In the Clinic

Migraine

Migraine affects approximately 1 billion people worldwide, with up to 15% of adults in the United States having migraine attacks in any given year. More than 90% of patients with recurrent headache presenting to primary care offices and emergency departments have migraine.


Get Involved

2023 Thank a Resident Day Is February 24

Residents are an integral part of the healthcare team, serving as indispensable resources, especially during clinical clerkships. Take the time to thank the residents in your program. Visit the Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) website to share your institution's plans for Friday, February 24. You can also download banners, request stickers, and see sample tweets.


Building Trust Essay Contest from the American Medical Student Association and ABIM Foundation

The Building Trust Essay Contest asks medical students to write about their experiences with trust. This year, students are asked to tell a story that illustrates an experience where they or someone they know received, shared, or acted upon misinformation in a health care setting. Prizes include an invitation to the ABIM Foundation's annual Forum, Complimentary registration for AMSACon 2023, and the essay will be published in the July/August edition of The New Physician magazine. Deadline to submit is March 13, 2023.


ACP Social Media Announcements

ACP has renamed its social media “handles” on ACP's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts from @ACPinternists to @ACPIMPhysicians, as of February 13, 2023. The new name aligns with ACP's efforts to brand the identity of internal medicine physicians.

Additionally, ACP and Annals of Internal Medicine have established new branded presences on Post News (https://post.news), and have begun posting news and information there in an ongoing manner. Follow ACP at https://post.news/@acpimphysicians and Annals of Internal Medicine at https://post.news/@annalsofim


IMIG Event Inspiration

How to Succeed in Your Internal Medicine Clerkship Event

Students at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle campus held an IMIG event to prepare students for their internal medicine clerkship. The event started with a panel of experts who answered frequently asked questions. Students then formed smaller breakout rooms to discuss what makes a great oral case presentation (OCP) and how to develop competent clinical reasoning skills.


Chapter Chatter

Arkansas Chapter Members Reconnect at Annual Reading Retreat

Members of the ACP Arkansas Chapter, as well as their partners and guests, are invited to the 2023 George Ackerman ACP Reading Retreat, April 1-2. The annual retreat at Red Apple Hill Inn is a great opportunity to relax and reconnect with fellow ACP members. Attendees will network, engage in book and movie discussions, and hear a viral infections update. The Arkansas chapter has maintained the George Ackerman Reading Retreat since 1990 when Dr. Ackerman, Governor of the Arkansas chapter at the time, initiated the annual spring event.

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

MKSAP 19 “Quiz Me!” Question

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

A 72-year-old man is hospitalized for dyspnea, night sweats, and productive cough; symptoms began 8 months ago. He also reports a 9.1-kg (20 lb) weight loss over the past 12 months. Medical history is notable for COPD. He has a 60-pack-year smoking history. Medications are umeclidinium and vilanterol inhaler once daily.

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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February 2023