September 2023

ACP IMpact

Stay Tuned to Celebrate: Internal Medicine Day Is October 28th

Internal Medicine Day is Saturday, October 28th— and you're invited. Stay tuned to learn how you can celebrate the essential role of internal medicine physicians. It's also a great opportunity to discover how internal medicine physicians thrive in leadership roles as entrepreneurs, at hospitals and health care systems, as well as high-level roles that can even improve U.S. health care policy.


Feature

Tackling Burnout as an Occupational Phenomenon

(from the September 2023 ACP Internist)

By Eileen D. Barrett, MD, MPH, MACP, Chair, ACP Board of Regents

All happy families are alike; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” I first read this when I was starting medical school and decided to read Tolstoy's “Anna Karenina.” Although I only made it about halfway through before studying took up nearly all my time, I have thought of that line often since then.

ACP Internist is ACP's member newspaper, providing news and information about the practice of medicine and reporting on the policies, products, and activities of ACP.


I.M. Internal Medicine

Spotlight: Thomas George Varghese, MD

Discover who inspired Dr. Varghese to become a physician and what a typical day is like for a hospitalist physician.


Medical Student Perspective Essay

The Human Side of Medicine

I assumed there would be nothing to do, but—not a minute later—another student asked me if I was on call. When I said yes, she said, “Come; a patient is crashing!” A ton of thoughts ran through my head— “I haven't seen this before. I have only given CPR in simulated practices; do I still remember how to do it? How similar is it to a real patient? And if I do it wrong?”


Analyzing Annals

Addressing Viral Medical Rumors and False or Misleading Information

(From the August 2023 Annals for Educators)

The rapid spread of medical rumors and false or misleading medical information on social media is a vexing challenge that threatens health. Understanding the information ecosystem can provide critical insights for strong coordination between stakeholders and funders to counter this threat.

Annals for Educators is a Web Exclusives feature of Annals of Internal Medicine which includes activities using selected Annals articles to help medical educators in their teaching activities.


Winning Abstracts from the 2023 Abstracts Competition

What Is the Cause of Severe Headache in this 28-year-old Asian Man? A Rare Case of Intracranial Mixed Germ Cell Tumor.

Germ cell tumors (GCTs) typically arise in the gonads and have a predilection for brain metastasis in about 15% of cases. Extragonadal GCTs typically arise in the anterior mediastinum, retroperitoneum, pineal and suprasellar regions in adults, and sacrococcygeal and intracranial regions in children. This case features a rare primary extragonadal GCT found in the corpus callosum of an adult male.

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

Sports Medicine

Sports medicine focuses on physical fitness and the treatment and prevention of injuries related to sports and exercise. This frequently includes advising patients on exercise and training, injury prevention, assessment and management of acute athletic injuries, rehabilitation, and care of medical problems of the athlete.

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.


In the Clinic

Contraception

Contraception counseling and provision are vital components of comprehensive health care. An unplanned pregnancy can be particularly challenging for patients with chronic illness. Internal medicine physicians are in a unique position to assess pregnancy readiness and provide contraception, as they often intersect with pregnancy-capable patients at the moment of a new diagnosis or when providing ongoing care for a chronic medical condition.

In the Clinic is a feature of Annals of Internal Medicine which includes practical reviews about the management of common clinical conditions.


Get Involved

Apply to Be an Intern in ACP's Washington, DC Office

The 2024 Health Policy Internship application cycle is now open until Oct. 31. The internship provides a multifaceted opportunity for medical students and residents to learn about the legislative process, health policy, and advocacy in organized medicine. Interns will provide assistance with researching and analyzing current issues in health and medical education policy, assisting with on-going advocacy initiatives, and the development of advocacy materials. Interns will have the opportunity to attend congressional hearings, coalition meetings, and accompany government affairs staff on lobby visits to members of Congress and their staff and to events. The internship lasts from April 29, 2024, to May 23, 2024, and pays a $4,000 stipend. Find additional information and application instructions on ACP's website.


IMIG Event Inspiration

Practice Taking Patient Vitals

The internal medicine interest group at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston hosted a vitals session for first-year medical students. Trainees practiced taking blood pressure, pulse, and respiratory rate with the goal of becoming more confident when taking a patient's vitals.


Chapter Chatter

Attend an ACP Fall Chapter Meeting

Expand your network, strengthen your CV, and learn new clinical skills by attending your local ACP Chapter Meeting. Medical Student members have exclusive access to submit original research in their local abstract competition for a chance to win a trip to present at Internal Medicine 2024 in Boston, MA. Bonus: most meetings have FREE registration for medical student members! See when your local chapter is holding its annual meeting: domestic or global.

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 44-year-old woman is evaluated for hemochromatosis. Her father was recently diagnosed with hemochromatosis following evaluation of cryptogenic cirrhosis. She takes no medications.

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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