MER Primary Care Conferences Internal Medicine for Primary Care Endo Gyn Psych Rheum Aug 02–06, 2026

Internal Medicine for Primary Care: Endocrinology / Gynecology / Psychiatry / Rheumatology

The Internal Medicine for Primary Care: Endocrinology/Gynecology/Psychiatry/Rheumatology conference is a continuing medical education program organized by Medical Education Resources (MER). This multidisciplinary program provides practical, evidence-based updates across endocrinology, gynecology, psychiatry, and rheumatology for primary care professionals.

The conference will take place August 2–6, 2026, at The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kaanapali, Maui, Hawaii.

Course Details

• Course: Internal Medicine for Primary Care: Endocrinology/Gynecology/Psychiatry/Rheumatology
• Organizer: Medical Education Resources (MER)
• Dates: August 2–6, 2026
• Location: The Westin Maui Resort & Spa, Kaanapali, Maui, HI
• Format: Live CME Program
• Specialties: Endocrinology, Gynecology, Psychiatry, Rheumatology, Internal Medicine, Primary Care

Course Overview

This comprehensive primary care program delivers clinically relevant updates across four major specialties. The curriculum focuses on practical diagnosis, treatment, pharmacologic management, evidence-based clinical decision-making, and common conditions encountered in outpatient primary care.

Endocrinology

Key topics include:

• Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
• Patient-specific diabetes treatment
• Osteoporosis
• Bisphosphonate therapy
• Thyroid disorders
• Abnormal thyroid function
• Pituitary disorders

Participants will review strategies for developing individualized diabetes treatment plans and evaluating common endocrine disorders.

Psychiatry

The psychiatry curriculum includes:

• Adult ADHD
• Bipolar disorder
• Psychiatric comorbidities
• Anxiety disorders
• Substance use disorders
• Suicide risk assessment
• Violence risk assessment
• Pharmacologic and psychosocial treatment

The program emphasizes practical approaches to identifying psychiatric conditions and developing appropriate treatment and referral strategies in primary care.

Gynecology

Topics include:

• Complex contraceptive counseling
• Abnormal uterine bleeding
• Abnormal Pap smears
• HPV
• Menopausal transition
• Menopause treatment options
• Breast cancer screening

Participants will review current approaches to women’s health, including contraceptive decision-making, abnormal cervical screening results, menopause management, and breast cancer screening.

Rheumatology

The rheumatology component covers:

• Inflammatory vs. non-inflammatory joint pain
• Differential diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis
• NSAIDs
• COX-2 inhibitors
• DMARDs
• Narcotic analgesics
• Tramadol
• Osteoarthritis
• Gout
• Pseudogout

The course focuses on clinical presentation, laboratory evaluation, differential diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment strategies.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program, participants should be better able to:

• Develop patient-specific treatment plans for Type 2 diabetes.
• Diagnose and tailor treatment strategies for Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
• Identify the risks and benefits of bisphosphonate therapy for osteoporosis.
• Recognize risks associated with abnormal thyroid function.
• Describe treatment options for pituitary disorders.
• Compare pharmacologic treatment options for ADHD.
• Discuss psychosocial and pharmacologic treatments for bipolar disorder.
• Review current evidence for the treatment of anxiety disorders.
• Identify and treat substance use disorders.
• Assess patients at risk for suicide and violence and make appropriate referrals.
• Counsel patients regarding complex contraceptive decisions.
• Assess and manage abnormal uterine bleeding.
• Manage abnormal Pap smears and HPV.
• Discuss menopause and the risks and benefits of available treatments.
• Review current evidence and recommendations regarding breast cancer screening.
• Differentiate inflammatory and non-inflammatory joint pain.
• Review the risks and benefits of pharmacologic treatments for arthritis.
• Develop differential diagnoses for inflammatory arthritis based on clinical presentation and laboratory findings.
• Design evidence-based treatment strategies for osteoarthritis.
• Diagnose and treat gout and pseudogout.

Target Audience

This program is designed for office-based primary care providers and other healthcare professionals seeking updates in primary care medicine.

Topics

Sunday, August 2, 2026

• Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (Endocrinology): Diagnosis and treatment; lessons from the DCCT; managing diabetic emergencies; screening; pre-diabetes.

• Insulin Therapy for Diabetes (Endocrinology): Treating T2DM with insulin; T1DM.

• Osteoporosis (Endocrinology): Review the epidemiology and pathophysiology of osteoporosis along with interpretation of DEXA scans and FRAX risk assessment; up-to-date therapeutic options.

• The Complexity of Adult ADHD (Psychiatry): ADHD in adults with an emphasis on symptom identification; Co-occurring conditions; Psychiatric and medical differential diagnosis; evidence-based and FDA approved pharmacological treatments.

• Bipolar Spectrum Disorders (Psychiatry): Bipolar spectrum disorders in adults as compared to youth; Comprehensive history-taking; Differential diagnosis; Co-occurring psychiatric and medical conditions; Phase specific treatment considerations and interventions.

Monday, August 3, 2026

• Anxiety Disorders (Psychiatry): The nature of anxiety; Generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder; etiology and diagnosis; Co-occurring conditions; Treatment options for these disabling conditions.

• Disorders of Thyroid Function (Endocrinology): Prevalence, diagnosis and treatment options of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

• Evaluation and Management of Pituitary Disease (Endocrinology): Diagnosis and treatment of pituitary disorders.

• Contraception: A Primary Care Review of Best Practice (Gynecology): Coverage of the effectiveness, side effects and non-contraceptive benefits of available contraceptive options in the U.S.; Discussion of contraceptive counseling that is patient-centric including communicating without coercion; Management strategies for medically complex contraceptive decisions (patients with a history of VTE, breast cancer, hypertension).

• Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (Gynecology): Overview of normal/abnormal menstrual physiology/profile; Menstrual disturbances; Ovulatory and anovulatory uterine bleeding; Other menstrual abnormalities; Diagnosis and appropriate treatment options.

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

• Abnormal Pap Smears and High Risk HPV (Gynecology): Current recommendations for cervical cancer screening; Incorporating the ASCCP consensus guidelines for management of cytologic cervical abnormalities (including ASCUS, LGSIL, HGSIL and atypical glandular cells) into your practice; Algorithm for the appropriate use of HPV testing; History of HPV and effectiveness of its use; Recommendations for missed doses; Storage and administration of HPV vaccines.

• Substance Use Disorders (Psychiatry): Substance abuse history-taking to encourage patient honesty; Accurate diagnosis; Use of screening tools; Brief intervention; Recovery and treatment options; Motivational interviewing; Family symptoms and codependency.

• Suicide and Violence (Psychiatry): Risk assessment for suicide and violence; the relationship between psychotropic medications and suicide or violent behavior; management of the suicidal and violent patient.

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

• Update in Pharmacology for Arthritis (Rheumatology): Review risks and benefits of traditional NSAIDs and cox-2 inhibitors; Analgesics (narcotics and tramadol), acetaminophen, conventional-synthetic DMARDs, and bDMARDs.

• Differential Diagnosis of Inflammatory Arthritis (Rheumatology): Clinical presentation and laboratory work-up and treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, spondyloarthropathies (SPA), infectious arthritis and systemic sclerosis; Treatment of RA with DMARDs; Treatment principles of SLE, Sjogren’s, SPA and PMR.

• Evaluating the Patient with Joint Pain (Rheumatology): Differentiating between inflammatory and non-inflammatory joint pain; The utility of joint aspiration and lab work-up with interpretation of synovial fluid analysis; Differential diagnosis of joint pain and inflammatory arthritis.

• Menopause Transition and Hormone Replacement Therapy (Gynecology): Symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, night sweats, and atrophy; Menopause syndromes, including osteoporosis, breast cancer, cardiac disease, and colon cancer; Estrogen analogs; Counseling patients in options and alternatives to hormone therapy; Designer estrogens; SERMs; HRTs; Discussion of risks and benefits, especially in breast cancer and CHD.

• Breast Cancer Screening (Gynecology): Comparison of recent breast cancer screening recommendations from U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, ACOG/ACS/NCCN, including a discussion of risks and benefits of screening at various ages; Review of the new USPSTF guideline on BRCA-related cancer: risk assessment, genetic counseling, and genetic testing, including risk assessment tools for women with a personal or family history of breast, ovarian and related cancers.

Thursday, August 6, 2026

• Crystal Disease: Gout & Pseudogout (Rheumatology): Properly diagnosing and treating crystal diseases such as gout and pseudogout.

• Osteoarthritis (Rheumatology): Pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment.