MER Primary Care Conferences Internal Medicine for Primary Care Gastro Neuro Pain Psych May 14-17, 2026

1. Overview
This is a primary care medical conference organized by Medical Education Resources (MER), a non-profit organization. The conference is titled “Internal Medicine for Primary Care: Gastroenterology/Neurology/Pain Management/Psychiatry”. It will take place from May 14-17, 2026, at the Atlantis Paradise Island Resort in Nassau, Bahamas.
2. Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants should be better able to:

Utilize history and physical examination to distinguish weakness from non-specific symptoms.

Discuss evidence-based management options for Alzheimer’s disease.

Evaluate weakness and recognize cardinal features of Parkinson’s disease as well as other movement disorders.

Utilize prevention and treatment strategies for cerebrovascular disorders.

Identify strategies to overcome the challenges of treating chronic pain.

Identify pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic options for the management of pain.

Describe the differential diagnosis of headaches and migraines.

Design opioid pain management strategies.

List current treatment recommendations for the management of lower GI bleeding.

Discuss the guidelines for colonoscopic colorectal cancer screening and surveillance.

Discuss options to prevent recurring pancreatitis.

Identify patients most at risk for pancreas cancer.

Review current evidence for the treatment of anxiety disorders.

Recommend appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment for depression.

Describe strategies for identifying and treating substance use disorders.

Discuss mood stabilizing psychosocial and pharmacologic treatments of bipolar disorder as well as frequent co-morbid psychiatric disorders.

3. Target Audience

This program is targeted to office-based primary care providers and other health professionals with updates in primary care medicine.
Best for internists, primary care physicians, gastroenterologists, neurologists, pain management specialists, and psychiatrists.

4. Topics
Thursday, May 14, 2026

Neurology – Evaluating Weakness: Using the history and physical examination to distinguish weakness from non-specific symptoms; characteristics of neurological diseases that produce weakness; presentations of representative diseases of the nervous system.

Neurology – Alzheimer’s & Other Dementias: Definition; statistics; neurological changes of normal aging; pathology; etiological theories; vascular dementias; investigations; social issues; symptomatic treatment; research therapies.

Neurology – Parkinson’s Disease & Other Movement Disorders: Epidemiology; cardinal features; secondary features; pathology; neurochemistry; differential diagnosis; treatment; complication; other movement disorders; neuroleptic- induced movement disorders; chorea.

Pain – Chronic Pain Management Options for Primary Care: Treatment of common chronic pain conditions including chronic low back pain and neuropathic pain.

Pain – Office Procedures for Pain: Behavioral and lifestyle modifications; Medications overview; Interventional therapies; Opioids and cannabinoids overview.

Friday, May 15, 2026

Pain – Headaches & Migraines: Basic headache mechanisms; headache history: characteristics, precipitating factors, medical conditions; migraine: common tension, classic, treatment, complicated, cluster, sinus; trigeminal neuralgia; Giant Cell Arteritis; brain tumor; subarachnoid hemorrhage; emergency room treatment.

Pain – Opioid Pharmacologic Options in Chronic Pain Management: Overall safety and efficacy; Selecting and monitoring patients; Pain contracts; Regulatory issues; Urine drug testing.

Neurology – Cerebrovascular Disorders: Epidemiology; identifying the high-risk patient; treatment effects; transient neurological deficit: carotid, vertebrobasilar; non-specific cerebral symptoms; migraines vs. TIA; treatment options.

Gastroenterology – Management of Lower GI Bleeding- From Occult to Massive: The correct use and interpretation of tests for occult blood in the stool will be discussed in relation to lower GI bleeding; focus on the utility of different diagnostic and management approached to the spectrum of patients presenting with hematochezia.

Gastroenterology – Colorectal Cancer Screening and Surveillance: Reviews the most recent recommendations for CRC screening in the general population at average risk for CRC.

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Gastroenterology – Acute Pancreatitis: Etiology and Management: Recognition of acute and chronic pancreatitis; The etiology of pancreatitis and determination of next steps in management; Discussion of complications of pancreatitis and how to counsel patients on how to prevent recurrence of pancreatitis.

Gastroenterology – Pancreas Cancer Screening: Determination of who qualifies for pancreas cancer screening and how to refer for pancreas cancer screening; Discussion of the importance of the family history and genetic counseling; Discussion of how pancreas screening is accomplished.

Psychiatry – Anxiety Disorders: 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.

Psychiatry – Depressive Disorders: History taking, diagnosis and treatment of depression across the lifespan; pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment options; rational polypharmacy.

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Psychiatry – Substance Use Disorders: 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.

Psychiatry – Bipolar Spectrum Disorders: 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.