MER Primary Care Conferences Internal Medicine for Primary Care Derm Endo Gyn Vasc Jul 12-16, 2026

The “Internal Medicine for Primary Care: Dermatology/Endocrinology/Gynecology/Vascular” conference is a continuing medical education event organized by Medical Education Resources (MER), a non-profit organization. The conference is scheduled to take place from July 13-16, 2026, at the InterContinental Porto – Palacio das Cardosas in Porto, Portugal.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants should be better able to:

Differentiate between the presentations and causes of atopic, contact (irritant and allergic), and nummular dermatitis.

Discriminate the diagnostic principles and treatment options for papulosquamous diseases with red, raised bumps.

Identify cutaneous findings that serve as surrogates of internal diseases.

Detect pre-cancerous and cancerous skin lesions.

Assess and manage abnormal uterine bleeding.

Describe the management of abnormal pap smears and HPV.

Discuss menopausal transition and the risks/benefits of treatment options.

Discuss the current evidence and recommendations regarding breast cancer screening.

Identify the risks of abnormal thyroid function.

Describe the diagnostic evaluation of thyroid nodules with a focus on the utilization of ultrasound and cytology.

Identify the risks and benefits of utilizing bisphosphonates in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Describe treatment options for pituitary disorders.

Describe the spectrum of maladies included in peripheral vascular disease.

Discuss presentation and interventional treatment of stroke patients.

List current pharmacologic options for the management of aneurysms.

Describe the evaluation and treatment of venous thrombosis.

Target Audience

This program is targeted to office-based primary care providers and other health professionals with updates in primary care medicine.
Best for Primary Care Physicians, Dermatologists, Endocrinologists, Gynecologists, and Vascular Medicine Specialists.

Topics

Dermatitis: Overview of the causes and forms of skin irritants; Contact, atopic, irritant, nummular, seborrheic and exfoliative; Treatment of blistering, oozing, crusting and flaking; Dagnostic principles and management strategies.

Papulosquamous Diseases: Diagnositic principles of skin lesions consisting of red or purple papules; Psoriasis, lichen planus, pityriasis rosea, lupus erythematosus; Discussion of how to tell one scaly rash from another.

Skin Manifestations of Systemic Disease: Skin will often reflect signs of systemic diseases, be useful for diagnosis, or suffer from a complication of disease or its treatment; Diagnosis of rheumatalogic, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and psychologic conditions based on cutaneous findings.

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

Abnormal Pap Smears and High Risk HPV: 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.

Menopause Transition and Hormone Replacement Therapy: 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: 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.

Premalignant and Malignant Skin Tumors: Recognition of precursors of malignancies; Excisional and punch biopsies; Actinic keratosis, Bowen’s disease, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, melanoma and other selected tumors; Risk reduction education.

Disorders of Thyroid Function: Prevalence, diagnosis and treatment options of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.

Thyroid Nodules and Cancer: Diagnosis and treatment.

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

Evaluation and Management of Pituitary Disease: Diagnosis and treatment of pituitary disorders.

Peripheral Vascular Disease and Medical Therapy: Defining the spectrum of maladies under the umbrella of Peripheral Vascular Disease including the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and treatments highlighting lipid lowering agents and antiplatelet therapy.

Stroke: Initial Presentation to Medical and Surgical Treatment: An overview of embolic stroke including diagnosis and medical, surgical, and interventional therapy.

Aortic and Peripheral Aneurysms: A guide for primary care outlining diagnosis, management, and therapeutic options.

Management of Venous Thrombosis: A discussion focusing on the variety of venous thrombotic diagnoses and the multiple available treatment options.