MCE Conferences Primary Care Update Infectious Diseases, Office Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Jul 10, 2026 – Jul 12, 2026

The “Primary Care Update: Infectious Diseases, Office Orthopedics and Sports Medicine” conference is scheduled to take place from July 10-12, 2026, at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. This conference is designed to provide primary care practitioners with up-to-date, evidence-based information on commonly encountered issues in Infectious Diseases, Office Orthopedics and Sports Medicine while suggesting pragmatic approaches to clinical management. The discussion-based format of the conference encourages audience participation through dynamic lectures, case-based studies, and hands-on workshops, with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes by effectively diagnosing, treating, and prescribing the best courses of treatment.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants should be better able to:

Highlight key questions to ask for the history of a patient presenting with knee pain, describe physical exam findings, determine appropriate imaging (x-rays and MRI), and discuss when to refer to an orthopedic surgeon.

Determine appropriate imaging and treatment options (conservative vs. surgical) for meniscal tears, acute foot and ankle cases (including Lisfranc injuries), and femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

Summarize antimicrobial stewardship principles, discuss the dilemma with multidrug-resistant organisms and antibiotic shortages, and describe current testing and treatment guidelines for C. diff.

Apply stewardship principles to duration and choice for common outpatient conditions (URI, COPD exacerbations, CAP, cystitis), explore strategies to manage patient expectations, and describe complications of antibiotic overprescribing.

Review ACIP guidelines for adult vaccines, summarize strategies to improve vaccination rates, discuss new vaccine developments, and emphasize their role in preventing serious illness.

Discuss the spread of S. aureus and MRSA, recognize common infections and symptoms, review treatment options for MRSA and MSSA, and identify prevention methods in healthcare and community settings.

Perform a focused shoulder exam, recognize rotator cuff pathology and impingement, review imaging modalities, and discuss corresponding treatments.

Identify up-to-date treatments and imaging for lateral and medial epicondylitis, recognize acute hand injuries (flexor/extensor tendon, thumb ulnar collateral), and discuss short- and long-term treatments for shoulder instability.

Describe the role of “growth” as a risk factor for musculoskeletal overuse injuries in adolescents, discuss their clinical presentation and management, and recognize high-risk stress fractures.

Discuss common in-office injections for the shoulder and knee, review corticosteroids and anesthetics, and apply appropriate techniques and patient positioning.

Review STI epidemiology, recognize key symptoms and diagnostic methods, apply CDC treatment guidelines, and identify prevention strategies including vaccination and expedited partner therapy.

Review the epidemiology and screening guidelines for HIV and Hepatitis C, summarize treatment options, and identify prevention strategies like PrEP, PEP, and harm reduction.

Target Audience

All Physicians and other Healthcare Professionals seeking clinical information about issues in Infectious Diseases, Office Orthopedics and Sports Medicine. Best for Primary Care Physicians, Infectious Disease Specialists, Orthopedic Surgeons, and Sports Medicine Specialists.

Topics

Knee Evaluation, Exam, and Imaging Pearls: Highlight key questions to ask for the history of a patient presenting with knee pain; Describe pertinent knee physical exam findings; List which x-ray views are most important; Describe when it is appropriate to order an MRI; Discuss when it is appropriate to refer to an orthopedic surgeon; Participate in a live knee exam demonstration.

Sports Medicine Potpourri: Case-Based Presentation on Common Lower Extremity Sports Medicine Injuries: Determine the appropriate imaging, as well as conservative versus surgical treatment options for meniscal tears; Review the appropriate imaging for acute foot and ankle cases, including the appropriate treatment for Lisfranc injuries; Discuss the diagnosis and treatment for femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

Antimicrobial Stewardship: Part 1: Review current dilemma with multidrug-resistant organisms, antibiotic shortage, and the history of how we got here; Summarize appropriate antimicrobial stewardship principles with specific examples; Discuss current criteria for testing for C. diff; Describe current treatment strategies for C. diff, with a focus on the treatment guidelines.

Antimicrobial Stewardship: Part 2: Review stewardship principles as it relates to duration and choice for common outpatient conditions, such as URI (sinusitis, bronchitis, otitis), COPD exacerbations, cap, and cystitis; Explore strategies to overcome provider and patient expectations as it relates to antibiotics; Describe potential complications of antibiotic overprescribing.

Adult Vaccines: Review ACIP guidelines and recommended vaccines for adults based on age and risk factors; Summarize strategies to improve adult vaccination rates; Discuss recent updates and new developments in adult vaccines; Emphasize the role of vaccines in preventing serious illnesses in adults.

Staphylococcus Aureus Infections: Discuss how S. aureus spreads and why MRSA is a growing concern; Recognize common S. aureus infections and their symptoms; Review the best treatment options for MRSA and MSSA infections; Identify ways to prevent the spread of MRSA in healthcare and community settings.

Shoulder Evaluation, Exam, and Imaging Pearls: Discuss pertinent surface anatomy and review how to perform a focused shoulder exam in the office; Recognize rotator cuff pathology and impingement during a physical exam, and discuss corresponding treatment modalities; Review shoulder imaging modalities; Participate in a live shoulder exam demonstration.

Sports Medicine Potpourri: Case-Based Presentation on Common Upper Extremity Sports Medicine Injuries: Identify the most up-to-date treatment regarding lateral and medial epicondylitis, including the appropriate imaging modalities; Review proper physical exam techniques to identify acute hand injuries, including acute flexor and extensor tendon finger injuries, as well as treatment of thumb ulnar collateral injuries; Discuss the best treatment, short- and long-term, for shoulder instability, including shoulder subluxations and shoulder dislocations.

Overuse Injuries in Adolescents: Describe the unique role of “growth” as a risk factor for musculoskeletal overuse injuries; Discuss the clinical presentation and management of common overuse injuries unique to adolescents; Recognize high-risk stress fractures and know when to refer.

Office Injections: Discuss common in-office injections for shoulder and knee; Review corticosteroids and anesthetics used for joint injections; Discuss appropriate technique and patient positioning for all injections.

Sexually Transmitted Infections: Review current STI epidemiology trends and risk factors; Recognize key symptoms and diagnostic methods for common STIs; Review CDC STI treatment guidelines and discuss updates in evidence-based management; Identify strategies for prevention, including vaccination, screening recommendations, and expedited partner therapy.

HIV and Hepatitis C in Primary Care: Review epidemiology of HIV and hepatitis C in the United States; Review screening guidelines for HIV and hepatitis C; Summarize recommended treatment options; Identify key prevention strategies, including PrEP, PEP, and harm reduction.