MER Primary Care Conferences Internal Medicine for Primary Care Cardio Neck & Spine Obesity Psych Jun 11-14, 2026

1. Overview

The “Internal Medicine for Primary Care: Cardiology/Obesity/Neck & Spine/Psychiatry” is a conference organized by Medical Education Resources (MER), a non-profit organization.

The event is scheduled to take place from June 11-14, 2026, at the Hotel del Coronado in San Diego, CA.

2. Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants should be better able to:

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

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.

Identify early treatment options for the management of lumbar spine disorders.

Evaluate abnormal gait patterns.

Utilize observation, palpation, range of motion and neurologic exams to diagnose cervical spine disorders.

Evaluate a patient’s cervical spine range of motion.

Describe current diagnostic approaches and the role of drug therapy to the patient with acute chest pain.

Explain current concepts in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension.

Implement lifestyle changes as well as lipid and cholesterol guidelines for the prevention of CAD.

Implement treatment strategies reflective of recent guidelines and current evidence based medicine for heart failure.

Explain the underlying mechanisms and physiological processes that contribute to the development and progression of obesity, including the roles of genetics, hormones, metabolism, and environmental factors.

Discuss non-surgical obesity treatment options.

List the advantages and disadvantages of surgical options and the post-surgery care of patients.

Describe the approach to patient management after bariatric surgery.

3. Target Audience

This program is targeted to office-based primary care providers and other health professionals with updates in primary care medicine.

4. Topics
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.

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.

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

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.

Neck & Spine

Diagnosis and Treatment of Lumbar Spine Disorders: A practical approach to the diagnosis and early management of lumbar spine disorders will be presented. Anatomy, differential diagnosis, as well as physical examination concepts will be covered.

Physical Examination of the Lumbar Spine, Hip, and Sacroiliac Joint: Exam techniques will be demonstrated and discussed.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Cervical Spine and Select Upper Extremity Disorders: A practical approach to the diagnosis and early management of cervical spine and selected upper extremity disorders will be presented. Anatomy, differential diagnosis, as well as physical examination concepts will be covered.

Physical Examination of the Cervical Spine and UE Entrapment Neuropathies: Exam techniques will be demonstrated and discussed.

Cardiology

Acute Coronary Syndromes: The Patient with Acute Chest Pain: Diagnosis and initial evaluation in the primary care setting, urgent care clinic and emergency department; Initial workup, treatment, and follow-up; Diagnosing and treating ST segment elevation and non-ST segment elevation MIs; The role of drug therapy–primary vs adjunctive to PCI; Follow up after acute coronary syndromome.

Hypertension: The 2017 AHA/ACC Hypertension Guidelines; The 2024 ESC Guidelines for hypertension; Approaches to treatment thresholds and goals; Choices for initial and combination therapy; Resistant hypertension; Treating special populations: diabetics, the elderly, patients with renal failure.

Primary & Secondary Prevention of CAD: Definitions; AHA/ACC and other lipid guidelines updates; HDL Cholesterol: The good cholesterol?; Metabolic syndrome and/or obesity; Who needs treatment and how much; The role of lifestyle changes, exercise and cardiac rehabilitation; Drug therapy updates; Risk calculation.

Heart Failure: Etiologies and stages of heart failure; ACC/AHA Heart Failure Guidelines; Heart failure with reduced EF (HFrEF) and heart failure with preserved EF (HFpEF); Determining patients for referral using biomarkers, eg NT Pro BNP; Treatment options: ACE inhibitors, ARBs, ARNI, beta blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, SGLT2i; The role of devices in treatment and antiplatelet drugs; Issues related to the hospitalized patient with acute decompensated heart failure and readmissions.

Obesity

Pathophysiology of Obesity: A guide to understanding practice demographics and considerations; The what and why of epigenetics; A practical guide to behavioral and medication management.

Medical Management of Obesity: Overview of obesity as a disease state; Costs to the individual of being obese; Use of appetite suppressant medications and lifestyle modifications.

Complications and Considerations of Bariatric Surgery: An overview of risks and effectiveness of bariatric surgery; Overview of potential surgical options; Potential complications; The role of support and behavior modification, nutrition, and the stages of patient management post-surgery.

Patient Management Post-bariatric Surgery: The role of the clinician for support and behavior modification, nutrition, and the stages of patient management post-surgery.