MER Primary Care Conferences Internal Medicine for Primary Care Derm Nutrition Obesity Rheum Jul 12-16, 2026

The Internal Medicine for Primary Care: Dermatology/Nutrition/Obesity/Rheumatology conference is a continuing medical education (CME) event organized by Medical Education Resources (MER). Scheduled for July 12-16, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa in Kauai, HI, the program provides comprehensive updates and evidence-based strategies to improve patient care across multiple internal medicine disciplines.
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.

Describe the step-wise approach for the diagnosis and treatment of acne and acneiform eruptions.

Differentiate benign and malignant skin tumors and employ appropriate interoffice procedures.

Detect pre-cancerous and cancerous skin lesions.

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.

Describe the pathophysiology surrounding obesity and council patients on the various weight management strategies, including patient selection criteria for surgery.

Discuss how popular diets and nutritional science can lead to healthier lifestyles.

Identify expectations for optimal nutrition across the patient’s expected life span.

List strategies to modify diet and behaviors in patients with a range of health issues.

Describe options for personalizing a patient-specific nutrition plan to each patient.

Discuss factors in adequate nutrition that enhance athletic performance.

Describe the differential diagnoses of inflammatory arthritis based on clinical presentation and laboratory workup.

Review the risks and benefits of the treatment options for arthritis (non-selective NSAIDs, cox-2 inhibitors, DMARDs, narcotics and tramadol).

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

Diagnose and treat gout and pseudogout.

Utilize current evidence to design treatment strategies for osteoarthritis.

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, Dietitians, Nutritionists, Bariatric Specialists, and Rheumatologists.

Topics

Dermatology

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

Papulosquamous Diseases: Diagnostic 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.

Acne and Acneiform Eruptions: Identification of noninflammatory open or closed comedones and inflammatory lesions; Determination of treatment therapies based on acne grading scale; Bacterial folliculitis, drug-induced acne, hidradenitis suppurativa, miliaria, perioral dermatits, pseudofolliculitis barbae, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis; Topical and systemic therapy.

Benign Skin Tumors: Proper diagnosis and treatment of common benign tumors; Biopsies and histopathologic examination; Nevi, seborrheic keratosis keloids, hemangiomas and miscellaneous tumors; When to refer.

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.

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.

Guiding Patients in the Medical and Surgical Care of Obesity: Differences in treating obesity vs. other medical conditions, treatments, and procedures; Strategies for better engagement and understanding of patient pathways, perspectives, and team partnership.

Nutrition

Myths vs. Science in Nutritional Trends: Approach for the Medical Professional: Discussion of how to scientifically navigate the nutritional maze of popular diets and nutritional trends; The potential nutrition benefits and pitfalls of various dietary preferences and related patient concerns; Ways nutrition affects healthy lifestyles.

Nutrition Through the Ages: Prevention and Potential Pitfalls: A working guide for a nutritional and behavioral rubric to understand what is expected (and what may undermine) optimal health from infancy through the elderly; Barriers patients face in implementing and sticking with nutritional strategies.

Medical Nutrition Therapy: A Practical Approach to Diet and Disease: Science-based Nutrition and Behavioral Guide to Treating “The Big” Medical Problems that are taking over your practice; Essential (and proven) strategies to help guide patients’ diet and behaviors in the treatment of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and GI health; Travel through the google-mess of what patients hear and why they turn to these as resources; The science-based strategies and resources that can be implemented to help patients take rational control of their health.

Cutting Edge Nutrition Innovation: A Personalized Approach: How to critically evaluate nutrition tools that patients can use to promote optimal health; Review the “latest and greatest” nutrition applications and technologies that can be used to greatly improve patients’ nutrition and health pursuits; Creation of personalized health plans based on unique, patient-specific plans, tests, and analyses.

Performance Nutrition: Bridging the Spectrum: Sports nutrition is an evolving field and aims to improve nutrition guidelines for both active adults and competitive athletes; Concepts for how adequate nutrition enhances athletic performance; Discussion of disordered eating and eating disorders; Overview of dietary guidelines and guidance.

Rheumatology

Differential Diagnosis of Inflammatory Arthritis: 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.

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

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

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

Osteoarthritis: Pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment.