MER Primary Care Conferences Internal Medicine for Primary Care Endo ID Pain May 15-17, 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: Endocrinology/Infectious Diseases/Pain Management”. It will take place from May 15-17, 2026, at the Wequassett Resort and Golf Club in Cape Cod, MA.
2. Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants should be better able to:

Review epidemiology and microbiology of skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI).

List common causative pathogens for various respiratory tract infections.

Diagnose and manage genitourinary infections.

Evaluate the severity of diarrhea and evaluate the need for treatment.

Design non-opioid pain management strategies.

Design opioid pain management strategies.

Describe both interventional and nonpharmacologic pain management strategies and the appropriateness of each for patients.

Discuss current evidence regarding the use of cannabis for pain management.

Discuss current diagnostic criteria and treatment approaches to disorders of calcium metabolism.

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

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

Utilize case-based learning to develop treatment plans for calcium 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, endocrinologists, infectious disease specialists, and pain management specialists.

4. Topics
Friday, May 15, 2026

Infectious Diseases – Skin & Soft Tissue Infections: Presentation on important skin and soft-tissue infections and their prompt recognition, emphasizing evaluation and management strategies.

Infectious Diseases – Respiratory Tract Infections: Discussion highlighting critical points regarding the diagnosis and management of pneumonia and bronchitis – with a focus on the impact of multidrug resistant pathogens.

Infectious Diseases – Genitourinary Infections: Presentation on a relevant and clinically practical approach to the patient with genitourinary complaints focusing on the latest guidelines for the range of urinary tract infections and highlights of selected and important sexually-transmitted disease syndromes.

Pain – Non-Opioid Pharmacologic Options in Pain Management: NSAID’s; Acetaminophen; Topicals; Injections; Antidepressants; Anticonvulsants.

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

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Endocrinology – Disorders of Calcium Metabolism: Review of calcium homeostasis; causes of hypercalcemia; diagnosis and treatment.

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

Infectious Diseases – Gastrointestinal Infections & Clostridiodes Difficile: Presentation on important enteric pathogens and their recognition, diagnosis and management; special emphasis on clostridiodes difficile colitis and related updates from the ID and infection control literature.

Pain – Non-pharmacologic Pain Management Options: Procedures; Pain clinics; Nerve blocks; Shots; Epidural options; Non-interventional approaches such as CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) and exercise for pain; Urine drug testing for primary care providers.

Pain – Update on Cannabis as Medicine for Primary Care: Cannabis mechanism of action; Clinical effects on pain; Addiction, withdrawal and dependency; Adverse effects.

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Endocrinology – Thyroid Nodules and Cancer: Diagnosis and treatment.

Endocrinology – Endocrinology Cases: Calcium Disorders and Osteoporosis: Challenging case presentations in calcium disorders.