MER Primary Care Conferences Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine for Primary Care ENT Gastro Gyn Sports Med Apr 09-12, 2026

1. Overview
This is a primary care medical conference organized by Medical Education Resources (MER), a non-profit organization. The conference is titled “Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine for Primary Care: Ear, Nose & Throat/Gastroenterology/Gynecology/Sports Medicine”. It will take place from April 9-12, 2026, at The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa in Hilton Head, SC.
2. Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants should be better able to:

Discuss symptoms and treatment of chronic abdominal pain and gastroesophageal reflux in children.

Compare and contrast the clinical presentations of GER vs GERD in pediatric patients.

Present a practical approach for management of constipation.

Review the epidemiology of foreign body ingestions in children.

Discuss signs, symptoms, significance and approach to mild traumatic brain injury as a consequence of athletic endeavors.

Identify risk factors for Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports and discuss the importance of nutrition and work out programs for athletes.

Discuss the components of a pre-participation sports physical.

Discuss diagnoses that are common sports injuries.

Review the basic allergic pathways that affect the body, with particular emphasis on the nasal and sinus regions.

List treatment options for tonsillitis.

Describe abnormal findings of an ear exam requiring a referral.

Discuss the risks and benefits of sublingual immunotherapy as an alternative to allergy shots.

Evaluate abnormal uterine bleeding, including PCOS, in the adolescent patient.

Describe hormonal abnormalities that affect puberty in the adolescent.

Describe strategies to help educate tweens and teens about their sexual health.

Evaluate gynecologic emergencies as well as reproductive anomalies in the adolescent patient.

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, pediatricians, gastroenterologists, sports medicine physicians, otolaryngologists, and gynecologists.

4. Topics
Thursday, April 9, 2026

Gastroenterology – Chronic Abdominal Pain in Children: Physiology and differential diagnosis of chronic abdominal pain in children; testing (laboratory, radiographic, endoscopic) techniques available for the treatment of chronic abdominal pain in children; treatment options for chronic abdominal pain, including treatment for recurrent abdominal pain of childhood and irritable bowel syndrome.

Gastroenterology – Gastroesophageal Reflux in Children: The Physiology of pediatric gastroesophageal reflux (GER) and how to differentiate GER from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD); testing techniques to diagnose pediatric GER; treatment options for pediatric GER and pediatric GERD.

Gastroenterology – Constipation in Children: The pathophysiology and differential diagnosis of pediatric constipation; testing techniques used to diagnose complications associated with pediatric constipation; treatment options.

Sports Med – Concussion in Sports: Recognition, Office Evaluation and Management for Primary Care: Severity and consequences of concussion for those 18 and younger; Current definition, signs and symptoms, their significance; Up-to-date return to sport guidelines and decision making and provide concussion management tools; Discussion the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sports in Amsterdam 2022 as well as CRT6, SCAT6, SCOAT6; Discussion of helmets, hype and hope.

Sports Med – Nutritional Considerations for the Young Athlete: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports (RED-S): The growing popularity of organized youth sports is well documented. Young men and women are now participating in organized sports at historic levels. However, many active young athletes are often either misinformed on the proper dietary habits necessary for optimal health or willingly undermine their performance in the short term and adversely impact their health in the long term through destructive eating and exercise behaviors. RED-S (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sports) is an increasingly recognized disorder in which aberrant eating behaviors coupled with excessive exercise leads to early bone demineralization at a crucial developmental period. The basis of this disorder will be discussed, its pathophysiology, early recognition and approaches to management will be presented.

Friday, April 10, 2026

Sports Med – The Pre-participation Sports Physical: The American Academy of Pediatrics, in conjunction with the American Academy of Family Physicians and American Medical Society for Sports Medicine published the 1st edition of the Preparticipation Sports Physical Examination monograph nearly 30 years ago. Currently in its 5th edition, the monograph contains the most recent evidence and consensus-based recommendations pertaining to the history, physical exam and clearance to play guidelines for practitioners caring for active youth. The presentation will review the contents of this monograph and will also review the latest recommendations for return-to-play for active youth who may have contracted COVID-19.

Sports Med – Common Orthopedic Injuries in Children and Adolescents: The immature skeleton of the pediatric and adolescent athlete make it particularly vulnerable to a variety of acute and chronic injuries not seen in the adult population. Recognition of these injuries is critical in the care of the injured young athlete. Objectives of this session include providing physicians with an enhanced differential diagnosis of common and commonly missed musculoskeletal injuries specific to youth and recognition of which injuries can be treated by the primary care physician vs those requiring orthopedic referral.

Gastroenterology – Pediatric Gastrointestinal Foreign Body Ingestion: Complications of various gastrointestinal (GI) foreign bodies in children; testing techniques to diagnose GI foreign bodies in children; treatment options (observational versus removal).

ENT – Allergic Rhinitis: The lecture will focus on a review of the basic allergic pathways that affect the body. Special emphasis will be given to the nasal and sinus regions, with discussion to include diagnostic testing and modes of treatment, including avoidance, pharmacotherapy and immunotherapy.

ENT – Tonsillitis: When is Tonsilectomy Indicated?: A general review will be given of the different forms of tonsillitis (chronic vs. acute), modes of anti-microbial therapy based on common pathogens, with emphasis on the different disease mechanisms that form the indications for tonsillectomy (obstruction, abscess, chronic and recurrent infections, etc.).

Saturday, April 11, 2026

ENT – Examination and Treatment of Common Ear Problems: Examination of the Tympanic membrane requires understanding of the normal anatomy, common pathologic findings, and recognition of serious conditions requiring referral to a surgeon. A rapid and thorough method for performing this exam and discussion of the worrisome conditions is discussed with many examples allowing every participant to feel confident in identifying these pathologic conditions.

ENT – Sublingual Immunotherapy as an Alternative to Allergy Shots: Mechanisms of action, advantages, and limitations of sublingual immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis and the most common methods of administering immunotherapy via an oral route.

Gynecology – Abnormal Bleeding in the Adolescent: Review normal and abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) in teens and adolescents; Discuss the diagnostic criteria and treatment options for AUB and PCOS in the adolescent patient.

Gynecology – Primary and Secondary Amenorrhea in the Adolescent: Review normal timing of pubertal milestones, including menarche; Discuss structural and hormonal etiologies of primary and secondary amenorrhea in the adolescent and appropriate evaluation.

Sunday, April 12, 2026

Gynecology – Addressing Sexual Pressures in the Adolescent Population: Discussion of when and how to talk about sex and sexuality with the pediatric and adolescent patients; Tips and strategies to empower adolescent patients to talk about their changing bodies and give the adults that are caring for them tools to help steward them into adulthood safely; Updates on contraceptive options; Appropriate gyn screenings; HPV vaccinations.

Gynecology – Pediatric Gynecologic Emergencies: Evaluation and management of vaginal bleeding; Straddle injuries and trauma; Identification and treatment of ovarian cysts and torsion; Imperforate hymen and outlet obstruction.