Recapping the highlights of Internal Medicine 2009

ACP Internist introduced a number of new features during Internal Medicine 2009 in Philadelphia in April. In addition to our regular coverage found in this issue and in our daily onsite print editions, we sent out daily updates to members containing breaking news from the meeting and highlights from each day's scientific sessions. Our onsite editorial staff also frequently posted comments, observations and intriguing tidbits on our blog, and one ACP Member, Vineet Arora, FACP, used her Twitter feed to digest events as the meeting progressed. Finally, we expanded photo coverage of the event online.

There was no shortage of interesting material. With more than 260 lectures, discussions and demonstrations scheduled over the three-day event, the biggest problem was winnowing down your list of favorites and fitting them into a manageable schedule. Besides a wide range of clinical topics, the conference offered sessions on the patient-centered medical home, practice management tips, and the environment's impact on global health, to name a few. Attendance this year exceeded 6,000 physicians from the U.S. and other countries.

This issue's coverage of Internal Medicine 2009 provides only a sampling of what the meeting had to offer. There was standing room only in some sessions, such as “Essential Dermatology for the Practicing Internist,” where internists learned how to recognize and treat the most common skin conditions encountered in primary care, such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, rosacea and warts. Coverage continues for other important clinical topics, such as the latest thinking on breast cancer prevention and screening, recognizing common drug interactions, and a music video correcting popular misconceptions about vaccination.

We look forward to your comments on our coverage and welcome your suggestions. Don't forget to visit our blog.

Sincerely,

Janet Colwell
Editor