Registration Open for 25th Annual Internal Medicine CME Course

What began in the 1970s as a modest board review course for staff doctors has become an international draw for Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC).

The course, known today as the Annual Update & Intensive Review of Internal Medicine, originated in the 1970s and was offered only to house staff at what was then known as Presbyterian Hospital, said Jai Radhakrishnan, MD, professor of medicine at CUMC and one of the program directors. In the early years, the course was directed by Harold Neu, MD, and later by Gerald Appel, MD, with Radhakrishnan joining in the early 1990s.

The review has evolved since then. The format is far more comprehensive and participation was opened up to people unaffiliated with the medical center. Now, CUIMC faculty teach clinical practitioners from all across the country and around the world. Primary care physicians, specialists who wish to receive an update on general internal medicine, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, residents, and medical students may sign up.

“The course has become a spotlight on our faculty and what CUIMC provides as a medical center,” Radhakrishnan said. “It showcases the skills of our teaching faculty and provides a comprehensive review of the most important advances that have been made recently in internal medicine.”

The review covers each of the major subspecialties, including cardiology, gastroenterology, hematology, oncology, and rheumatology. Much of the material is presented in lecture format, and a case-based question and answer session follows the review of each specialty. Participants can use an interactive computer-based system to anonymously test their knowledge.

The program provides up to 50 credits—for both continuing medical education and maintenance of certification—for internists, family practitioners, nurses, and allied health professionals, and it may help candidates prepare for their internal medicine boards or recertification examinations.

This year’s review will take place from June 17 to 21. Registration is now open. Those who cannot attend in person may participate online. Visit the program’s website for full details.