Internal Medicine 2012 to take place from April 19 - 21 in New Orleans

More than 5,000 internal medicine physicians, or internists, subspecialists, medical students, and allied health professionals will meet in New Orleans for Internal Medicine 2012, the annual scientific meeting of the American College of Physicians (ACP), April 19 - 21 (Thursday - Saturday), at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Internists specialize in the prevention, detection, and treatment of illnesses in adults.

Internal Medicine 2012 is full of opportunities for health and medical journalists to report on the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States. More than 250 sessions provide comprehensive coverage of internal medicine, its subspecialties, and issues in practice management and health care policy.

At the Opening Ceremony on April 19 at 9:30 a.m., Wayne J. Riley, MD, MPH, MBA, MACP, President & Chief Executive Officer of Meharry Medical College, will deliver the keynote address, "Health Disparity and Inequity in the Era of Health Reform: Why Internal Medicine Must Lead the Way." Dr. Riley is a member of ACP's Board of Regents.

ACP sponsors national abstract competitions for medical students and Associates. Finalists will compete onsite in four categories: Clinical Vignette, Basic Research, Clinical Research, and Quality Improvement - Patient Safety. Oral presentations take place on April 20 and 21. Winners from the poster competitions will be announced on April 21 at 6:30 p.m.

On April 21 at 5:15 p.m., Internal Medicine 2012 Highlights and the final round of Doctor's Dilemma take place Clinician-educators will share what they think are Internal Medicine 2012's most important take-home messages. Then the "Final Four" teams remaining in the Doctor's Dilemma competition -- a fast-paced, Jeopardy-style medical knowledge competition among students and residents -- will face off in the championship round. The winning team takes home the Osler Cup -- ACP's coveted trophy.