As endocrinologists, we spend our days balancing hormones and fine-tuning metabolism, but when it comes to our own continuing medical education (CME) conferences, it seems our ability to maintain equilibrium goes out the window. We advocate for healthy living, yet our CME events are a hormonal disaster, like a cortisol spike right after a sugar crash.

Picture the scene: you roll out of bed before the sun, which is already a glycemic index-level stressor. Your breakfast options? A carbohydrate carnival of sausage, bacon, and biscuits—perfect for a transient insulin surge but not exactly promoting balanced glycemic control. The breaks are an unholy display of cupcakes and doughnuts, ideal for a momentary dopamine rush but a nightmare for our metabolic health.

You walk into a conference hall that looks like the set of a reality TV show about chaotic group activities. Sessions are happening everywhere; talks, workshops, and networking events collide in a cacophony of competing noises and flashing visuals. For your brain, this is less of a learning experience and more of a mental endurance test. Trying to learn in this kind of environment feels like juggling flaming swords while riding a unicycle.

And just when you think it couldn’t get worse, lunch is punctuated by a paid speaker determined to convince you that their new product is the magic bullet for every endocrine disorder. Meanwhile, evenings are reserved for pharmaceutical representatives who, in their quest to win you over, might make you question if their specialty is truly endocrinology or just the fine art of wine pairing.

Enter the Annual International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine (ICNM), the endocrinologist’s dream come true. This conference starts at a civil 9 a.m., a time when our cortisol levels are still on the upswing and not yet on the brink of a meltdown. Gone are the days of sugar-laden breakfast debacles; ICNM serves up wholesome, balanced options that actually align with our recommendations for stable blood sugar levels.

ICNM also introduces us to the joy of a relaxed lunch without the intrusion of a sales pitch. It’s a chance to mingle without the pressure of being pelted with product propaganda. And instead of endless pharmaceutical soirées, the evenings are free for exploring local attractions. In Washington, D.C., this means soaking in culture at the Kennedy Center or discovering the delights of Ethiopian cuisine—an opportunity to savor a meal without the looming threat of a lecture on the latest pharmaceutical miracle.

The ICNM model demonstrates that CME conferences don’t have to be a high-stress, low-nutrition affair. We can have it all: a schedule that respects our need for rest, meals that support our health, and evenings that rejuvenate rather than exhaust us. It’s time to challenge the status quo and demand conferences that mirror the wellness we so fervently advocate.

Imagine CME events where the breakfast buffet is a haven of healthy choices, where breaks feature fruit and nuts instead of sugary traps, and where lunchtime is dedicated to genuine networking rather than commercial interruptions. And yes, imagine evenings where the only stress is choosing between a museum or a local restaurant rather than attending yet another pharma-sponsored dinner.

By adopting a lifestyle-focused approach, we can align our professional development with the very principles we promote. It’s about modeling good behavior, from balanced meals to adequate sleep, and proving that we walk the talk. Our conferences should be a reflection of our commitment to health—not just in theory, but in practice.

A conference hall bursting with overlapping events is not just a minor inconvenience; it’s a full-blown cognitive catastrophe. To avoid turning learning into an exercise in chaos and confusion, conferences need to embrace a more organized, quieter setting. Let’s save the mental acrobatics for another day and make our professional development something our brains actually enjoy.

It’s time for a paradigm shift in how we conduct our CME conferences. Let’s take a page from the ICNM playbook and make our endocrinology events as balanced and enriching as the lives we strive to improve. After all, if we want our patients to live healthier, happier lives, we should start by ensuring our own professional development doesn’t lead to an endocrinological crisis. Emulating a positive model isn’t just a step forward; it’s a leap toward a healthier, more harmonious approach to CME.

Lubna Mirza is an endocrinologist. Sadaf Zahra and Yuyang Xia are international medical graduates.