“So wonderful to see you!”
This phrase was heard repeatedly all over the convention hall at the recent American College of Physicians annual meeting, Internal Medicine 2025. Held in New Orleans last April, the meeting welcomed attendees from across the country and the world, with everyone focused on the latest updates in internal medicine and connecting with colleagues.
Why do I attend the annual internal medicine meeting? The reasons are myriad and may be lumped into the categories of education, inspiration, and community.
My first ACP internal medicine meeting was in Philadelphia in the 1990s (yes, this dates me). At that time, there were no councils of students, residents/fellows, or early career physicians. How things have changed!
At that first meeting, I was blown away. The many fabulous offerings were like a sumptuous smorgasbord, with dazzling options. The faculty giving the talks were engaging, experts in their topics, and the best clinical educators in the country. My goal was to attend as many sessions as possible. As a respected mentor once said, this is hands-down the best CME meeting anywhere. Even as a newbie back then, I sensed the meeting was special and still think so today. It is the crème de la crème, with interesting and impactful presentations. Many talks are laced with humor. We heard that “tirzepatide is the Taylor Swift of pharmacology” (did you know that?!). The speaker explained that in the same way Taylor has taken over the music industry, and “the world,” tirzepatide is taking over internal medicine with expanding indications and potential applications. The speaker’s instructions were that as internal medicine physicians, we must acquaint ourselves with this drug. From clinical talks to ethical discussions, advocacy sessions, clinical decision-making scenarios, the clinical skills center, and more, there is something for everyone.
Inspiration. This meeting is energizing and represents excellence in action. The meeting has evolved with time and now hosts sessions specifically for students, residents and fellows, and early career physicians—in other words, our profession’s future. A student was overheard saying, “This was a fantastic meeting, and I will be back.” The planning committee, the ACP medical education division, and the entire ACP pull together to deliver this over-the-top event; kudos to all of them. For all of us attendees to be in one place every year, focused on ACP’s mission (even if we were not explicitly voicing it: “to enhance the quality and effectiveness of health care by fostering excellence and professionalism in the practice of medicine”) is an annual privilege. And what does this mean? It means the meeting embodies excellence in clinical education, inspires us to excellence in professionalism and ethics, and challenges us to embrace principled leadership. It is obvious: ACP cares deeply about our patients and us. The meeting is my place of inspiration.
And community. My friends and colleagues attend this meeting, and we connect here. These colleagues aspire to the values and principles espoused by ACP, the values and principles that have guided me throughout my career. In my service in governance at ACP, I have come to know these colleagues well, and they are now cherished friends. ACP and the annual meeting are where we connect, lift each other up, and advocate together for the evidence-based practice of medicine. And the annual meeting is also when we acknowledge that time marches on. One dear friend was not able to attend the meeting this year due to a serious health challenge, and their absence was keenly felt. My friend has been an inspiration and support to many over the years, including me. His spirits remain high, which is a testament to his character and fortitude, though we both know, because we are internal medicine physicians, the road ahead will not be easy nor smooth. The meeting reminds us how much our colleagues mean to us, and yes, how much we love them. As they say, my cup runneth over. These connections enrich the national meeting and are its heart and soul.
I cannot imagine my career without ACP and the national meeting. My hope for every internal medicine physician, especially early career physicians, is to discover ACP and the national meeting and to incorporate it into annual CME activities. It is so worth it. In 2026, the meeting will be in San Francisco. I hope to see you there, and it will be wonderful to see you.
Janet A. Jokela, MD, MPH completed her term as ACP Treasurer at IMM2025. She serves as professor and senior associate dean of engagement at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Urbana, IL. She may be reached on BlueSky @drjanetj.bsky.social.
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States, boasting members in over 145 countries worldwide. ACP’s membership encompasses 161,000 internal medicine physicians, related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who utilize scientific knowledge and clinical expertise for diagnosing, treating, and providing compassionate care to adults, spanning from those in good health to individuals with complex illnesses. Stay connected with ACP on X @ACPIMPhysicians, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram @acpimphysicians.
