ACP IMpact
ACP IMpact is an online newsletter for ACP Medical Student Members interested in internal medicine. An ACP login is required to access these articles. Not a member? Membership is free for medical students. Join now.
September 2025
Stay Tuned to Celebrate
Internal Medicine Day Is October 28th
Internal Medicine Day is Tuesday, October 28th—and you're invited to join the fun! As a future physician, post why you're #IMProud on #InternalMedicineDay on October 28th and tag ACP @acpimphysicians. Here are some sample posts to get you started. Be sure to also visit our I.M. Physician Toolkit to show your internal medicine pride: download digital stickers, add I.M. email signature flair, and more.
Just Launched
Take the I.M. Career Path Quiz
Internal medicine is a launchpad to an impactful career that can span from complex patient care to leading structural change. It can evolve over time and offers diverse leadership and growth opportunities as you advance in your career. Take the new I.M. Career Path Quiz (member login required) to discover which internal medicine career is right for you.
In Case You Missed It
Dr. Jokela on KevinMD: One Patient at a Time
Janet Jokela, MD, MPH, and former ACP treasurer, reflects on the growing challenges to the sacred and fragile trust between physicians and patients. She points to shortened visits, rising skepticism fueled by social media, and even threats to physician expertise as stressors on this critical relationship.
Read Dr. Jokela's article or listen to the accompanying podcast to learn more.
Feature
How Much Alcohol Is Too Much?
(from the September 2025 I.M. Matters from ACP)
A growing recognition of alcohol as a health risk coupled with the rise of abstinence-friendly social trends provides an opportunity for primary care physicians to have more comprehensive conversations with their patients about drinking behaviors.
I.M. Matters from ACP is ACP's member newspaper, providing news and information for internal medicine physicians about the practice of medicine and reporting on the policies, products, and activities of ACP.
I.M. Internal Medicine Spotlight
Spotlight: Andrew A. Chang, MD, MPH, MA
Dr. Chang discusses how strong primary care is the foundation of a well-functioning health care system since interventions as a primary care provider can have a profound impact on a patient's health. He stresses this is particularly true for underserved and marginalized populations.
Council of Student Members Spotlight
The Medical Student's Impact: Advocating for Patients
The first time I stepped into the emergency department at a hospital in Central California, I was immediately struck with a sense of overwhelm. Patients lined the hallways, packed shoulder to shoulder. Every health care worker moved with a desperate urgency, juggling an overwhelming array of responsibilities.
Analyzing Annals
Catheter and Surgical Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis and The Significant Benefits of Ablation for Rhythm Control of Atrial Fibrillation
(from August 2025 Annals for Educators)
Ablation of atrial fibrillation can restore normal heart rhythm, but its effect on clinical outcomes is uncertain. This systematic review evaluated the effect of catheter or surgical ablation on ischemic stroke, stroke, mortality, and heart failure. The accompanying editorial discusses the findings and how they should influence clinical practice for rhythm control.
Annals for Educators is a Web Exclusives feature of Annals of Internal Medicine which includes activities using selected Annals articles to help medical educators in their teaching activities.
Winning Abstracts from the 2025 Abstract Competitions
Tamoxifen for Successful Treatment of Refractory Mania in Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a chronic psychiatric condition characterized by recurrent episodes of mania and depression. While mood stabilizers such as lithium, valproate, and atypical antipsychotics are typically effective in managing manic episodes, some patients exhibit resistance or experience intolerable side effects.
Want to have your abstract featured here? ACP holds National Abstract Competitions as part of ACP Internal Medicine Meeting every year. Submissions for next year's competition open in early October 2025.
Get Involved
Join In! Submit an Abstract or Apply for a Council Seat or Health Policy Internship
Build your experience, knowledge base, and CV with these exciting opportunities from ACP:
Submit an abstract starting in early October to showcase your research or a case report at next year's ACP National Abstract Competitions in San Francisco, CA. See details.
Become a member of ACP's Council of Student Members, which advises ACP's Board of Regents and Board of Governors on products, programs, and services affecting medical students. Apply by November 1.
Apply to be a Health Policy Intern in ACP's Washington, DC, office by October 31. The internship provides a multifaceted opportunity for medical students to learn about the legislative process, health policy, and advocacy in organized medicine. Apply now.
ACP IMpact is copyrighted ©2023 by the American College of Physicians.
