Over 9000 IM physicians from all over India and several neighboring countries including Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka attended. There were guest faculty from Nepal, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, EFIM, ISIM, MIRCIM, Mayo Clinic and RCPSG. Thirteen Workshops and numerous lectures and some panel discussions were given in 8-10 simultaneous sessions in nine halls on each of the four days of the conference. Topics covered most of the key issues in IM and subspecialties that were chosen by collaboration with 10 subspecialty societies. Importantly, there was emphasis on topics specifically relevant for India and the region including tropical diseases. There were also student posters, case presentations, a quiz, thesis proposal training and orations. In all sessions time was strictly adhered to with each presentation varying from 15 to 30 minutes. There were often no breaks between sessions which ran from 8.30am to 5.30 pm.
The ISIM session was held in concert with McMaster University presentations of Evidence Based Medicine. The McMaster text was also promoted.
With the theme being Education, Ethics and Empathy these key aspects of medical practice, and especially the later, were emphasized in the Presidential Address as well as in many talks and specific sessions such as the importance of kindness and trust in physician/patient relationships. Comprehensive Internal medicine practice for both hospital clinic medicine was celebrated with the prediction that fewer subspecialists and more generalist specialist would be needed to deal with the medical needs of aging, chronicity and multimorbidity in both in and outpatient settings. AI and algorithms will deal with low complexity disorders as will patients using personal devices and search capabilities. Patients want soft skills more than knowledge or diagnostic brilliance and the latter can be better addressed by AI. But AI may also be better at soft skills. Burnout and a reduced physician workforce remain a challenge in all countries so there is much work to do.
The majority of attendees were male as were the faculty. Many past Presidents of API were present and participated. Each day at opening session, newly published books/monographs written by faculty and trainees were celebrated.
Attendees were treated to two dinners with cultural events. Convocation was lead by a pipe and drum band, women in traditional dress and carrying flowers. Flowers and floral decorations graced the venue and were presented to attendees as they arrived each day. There was a large outdoor area at the tent-based convention center dotted with cultural icons, booths and photo op stages.
