Message from Paul M. O'Byrne, Dean and Vice-President, Faculty of Health Sciences

We just wrapped up our 7th annual McMaster International Review Course in Internal Medicine (MIRCIM) held in Kraków, Poland and, as always, I was greatly impressed by the international lineup of speakers. This year, we enjoyed a diverse group of experts from not only from Canada, but also India, Israel, Germany, South Africa, the U.S., and the U.K.

MIRCIM is perfectly aligned to our culture of innovation, exploration and collaboration, and our focus on the broader global health community. I’m proud that 15 of the expert speakers at this internationally recognized conference were colleagues from our Faculty of Health Sciences.

At MIRCIM, the latest advances and controversies in internal medicine were discussed and debated, along with how to integrate updates in evidence-based practice to enhance patient care. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the conference was the Best Case Report Contest (BCRC) open to internal medicine specialists less than 35 years of age, or senior trainees in internal medicine in the last two years of training. Original unpublished case reports are submitted describing an original observation concerning diagnosis, treatment or both. I would like to encourage those Faculty members who qualify to think of submitting for next years’ conference.

MIRCIM was conceived by our Faculty’s Department of Medicine and developed by the Department, along with partners including the Polish Institute for Evidence Based Medicine, Jagiellonian University and Medycyna Praktyczna. The event delivered once again on its promise of intensive learning, hands-on clinical workshops as well as lectures from world-renowned experts. With thousands of participants, both in person and virtually, there was an incredible opportunity for knowledge sharing, learning about the latest breakthroughs and hearing from key opinion leaders. Similar content can also be found in the McMaster Textbook of Internal Medicine, which is an immensely valuable global clinical resource for frontline healthcare workers.

I am really delighted with the success and impact of the conference and would like to extend my thanks to the team of experts and our partner organizations, who make MIRCIM so engaging, educational and memorable.

The MIRCIM meeting has reinforced my opinion that our incredible FHS community, including our students, faculty and staff are shaping the future of health care not just in Canada, but around the globe.

Looking ahead, this coming Thanksgiving weekend is a special time for engaging with families and friends. I hope everyone has an enjoyable time with those they are close to this holiday weekend.

More photos from MIRCIM 2022: