American College of Physicians (ACP) Atlantic Provinces Chapter Annual Scientific Meeting 2026
- Friday, August 7, 2026 | 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
- Saturday, August 8, 2026 | 8:30 AM - 3:45 PM
- Sunday, August 9, 2026 | 9:00 AM - 12:15 PM
About this Program
The American College of Physicians (ACP) Atlantic Provinces Chapter, in partnership with The Office of Professional and Educational Development (OPED) and APPNA Canada (Association of Pakistani Descent Physicians of North America Canada), is pleased to host the 2026 CPD ACP Atlantic Provinces Chapter Annual Scientific Meeting. This year’s meeting will focus on diabetes and obesity, addressing current challenges in prevention, diagnosis, and management.
The program features expert-led sessions on updated clinical guidelines, emerging therapies, and multidisciplinary care, and will also cover related conditions, including cardiovascular disease, liver disease, osteoporosis, and surgical care.
Target Audience: Specialists, Family Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses, Residents, and Other Health Care Professionals
Format: Hybrid (In-person and Virtual). Webex link will be emailed to registrants 24 hours before the talk.
Location & Parking: Room 1M101 - Dr. Richard Fagan Lecture Theatre. Faculty of Medicine, Memorial University. Once you enter through the glass doors, it is the first room on the left. Registration will be at the Atrium. Parking is available next to the Faculty of Medicine Building.
Recording: All sessions will be recorded.
Program Information: Anuj Charan, Educational Specialist (Program Development), Email: acharan@mun.ca or pdmed@mun.ca
Program Learning Objectives
- Apply updated 2026 guidelines in the management of diabetes, obesity, and associated cardiometabolic conditions in clinical practice
- Implement evidence-based strategies for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diabetes, obesity, and related conditions
- Recognize and manage key comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease, MASH, osteoporosis, and diabetic complications
- Assess the role of pharmacological and surgical interventions in metabolic disease management
- Incorporate patient-centered and interdisciplinary approaches to optimize care outcomes
Program Agenda
Friday, August 7, 2026
The Metabolic Triad: Integrating Obesity, Diabetes, and MASLD - Dr. Ellina Lytvyak
- Assess current epidemiological patterns, future trends and burden of obesity, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), and diabetes
- Describe the interconnected relationship among obesity, MASLD, and diabetes, and how each condition influences the clinical course and outcomes of the others
- Recognize the importance of a holistic, multimodal approach to the management of patients with concurrent obesity, MASLD, and diabetes
- Apply evidence-based recommendations for physical activity, nutrition, and pharmacotherapy in the management of obesity, MASLD, and diabetes
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Registration
Welcome and Opening Remarks
End of Life and Diabetes - Dr. Dee Moonesinghe
- Explain the differences between hospice and palliative care
- Recognize when a patient may be ready for palliative or hospice care
- Describe the unique challenges of managing diabetes in patients receiving palliative or hospice care
Diabetes Canada Diabetic Nephropathy Prevention Program - Dr. Sheldon Tobe
- Recognize the risk factors and early clinical indicators of diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- Apply current evidence-based strategies, including glycemic, blood pressure, to reduce the risk of diabetic kidney disease progression
- Incorporate emerging therapies and guideline recommendations into the prevention and management of diabetic nephropathy in primary care practice
- Identify appropriate screening, monitoring, and referral pathways to support early intervention and improve kidney health outcomes
Mid-Morning Break
Bariatric Sx Update – Dr. Vanessa Falk
- Describe the various bariatric surgery procedures, including gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and adjustable gastric banding, and their indications
- Identify criteria for patient selection and preoperative evaluation for bariatric surgery
- Discuss postoperative care protocols, including nutritional management, follow-up strategies, and monitoring for complications
- Review the long-term outcomes of bariatric surgery, including weight loss maintenance, resolution of comorbidities, and quality of life improvements
LUNCH
Networking & peruse exhibits-posters
Osteoporosis Guidelines Updates - Dr. Iram Anees
- Review key updates in osteoporosis screening, diagnosis, and fracture risk assessment
- Apply current guideline recommendations to support prevention and treatment decisions in primary care
- Discuss practical approaches to medication selection, treatment duration, monitoring, and referral for patients at increased fracture risk
Diabetes and Obesity Guidelines - Dr. Evan Wee
- Brief refresher on current guidelines for diagnosis and management of diabetic patients in Diabetes Canada and ADA/EASD guidelines
- Review ADA 2026 recommendations for Obesity and Diabetes
- Review Obesity Canada 2025 pharmacotherapy update and Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice guidelines for weight management in diabetes
Mid-Afternoon Break
Lipid Guidelines - Dr. Syed Najaf Nadeem (Virtual)
- Apply current Canadian lipid management recommendations to assess cardiovascular risk and guide lipid-lowering therapy in primary care
- Incorporate recent advances in cardiovascular prevention, including the role of lipoprotein(a), coronary artery calcium scoring, and emerging lipid-lowering therapies, into individualized patient care
- Develop patient-centred treatment plans that integrate lifestyle modification, statins, and non-statin therapies to reduce cardiovascular risk
- Address common clinical challenges, including statin intolerance, medication adherence, and shared decision-making to improve long-term cardiovascular outcomes
Closing Remarks - Dr. Sahar Iqbal
Sunday, August 9, 2026
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Diabetic Foot Ulcer Care in NL surgical and Medical Aspects of Care - Dr. Sanampreet Gurm
- Recognize the risk factors, clinical presentation, and classification of diabetic foot ulcers to support timely diagnosis and appropriate management
- Apply evidence-based medical management strategies, including wound care, infection assessment, offloading, and glycemic optimization, in patients with diabetic foot ulcers
- Identify indications for surgical intervention and appropriate referral pathways, including vascular and multidisciplinary diabetic foot services in Newfoundland and Labrador
- Develop patient-centred strategies for ulcer prevention, recurrence reduction, and long-term foot care through education, risk factor modification, and coordinated follow-up
Educational Session #1 - Three winning abstracts (Non- Accredited)
20 Minutes each plus 10 minutes Q&A
Mid-Morning Break
Nutritional Break
Educational Session #2 (Non-Accredited)
Laura O’ Driscoll & Fred Melindy – Diabetes Canada
Educational Session #3 (Non-Accredited)
NL Smokers' Helpline
Prize Distribution and Conclusion - Dr. Sahar Iqbal
Acknowledgements
Scientific
Planning Committee: Dr. Sahar Iqbal, ACP Atlantic Provinces Governor (Planning committee
Chair), Dr. Brian Moses, Halifax, ACP Committee Member, Dr. Stephanie
Carpentier Saint John, ACP Committee Member, Dr. Brandon Persaud, ACP Committee
Member, Dr. Lisa Burke, Family Physician NL, Dr. Madan Mariappan, Family
Physician NL, Stephanie Paul, Nurse Practitioner NL, Dr. Zahra Farahnak,
Assistant Professor, Memorial University NL.
For this
year’s annual scientific meeting, the American College of Physicians (ACP) is
collaborating with the Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North
America Canada (APPNA - Canada). Three physicians from APPNA - Canada are on
the planning committee: Dr. Tariq Awan, President, APPNA – Canada; Dr. Saad
Yasin, President-Elect, APPNA – Canada & Dr. Amir
Aslam, Treasurer, APPNA – Canada
Speakers
- Dr. Ellina Lytvyak MD, PhD, DABOM, FRCPC
- Dr. Dee Moonesinghe MD, MBA, CPE, FACP
- Dr.
Vanessa Falk MD FRCPC
- Dr. Iram Anees MD FRCPC
- Dr. Sheldon Tobe MD, MScCH (HPTE),
FRCPC, FACP, FAHA
- Dr.
Evan Wee MD FRCPC
- Dr. Syed Najaf Nadeem MBBS, FRCPC, FACC, MBA
Funds in support of this CME activity were provided as an educational grant to Memorial University. The funds were independently allocated and disbursed in accordance with current CMA guidelines. An educational grant to help support this program was provided by:
Platinum Sponsor
- Eli lily
- Sanofi
Gold Sponsor
- MiniMed
Silver
- Tandem
- Abbott
- Smokers HelpLine
- Sequence Bio
- Novo Nordisk
Registration Details
ENROLLMENT OPTIONS
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ACP Resident MembersFree
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StudentsFree
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NON-ACP Resident Members$10.00
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Diabetes Educators, Dietitians, Nurses & Nurse Practitioner$25.00
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ACP Members, Fellows, Masters$50.00
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Physicians NON-ACP Members$75.00