Medical Education Momentum is Happening!

Open Medicine Foundation (OMF) is proud to share the fantastic progress of the OMF-supported Medical Education Resource Center (MERC) at Bateman Horne Center (BHC).

 The MERC team at BHC has done an exceptional job of creating a new educational series targeting rehabilitation professionals. It includes instruction on avoiding post-exertional malaise (PEM) and gives assessment/management guidance for physical therapists and occupational therapists that redefines “exercise” for a population harmed by traditional graded exercise.

By targeting rehabilitation professionals, the focus is on educating providers on Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM) and the importance of avoiding it. Watch the series here!

A Year of Momentum: MERC’s First-Year Achievements

Since our launch in August 2022, the OMF-supported MERC program has made significant strides in medical education, reaching out to a broad spectrum of professionals, and providing resources to promote understanding of chronic and post-viral conditions.

Specialties reached:

Cardiology, Contact Tracers, Dermatology, Emergency Medicine, Endocrinology, Family Medicine, Gastroenterology, Internal Medicine, Home Health, Neurology, Neuropsychiatry, Pediatrics, Pharmacology, Psychiatry, Rheumatology, Skilled Nursing

MERC’s Educational Reach:

MERC’s program successfully attracted 2,810 attendees from all around the globe, making an impact on medical professionals across specialties ranging from Cardiology to Rheumatology, and from Family Medicine to Psychiatry.

MERC’s Comprehensive Lecture Topics:

MERC delivered a variety of lectures addressing significant topics such as the lingering consequences of COVID-19, Post-Exertional Malaise, and Long COVID, among others. The lectures also touched upon specialized subjects under the MERC program, like post-viral sleep disturbances, neuropsychological symptoms in post-COVID conditions, and more. Watch the lectures here!

Medical Rotations and Training:

In collaboration with reputable institutions like the Mayo Clinic, Primary Children’s Hospital, and the University of Utah Health College of Nursing, MERC provided valuable training and mentorship opportunities.

Medical Education Resources and Handouts:

MERC produced a wealth of resources in 2022, many of which also serve as patient education materials. These assets ranged from handouts on urgent care medical considerations and orthostatic intolerance to health assessment worksheets and a ME/CFS crash survival guidebook. Check out these resources here. Click “patient resources”

National and International Partnerships:

OMF and MERC believe in the power of collaboration. Members of our team have joined international groups like Doctors with ME, increasing our capacity for collaboration and outreach. We are also part of important initiatives such as the NIH-funded Collaborative Research Center’s Community Advisory Committee, NIH ME/CFS Research Roadmap Working Group, and the RECOVER initiative’s Clinical Trials Advisory Committee.

Building Momentum for the Future

The momentum we’ve gained since our launch in 2022 is a testament to OMF’s commitment to support cutting-edge research and education. We’re excited about the progress made thus far and are optimistic about the potential strides we can make in the future. With continued dedication and your support, we’re confident in advancing our understanding of ME/CFS and related conditions, enhancing the quality of care, and improving patients’ lives.

Keep the momentum going. Your support is crucial in keeping these initiatives moving forward. Together, let’s continue to push the boundaries of medical knowledge and patient care.