Beacham Continuing Medical Education Course
About Dr. Edmund Beacham
Edmund G. Beacham, M.D., (1914-2008) was born in Baltimore. He attended both Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, from which he received his M.D. In 1946, Dr. Beacham began his residency at Baltimore City Hospitals, where he was later appointed chief resident. He became chief of the Tuberculosis Hospital in 1954. When advances in the treatment and prevention of tuberculosis occurred in the 1960s, the TB unit of the Baltimore City Hospitals closed. Dr. Beacham then became the chief of chronic and community medicine. In this role, he was among the first few physicians in the U.S. committed to improving the care of institutionalized older adults. In addition to his prestigious medical career, Dr. Beacham devoted an extensive amount of his life to the military. He served in the 29th Infantry Division during World War II and achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel. After the war, Dr. Beacham served in the Maryland National Guard for 35 years as state surgeon.
Dr. Beacham initiated the nation's first geriatrics symposium in 1972, and his career at Johns Hopkins Bayview spanned 40 years. "Dr. Beacham was clearly one of the early giants in geriatrics whose shoulders we stand on," says John R. Burton, M.D., geriatrician, colleague of Dr. Beacham and former director of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology.
About the Edmund G. Beacham Annual Current Topics in Geriatrics CME Course
When Dr. Beacham first developed this course in 1972, his vision was to provide scientifically based practical, clinical talks focused on improving the health care of individual older adults. In that spirit, the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology dedicated the Annual Current Topics in Geriatrics course to his memory when he died in May 2008 at the age of 93.
As the older adult population lives longer and becomes increasingly diverse, it's imperative to offer high-quality continuing education in the care and management of geriatric patients across the health care spectrum. Through this and subsequent courses, we bring together trainees and colleagues to give the sort of talks Dr. Beacham championed.
This annual course is a premier continuing medical education opportunity for health care providers in geriatrics and general medicine. It is the longest standing course of this nature in the U.S. and a fitting forum to honor Dr. Beacham's legacy of improving the health of older adults through education. The course serves as a meaningful chance to reflect on Dr. Beacham's contributions and the key challenges that face us moving forward.
2026 Keynote Speaker: Susan L. Gearhart, M.D.
Dr. Susan Gearhart is a colorectal surgeon with over 25 years experience. Read about some of her past work in surgery for older adult patients here.
2026 Agenda
The 2026 CME course ran from Thursday, February 26 through Saturday, February 28. Check back in the late fall for updates on the 2027 CME course, and review the 2026 schedule below to see the kinds of topics we cover.
| Date/Time | Topic/Title | Speaker(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday, February 26 | ||
| 7:00-7:55 a.m. | Registration and Continental Breakfast | |
| 7:55-8:00 | Welcome and Conference Goals | Jessica Colburn, MD |
| 8:00-8:30 | Update in Cancer | Ilene Browner, MD |
| 8:30-9:00 | Cancer Screenings | Nancy Schoenborn, MD |
| 9:00-9:30 | When to Talk About Palliative Care | Redmond Finney III, MD |
| 9:30-9:50 | Panel Discussion | Ilene Browner, MD, Nancy Schoenborn, MD, and Redmond Finney III, MD |
| 9:50-10:05 | Refreshment Break and Breakouts | |
| 10:05-11:05 | Breakout Session #1 | 1A: GYN Exam with Golsa Yazdy, MD |
| 1B: Art with Mariah Robertson, MD, MPH | ||
| 1C: Pharmacology, New Drug Update with Jessica Merrey, PharmD, MBA | ||
| 11:05-11:15 | Switch for Breakouts | |
| 11:15-12:15 p.m. | Breakout Session #2 | 2A: Community Resources with Leigh Ann Eagle and Wendy Farthing |
| 2B: Dementia Care Plan with Kellie Renich, RN, and Naaz Hussain, MD | ||
| 2C: UTI and Delirium with Thomas Finucane, MD, FACP | ||
| 12:15-1:15 | Lunch | |
| 1:15-1:45 | Grief | Susan Lehmann, MD |
| 1:45-2:15 | Optimizing Care in Geriatric Trauma | K. Eric DeJonge, MD |
| 2:15-2:45 | Patterns and Causes of Hair Loss in Older Adults: Clinical Insights and Management | TBD |
| 2:45-3:05 | Discussion Panel | Susan Lehmann, MD, K. Eric DeJonge, MD, and TBD |
| 3:05-3:15 | Break | |
| 3:15-4:15 | Beacham Keynote Lecture: Frailty and Geriatric Surgery Initiatives | Susan Gearhart, MD |
| 4:15-5:00 | Discussion Panel | TBD |
| 5:00-6:30 | Reception | |
| Friday, February 27 | ||
| 7:00-7:55 a.m. | Registration and Continental Breakfast | |
| 7:55-8:00 | Welcome and Conference Goals | |
| 8:00-8:30 | Bones | Michele Bellantoni, MD |
| 8:30-9:00 | Appropriate Antibiotic Duration for Common Infections: The Case for Shorter Courses | Robin McKenzy, MD |
| 9:00-9:30 | Endocrine | TBD |
| 9:30-9:50 | Discussion Panel | Michele Bellantoni, MD, and TBD |
| 9:50-10:05 | Refreshment Break and Breakouts | |
| 10:05-11:05 | Breakout Session #3 | 3A: Dementia and Falls with Dennis Klima PhD, PT, MS, GCS, NCS |
| 3B: Alternative Treatments to Medications Listed in the 2023 AGS Beers Criteria: A Clinical Guide for 2025 with Melissa Morgan-Gouveia, MD, and Nicole Brandt, PharmD, MBA, BCGP, BCCP, FASCP | ||
| 3C: When Words and Vision Fade: A Team Approach to Supporting Older Adults with Genevieve McKeon, SLP, and Kristen Shifflett, OTR/L, CLVAT, |
||
| 11:05-11:15 | Switch for Breakouts | |
| 11:15-12:15 p.m. | Breakout Session #4 | 4A: Should Exam with Myma Albayda, MD |
| 4B: Pharmacology: Topic TBD with Daniel Mansour, PharmD, Eric Hoover, PharmD, and Nicole Brandt, PharmD | ||
| 4C: Long-Term Care with Fatima Sheikh, MD, MPH | ||
| 12:15-1:15 | Lunch | |
| 1:15-1:45 | Essential Questions in Ophthalmology: Advances in Cataract and Glaucoma Management, and Evidence-Based Prevention Strategies | Bryce Chiang, MD, PhD |
| 1:45-2:15 | Essential Questions for the Lipid Specialist: Interpreting the Lipid Panel, Optimizing Therapy, and Determining When to Discontinue Treatment | Aaron Troy, MD, MPH |
| 2:15-2:45 | Essential Challenges in Rheumatology: Interpreting Positive ANA Results, Evidence-Based Gout Management, and Best Practices for Specialist Referral | Uzma Haque, MBBS, MD |
| 2:45-3:05 | Discussion Panel | Bryce Chiang, MD, PhD, Aaron Troy, MD, MPH, and Uzma Haque, MBBS, MD |
| 3:05-3:15 | Break | |
| 3:15-3:45 | Topic TBD | TBD |
| 3:45-4:15 | Topic TBD | TBD |
| 4:15-4:45 | Integrating AI into the Clinic | David Hurwitz, MD, MBA |
| 4:45-5:00 | Discussion Panel | David Hurwitz, MD, MBA, and TBD |
| Saturday, February 28 | ||
| 7:00-7:55 a.m. | Registration and Continental Breakfast | |
| 7:55-8:00 | Welcome and Conference Goals | |
| 8:00-8:30 | Identifying and Diagnosing Dementia: What Clinicians Need to Know | Sevil Yasar, MD, PhD |
| 8:30-9:00 | Understanding Dementia: Types, Stages, and Progression | Halima Amjad, MD, PhD |
| 9:00-9:30 | Non-Pharmacologic Management of Dementia | Lolita Nidadavolu, MD, PhD |
| 9:30-9:50 | Discussion Panel | Sevil Yasar, MD, PhD, Halima Amjad, MD, PhD, and Lolita Nidadavolu, MD, PhD |
| 9:50-10:05 | Refreshment Break | |
| 10:05-10:35 | Pharmacologic Management of Dementia: New, Old, and Emerging | Haroon Burhanullah, MD |
| 10:35-11:05 | Blood-Based Biomarkers of Alzheimer's Disease: Practical Application in Clinical Practice | Esther Oh, MD, PhD |
| 11:05-11:35 | Navigating Dementia: Legal Rights, Ethical Decisions, and Long-Term Care Options | Melissa Morgan-Gouveia, MD |
| 11:35-11:50 | Discussion Panel | Haroon Burhanullah, MD, Esther Oh, MD, PhD, and Melissa Morgan-Gouveia, MD |
| 11:50-12:00 | Closing Remarks | Jessica Colburn, MD |