ECIM 2025 — Young Internists Take Center Stage

FLORENCE, Italy — The 23rd European Congress of Internal Medicine (ECIM) 2025 is currently underway in Florence, Italy, from March 5 to 8, bringing together more than 2100 participants from 82 countries and 166 speakers to discuss a broad range of topics across the field of medicine.

Organized by the European Federation of Internal Medicine, which comprises 42 national societies from 41 countries, the congress serves as a platform for specialists and members of other international scientific societies to collaborate and exchange knowledge.

The central theme of the congress, “integrating technology and humanity for sustainable healthcare,” highlights a fundamental aspect of internal medicine: A comprehensive, multidimensional approach to patient care that considers various health concerns from multiple perspectives.

Nicola Montano, MD, PhD, president of the Italian Society of Internal Medicine (SIMI) and full professor of internal medicine at the University of Milan, Milan, Italy, described the difference between internists and organ specialists using a visual analogy. He compared an internist with a swimmer who observes everything in their surroundings, maintaining a broad perspective, while an organ specialist is like a diver who focuses intensely on a single point, seeing details up close but potentially missing the overall view. Speaking with Univadis Italy, a Medscape Network platform, he emphasized that these two approaches to medical knowledge are complementary.

Montano serves as co-chair of the congress alongside Francesco Dentali, MD, president of the Federation of Associations of Hospital Doctors on Internal Medicine and associate professor of internal medicine at the University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.

Multidisciplinary Focus

Internal medicine congresses are inherently multidisciplinary, as they bring together not only internists but also experts from various specialties. This reflects the very nature of internal medicine, explained Montano, who described some of the key themes at the heart of this year’s congress sessions.

Among the most innovative topics is the link between the body and mind and the relationship between the nervous system and chronic disease, an area gaining significant attention in recent years and, according to Montano, deserves more attention.

Artificial intelligence is also in the spotlight, with discussions on the most useful tools for internists, provided that they are used appropriately.

The congress will also feature sessions on well-established conditions in internal medicine, such as obesity, sepsis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, hypertension, and diabetes. These discussions will provide an updated perspective on rapidly evolving clinical and research landscapes.

Reflecting the broad scope of internal medicine beyond hospital care, the program also includes sessions addressing social and organizational challenges. Topics include the impact of climate change on health and ensuring safe discharge for vulnerable patients.

Montano emphasized that internists play a crucial role in clinical governance, healthcare organization, and patient management due to their broad perspective and comprehensive understanding of the entire patient journey.

Finally, the event will highlight ongoing challenges, including hospital-acquired infections, early diagnosis through screening, and the importance of promoting healthy lifestyles.

Young Internists

More than half of the participants at the congress are young doctors, which is an encouraging sign of the vitality of this long-established specialty. Internal medicine has deep historical roots, illustrated by the founding of SIMI in 1887, but continues to attract new generations.

The presence of young professionals is evident not only in the faces of those attending the sessions but also in the topics discussed.

Several sessions are dedicated to young internists, covering essential aspects such as developing clinical skills, advancing professional growth, leveraging digital tools, and mastering the art of writing and publishing scientific articles to effectively communicate research findings.

“There are many talented young professionals in our scientific societies and hospitals who are eager to advance the complex field of internal medicine to the best of their ability,” said Montano.

He emphasized that once doctors choose internal medicine, they become deeply committed to it — not just as a field of pathology or technical expertise, but as a discipline that embraces personalized medicine, caring for patients in a holistic manner. “Young people appreciate this approach and carry it forward with conviction, despite the many structural and bureaucratic challenges that often weigh down daily clinical practice.”

Cristina Ferrario, a molecular biologist by training, holds a master’s degree in communication and health from the University of Milan and in cancer genetics from the University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy. After conducting research in molecular oncology, she has been involved in scientific journalism and medical writing for over 20 years. 

This story was translated from Univadis Italy using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.