SGIM26: Clinical Updates in Young Adult Health

This is a recorded session from the SGIM 2026 Annual Meeting.

The Institute of Medicine reports that “because young adults tend to be in better health than older adults, they are often thought to be in good health, but this is not necessarily true.” Additionally, the IOM states that “the dominant pattern among young adults today is declining health” and that “the majority of young adults’ health problems are preventable.” Subsequent studies continue to demonstrate that this population often experiences health disparities and receives inadequate medical care for their needs.

Young adults are the least likely age group to be insured, to use ambulatory medical care services, and to have a usual source of care, and these care disparities have persisted despite improved access to insurance through the Affordable Care Act. Recent policy and funding changes threaten to further deepen these disparities. This, in combination with higher rates of morbidity and mortality from trauma, homicide, mental health problems, substance use, and high-risk sexual behavior than other age ranges, suggests internists should be more aware of the current needs of young adults in order to bridge the care gaps that exist for this population. Moreover, academic institutions and clinicians are uniquely situated to provide innovative treatment options and advocate strongly for access for this population. In other words, pursuing excellence in academic medicine means increasing understanding of and improving care for a population tranditionally overlooked by general internists.

To promote this excellence and reaffirm the importance of knowledge of care for this population, we will present an update in young adult health that will include 6-8 papers published in the last 24 months that significantly impact young adult health and illustrate health disparities faced by this population. We will review each paper and discuss practice-changing information that is relevant to the general internist.

Policy impacts on young adult access to care; sexual and gender health matters; cardiovascular and metabolic health risks among young adults; vaccination and preventive health; substance use disorders; health related to survivorship of childhood illness; mental health in young adults; and, violence-associated morbidity and mortality.
We will prepare visually interesting slides to accompany a concise discussion of each article, ensuring time for questions and discussion from the audience.

CME/MOC Hours & Expiration Date