Are Medical Books Still Relevant in the Age of AI?

Open medical textbook beside a tablet displaying an AI-assisted learning interface.

Medical books are far less important for reference than they once were. For many clinical questions, artificial intelligence and other digital tools are faster, more portable, easier to search, and better able to compare alternatives. A clinician can ask a focused question, refine it, challenge the answer, and explore several possibilities without searching through an … Read more

Teach Yourself Infectious Diseases!

CDC Yellow Book 2018

“a well-developed knowledge of clinical microbiology is critical for the practicing physician in any medical field. Bacteria, viruses, and protozoans have no respect for the distinction between ophthalmology, pediatrics, trauma surgery, or geriatric medicine. Microbiology is one of the few courses where much of the ‘minutia’ is regularly used by the practicing physician.” Mark Gladwin … Read more

Neurology: A Curriculum for Self-Guided Learners

DeMyer's The Nuerologic Examination, 7e (2016)

Here is my proposed curriculum for learning neurology: Step 1 Nail down your neuroanatomy with Basic Clinical Neuroscience by Paul A. Young (2007). If you are planning to become a neurologist, neurosurgeon or radiologist, use Sidman’s Neuroanatomy: A Programmed Learning Tool (2007) to help gain a deeper understanding of anatomic and functional neuroanatomy. In the alternative, or as an … Read more

Electrocardiography: A Curriculum for Self-Guided Learners

12-Lead EKG Confidence

“If you think there’s another specialist who has all the answers, someone else who’s going to bail you out of trouble every time you have a question about ECGs, you are mistaken. That person may just as likely be wrong, so YOU must strive to become THE expert.” Amal Mattu MD, ECG Interpretation of STEMI: … Read more

Teach Yourself Radiology!

Pleural Effusion

Radiology is by far the most challenging specialty in all of modern medicine in terms of the sheer quantity and breadth of information one needs to acquire in order to become competent at it. You can, however, teach yourself radiology by focusing on the highest yield items: Step 1 Master radiographic anatomy. Radiologists need to know least four … Read more