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Student/Intern Readings

The best thing you can do for the IM Shelf is UWorld. There really is no replacement for it. Anki can be used to supplement but shouldn't be your primary source of information.

Ward Resources

Ward Topics List

Largely modeled after SIU's Reading list, but with topics I've commonly encountered sorted by the relative frequency I've encountered them.

Cardiology
Highest Yield
Average Yield
  • Aortic Stenosis
  • Aortic regurgitation
  • Mitral stenosis
  • Mitral regurgitation
  • Premature ventricular contractions
  • Ventricular Tachycardia
  • Acute pericarditis
  • Prinzmetal’s angina
  • AV blocks
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Multifocal atrial tachycardia
  • Atrial flutter
Lower Yield
Endocrinology
Highest Yield
  • Diabetes Mellitus
    • Hypoglycemia
    • Ketoacidosis
    • HHS
    • Neuropathy
    • Retinopathy
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Hypercalcemia
Average Yield
  • Cushing’s disease
  • Addison’s disease
  • Corticosteroid drug therapy
  • Syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion
  • Thyroid Nodules
  • Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Multiple endocrine neoplasia syndromes
  • Pheochromocytoma
  • Galactorrhea
  • Hypogonadism
  • Thyroid cancer
Lower Yield
  • Primary hyperaldosteronism
  • Acromegaly
  • Diabetes insipidus
  • Ectopic hormone production
  • Conn’s Syndrome
  • Gastrinoma
Hematology/Oncology
Highest Yield
  • Iron Deficiency Anemia
  • Anemia of chronic disease
  • Lymphomas
  • DIC
  • Thrombocytopenia
  • Chronic Leukemia
  • Breast Cancer
Average Yield
  • Macrocytic anemia
  • Transfusions
  • Myelofibrosis/Myelodysplasia
  • Deep venous thrombosis
  • Gammopathy
  • Pancytopenia
  • Hemoglobinopathies
  • Von Willebrand's Disease
  • Acute Leukemia
  • Skin cancer/melanoma
  • Principles of chemotherapy
  • Pain management
  • Prostate cancer
  • Paraneoplastic Syndromes
  • Monoclonal Antibody Therapy
Lower Yield
  • Leukopenia
  • Aplastic anemia
  • Hemophilia
  • Chromosomes
  • Flow Cytometry
Infectious Disease
Highest Yield
  • Pneumonia/bronchitis
  • UTI’s
  • AIDS
  • Septic Shock
Average Yield
  • Endocarditis
  • Meningitis
  • Lyme disease
  • URI/influenza
  • Immunizations
  • TB
  • Histo/Other fungal diseases
  • Encephalitis
  • Rheumatic fever
  • Lung abscess
  • Sinusitis
  • Herpes Zoster/Simplex
  • Vaginal Discharges (STD’S)
Lower Yield
  • Rocky Mountain Fever
  • Staph Syndrome (toxic shock)
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Septic arthritis
  • Liver abscess
  • Brain abscess
Nephrology & Urology
Highest Yield
  • Acute Renal Failure
  • Fluid/Electrolytes
Average Yield
  • Chronic Renal Failure
  • Glomerulonephritis
  • Acid Base balance
  • Nephrotic Syndrome
  • Renal Calculi
  • Drug Therapy in renal disease
  • Renal carcinoma
Lower Yield
  • Renal tubular acidoses
  • Goodpasture’s
  • Polycystic kidneys
  • Henoch-Schoenlein purpura
Pulmonology
Highest Yield
  • COPD/Asthma/Bronchiectasis
  • Lung Cancer
  • Acute Respiratory Failure
  • Pulmonary Emboli/DVT
  • Respiratory Tract Infections
  • IgE mediated disease
  • Sleep Apnea/Respiratory Control
Average Yield
  • Pleural effusion/pneumothorax
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Pneumoconiosis
  • Restrictive Lung disease
  • Influenza
  • Diffuse pulmonary fibrosis
  • Pulmonary Function Tests
  • Aspergillosis
  • Tuberculosis
  • Histoplasmosis
  • Pneumothorax
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
Lower Yield
  • Mesothelioma
  • CO poisoning
Rheumatology, Immunology and MSK
Highest Yield
  • Septic Arthritis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Osteoarthritis
  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
  • Gout
  • Ankylosing Spondylitis
  • Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Average Yield
  • Giant Cell Vasculitis
  • Vasculitis (Wegener’s, PAN, HSP, etc.)
  • Reactive Arthritis (Reiter’s Syndrome)
  • Regional Rheumatic Problems (LBP, Tendonitis, Bursitis)
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease (CPPD)
  • Sjogren’s Syndrome
  • Polymyositis
  • Scleroderma
  • Psoriatic Arthritis
  • Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
  • Lyme Disease
  • Raynaud’s Phenomenon
  • Entrapment Neuropathies (Carpal Tunnel Syndrome)
Lower Yield
  • Neuropathic Arthritis
  • Relapsing Polychondritis
  • Rheumatic Fever
  • Amyloidosis
  • Hypermobility Syndrome
  • Osteonecrosis
  • Hypertophic Pulmonary
  • Osteoarthropathy
Gastroenterology
Highest Yield
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease
  • Peptic ulcer disease
  • Choleithiasis
  • Viral hepatitis
  • Colon polyps/cancer
  • Jaundice
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding
Average Yield
  • Alcoholic hepatitis
  • Cirrhosis
  • Complicaitons of portal hypertension
  • Pancreatitis
  • Inflammatory Bowel disease
  • Gastroenteritis – bacterial/parasitic
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Diverticular disease
  • Ascites
  • Esophageal stricture
  • Carcinoma of the stomach
  • Chronic hepatitis
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Rectal fissure
  • Ischemic colitis
  • AV malformations
  • Malabsorption syndromes
  • Hepatoma
  • Primary biliary cirrhosis
  • Pancreatic Carcinoma
  • AIDS-related gastrointestinal disease
Lower Yield
  • Achalasia
  • Esophageal webs
  • Meckel’s diverticulum
  • Mesenteric vascular insufficiency
  • Wilson’s disease
  • Hemochromatosis
  • Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome
  • Drug-induced liver disease
General
Highest Yield
  • Hyperlipidemia
  • Alcohol/drug abuse
  • Preventive health care
Average Yield
  • Nutrition/obesity
  • Geriatrics
  • Depression
  • Principles of clinical decision making
  • Acute anxiety
  • Chronic anxiety
Lower Yield
  • Fatigue
Geriatrics
Highest Yield
  • Normal aging changes
  • Geriatric Syndromes
  • Delirium/Dementia
  • Aging simulation to promote awareness
  • Adaptations to promote functioning
Average Yield
  • Falls
  • Incontinence
  • Restraints
  • Enhancing communication for vision and hearing losses
  • Exercise
  • Iatrogenesis
  • Nursing Home regulations about restraints
  • Changes in taste & smell
  • Improving nutrition
Lower Yield
  • Fall prevention
  • Appropriate catheter usage
  • Restraint alternatives
  • Advance directives in relation to dementia an enteral feeding
Dermatology
Highest Yield
  • Cutaneous Tumors
    • benign
    • malignant
  • Cutaneous Infections
    • viral
    • bacterial
Average Yield
  • Contact dermatitis
  • Psoriasis
  • Acne
  • Cutaneous manifestations of Systemic disease
  • Collagen vascular disease
Lower Yield
  • Pemphigus vulgaris
  • Bullous pemphigoid