Drs O'Grady, Koea and Koelmeyer produce a wonderful, enticing approach to medical diagnosis.  This elderly student cannot but agree that understanding beats remembering every time!

 

I well remember my own failures in the "dreary uphill slog of remembering."  As a miserable failure in that approach, I continue to encounter students more intelligent than I, who cannot think.  This method tries to reverse that process to the earliest encounters, fostering an approach that ensures dedication and understanding, long before the "facts" get in the way!

 

The concept of the Sieve is not new, but the way in which it is presented is certainly refreshing.  The multiple notes and historical vignettes serve only to inspire.  When any student is reminded that John Hunter began aimlessly until he found his passion, or is reminded of the irony in the tragic death of Wilms, they can only be inspired to read on.

 

Learning should be interesting, learning should be exciting, and the development of a methodical method that is broad reaching is an achievement.  The authors should be pleased with their product, the medical student should enjoy it and the teachers may well want to read it, not only for the pleasure of this historical commentaries, but as further encouragement that learning is life long.

 

I wish that I had had access to something similar as a medical student 40+ years ago.