Step 2 - USMLE

Now that Step 2 was divided into Clinical Knowledge (CK) and Clinical Skills (CS), it is becoming a bit trickier.

Here are the major subject areas defined by the USMLE:

• General Principles
• Infectious and Parasitic Diseases
• Neoplasms
• Immunologic Disorders
• Diseases of the Blood and Blood-forming Organs
• Mental Disorders
• Diseases of the Nervous System and Special Senses
• Cardiovascular Disorders
• Diseases of the Respiratory System
• Nutritional and Digestive Disorders
• Gynecologic Disorders
• Renal, Urinary, and Male Reproductive Systems
• Disorders of Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Puerperium
• Disorders of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissues
• Disorders of the Musculoskeletal System and Connective Tissue
• Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders
• Congenital Anomalies
• Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period
• Symptoms, Signs, and Ill-defined Conditions
• Injury and Poisoning

Most of what can be done in terms of preparation for the CK part is shared by my Step 1 guide. There are, however, a few particularities. For one, the test vignettes are longer than Step 1. This translates into relatively less time to solve each question.

So you will go through the same steps that you did for Step 1, right ? Partially. You will see that things are more general and vague. First Aid for USMLE Step 2 is not nearly as useful as it was for the first part. Why ? Because it is impossible to cover Clinical Medicine in one tiny book.

How to cover such a vast area with little time ?

1. Cover all the major diseases in each category
   For example in Cardiology you would take hypertension, congestive heart failure, MI and such. Just take a look at Harrison's for a good outline of what you should know
    

2. For the less common diseases, cover the ones that have an established pathophysiologic mechanism
   Take chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), for example. It is not very common, but you sure know about Gleevec and how it works. That is the mentality of how you should look at less common entities.

As it is for Step 1, you absolutely have to get the right materials. Please refer to my guide about "Finding the Right Preparation Materials for USMLE"