For medical students looking to broaden their understanding of various physician specialties as they make a choice about which specialty to pursue, having access to high-quality academic resources is essential. Existing resources cover a range of physician specialties—from family medicine and surgery to radiology and endocrinology—and provide necessary knowledge to support clinical practice and academic study.
Medical students who are searching for resources and instructional books to shore up the skills and knowledge within or outside their focus areas, the AMA “Shadow Me” Specialty Series—which offers advice directly from physicians about life in their specialties—provides some outstanding academic recommendations.
Here, in alphabetical order by book author, is a comprehensive list of academic books that physicians who have participated in the “Shadow Me” Specialty Series recommend reading. Each of these doctors is from a health care organization that is part of the AMA Health System Member Program, which provides enterprise solutions to equip leadership, physicians and care teams with resources to help drive the future of medicine.
Red Book
By American Academy of Pediatrics
Ellen Mateo, MD, a pediatrician with Confluence Health, recommends this academic book because “this is a very helpful reference for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases in children.”
Blueprints Obstetrics & Gynecology
By Tamara L. Callahan, MD, PhD, and Aaron B. Caughey, MD
“Dr. Callahan was one of my professors and this is an excellent, concise source of information about obstetrics and gynecology,” said Nariman Heshmati, MD, an ob-gyn with Lee Health.
Braddom’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
By David Xavier Cifu, MD
Matthew Cowling, DO, a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician with Medrina, recommends medical students read this academic book “for a comprehensive introduction to the specialty.”
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Board Review
By Sara J. Cuccurullo, MD
“For a high-yield clinical framework” about physical medicine and rehabilitation, Dr. Cowling also encourages medical students to read this book.
Marla Petriello, DO, who is also a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician with Medrina, recommends this book “for board preparation and basic knowledge.”
Cope’s Early Diagnosis of the Acute Abdomen
By Sir Vincent Zachary Cope, MD, MS
"It’s the first book that everyone interested in general surgery should read,” said Philip Gachassin, MD, a general surgeon with Ochsner Health. “It's one of the most important books about diagnosing surgical illness.”
Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease
By Mark Feldman, MD, Lawrence S. Friedman, MD, and Lawrence J. Brandt, MD
“From an academic standpoint,” said Mazen Elatrache, MD, a gastroenterologist with Henry Ford Health, this “is the most comprehensive book for gastroenterology and hepatology and is a great overall guide and reference.”
Fischer's Mastery of Surgery
By Josef E. Fischer, MD
“This is the best, most comprehensive reference guide for surgical operations,” said Boris Cehajic, MD, a general surgeon with Hattiesburg Clinic.
Learning Radiology: Recognizing the Basics
By William Herring, MD
Olaseni Arogundade, MD, a radiologist with Confluence Health, said “this book is an indispensable resource for medical students embarking on their radiology rotations. It offers a comprehensive overview of essential concepts and imaging techniques, providing a solid foundation for understanding radiological findings. It’s clear and concise format makes it accessible to learners at all levels, and its relevance extends well into residency training, making it a must-read for anyone pursuing a career in radiology.”
The Harriet Lane Handbook: A Manual for Pediatric House Officers
Edited by the Johns Hopkins Hospital
“It is a condensed book that provides a quick reference for normal laboratory values, formulary and guidelines on managing common clinical problems,” said Dr. Mateo.
Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics
Edited by Robert Kliegman, MD, and Joseph W. St. Geme, III, MD
Dr. Mateo also recommends this academic textbook because “this is a comprehensive reference containing pediatric development, physiology and disease, and evidence-based recommendations for treatment of multiple pediatric conditions.”
Miller’s Review of Orthopaedics
By Mark D. Miller, MD, and Stephen R. Thompson MD, MEd
For Heather Kowalski, MD, a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon at University of Iowa Health Care, this academic book “is also a great reference, but a little dense for a medical student. It’s definitely geared toward residents, but it’s also a quick reference that I refer back to in order to brush up on something that I haven’t seen in a while.”
Orthopedic Secrets
By Surena Namdari, MD, Stephan G. Pill, MD, MSPT, and Samir Mehta, MD
“Orthopedic Secrets is geared toward medical students and what they might be asked on rotations,” said Dr. Kowalski.
Introduction to Vascular Ultrasonography
Edited by John S. Pellerito, MD, and Joseph F. Polak, MD
Olusegun Osinbowale, MD, a vascular medicine physician with Henry Ford Health, recommends this academic book for medical students “for diagnostic evaluation of vascular disease.”
Cecil Essentials of Medicine
Edited by Edward J. Wing MD, and Fred J. Schiffman MD
Dr. Osinbowale also suggests this textbook for medical students “to establish a broad foundation in general medical knowledge.”
The AMA’s Specialty Guide simplifies medical students’ specialty selection process, highlights major specialties, details training information, and provides access to related association information. It is produced by FREIDA™, the AMA Residency & Fellowship Database®.
Learn more with the AMA about the physician specialties of:
- Gastroenterology.
- General surgery.
- Obstetrics and gynecology.
- Radiology.
- Orthopaedic surgery.
- Pediatrics.
- Pediatric orthopaedic surgery.
- Physical medicine and rehabilitation.
For nonfiction recommendations, here are eight great books hand-picked by doctors for your reading list. And for medical students and physicians who are more interested in reading fiction, here are five fantastic novels doctors recommend.
Additionally, check out 10 physician memoirs that offer inspiring accounts of life in medicine. And for medical students who want to learn even more about life in different fields of medicine, here are insights from doctors about different physician specialties.
