Top Video Resources for Learning Clinical Medicine
May 16th, 2023
Overview
Clinical medicine refers to the aspects of medicine that deal directly with the patient - history, examination, investigations, management and prognosis. Clinical medicine is a vital aspect of your medical education, and requires a deep theoretical understanding as well as practical experience. As medical education moves more and more online, a large number of video resources and platforms have become available that focus on clinical medicine. Such videos allow us the opportunity to learn from expert clinicians and educators, and can fast-track learning - particularly if you identify as a ‘visual’ learner.
In this article, we’ll explore some of the best and most popular video resources for learning clinical medicine. These include YouTube channels, comprehensive lecture series and even patient simulations.
Key Features
We considered several key features when assessing each of the video resources listed in this article.
Coverage
- A good resource that keeps you coming back is one that provides videos on a wide range of topics including diagnosis, management and practical skills. We also looked for resources that provided sufficiently indepth coverage of each topic.
Quality
- The quality of videos is paramount - not just the medical accuracy, but also the production value of the audio and visual elements. We found some channels that had good content but relatively monotonous videos. The resources listed below are accurate and provide an engaging experience using diagrams and animations.
Credibility
- The videos in the channels and platforms below were created by reputable educators, medical professionals or institutions.
Cost
- We prioritised resources that were free or affordable for students of all backgrounds.
Zero to Finals
Platforms
- YouTube, Website
Cost
- Free
Zero to Finals is a YouTube channel and website providing free, concise and engaging medical education videos. The channel was created by Dr Thomas Watchman and aims to simplify challenging concepts for medical students preparing for exams.
The diagrams and animations in the videos are visually appealing and easy to understand, though the videos cover less of a range of disorders compared to other resources. Zero to Finals also offers additional free and paid resources on their website, including podcasts, notes, flashcards and quizzes.
The videos are all free, as are the podcasts and notes. Additional resources such as flashcards, books and question banks are available on a subscription on the website.
Pros
- Free
- Concise and engaging videos with clear explanations
- Additional content available - podcasts, questions, flashcards, notes, books
Cons
- Limited depth of coverage compared to other resources
Dr Najeeb Lectures
Platforms
- YouTube, Website
Cost
- Many videos are available for free, with a lifetime membership available to access everything.
Dr Najeeb is a well-known and experienced medical educator, and medical students worldwide swear by his lectures. Dr Najeeb Lectures is a comprehensive medical education platform that provides video lectures covering a wide range of topics in both medical sciences and clinical medicine.
The setup of the lectures is relatively basic, with Dr Najeeb lecturing in front of a whiteboard with diagrams on it. However, the content presented is incredibly easy to understand and process which is why his videos are so popular.
A large number of videos are available on Dr Najeeb’s YouTube channel, with a single payment to access everything via his website.
Pros
- Comprehensive and detailed video lectures
- Incredibly easy to understand
- Many videos are free, and website access is significantly cheaper than other options
Cons
- Relatively low production value
- Videos are often very lengthy
Geeky Medics
Platforms
- YouTube, Website, iOS, Android
Cost
- Videos are all freely available on Youtube, while the accompanying OSCE guides and notes require a very affordable subscription payment.
Geeky Medics is a web and app platform that provides clinical skills training through videos as well as notes, quizzes and OSCE stations. The platform offers a wide range of high-quality clinical skills training videos including guides to physical examination and procedures. The videos are delivered by experienced clinicians and educators and are designed to help medical students develop practical clinical skills.
All of the videos are freely available on Youtube, though to view them in the app along with the explanatory notes you’ll need a subscription. The subscription is incredibly affordable compared to other platforms on this list.
Pros
- High-quality clinical skills training videos
- Also provides quizzes, flashcards, notes and OSCE stations
- A lot of content is free - the rest is very affordable
Cons
- Limited coverage of clinical medicine topics beyond clinical skills
Osmosis
Platforms
- YouTube, Website, iOS, Android
Cost
- A large number of videos are free on YouTube. The website offers a free seven-day trial, with a subscription for everything.
Osmosis (by Elsevier) is a comprehensive medical education platform that offers a range of videos. With its engaging and interactive learning tools, Osmosis has become a popular resource for medical students worldwide. The platform is primarily focused on the medical sciences - particularly anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and pathology - and has a relatively limited number of clinical medicine videos.
A large number of videos are available for free on the YouTube channel, with a lot more on their website. The web platform offers a free seven-day trial and requires a subscription for full access, which is relatively expensive compared to other offerings. However, if you try a few videos on the YouTube channel and they work for you, the subscription may be well worth the cost.
Pros
- Comprehensive range of video resources.
- A lot of free content on the YouTube channel
- View videos on the web, iOS or Android
Cons
- Relatively expensive subscription
- Few videos about clinical medicine topics
MedCram
Platforms
- YouTube, Website
Cost
- A small number of videos are free on YouTube. The website offers a yearly or three-yearly subscription.
MedCram is a great medical student resource that offers videos on a variety of medical sciences and clinical medicine topics. Each topic is explained very clearly using simple but colourful diagrams, and the videos are designed to be engaging. The videos were created by Dr Roger Seheult, a quad-certified internal medicine, pulmonology, critical care and sleep medicine physician.
A small number of videos are freely available on the MedCram YouTube channel, but a subscription to their website is required to access everything. Compared to other video platforms, MedCram is a relatively expensive resource - but it can be worth it if you’re willing to put in the time to watch a lot of the videos.
Pros
- High-quality videos created by medical professionals
- Some free content on YouTube
- Very simple and easy to understand explanations of complex topics
Cons
- Expensive subscription
Final Thoughts
Videos are a great way to rapidly learn clinical medicine, and there are some excellent resources available to medical students. Many of the resources above have free videos available on YouTube, with the option of subscribing to access a larger bank of resources.
If you’re looking to learn clinical skills such as history, examination, investigations and procedures, then GeekyMedics is an excellent resource. If you’re looking to understand common medical concepts in greater detail, then Zero to Finals and Dr Najeeb lectures provide great free Youtube channels. If you’re looking for a greater range of high quality videos, it’s worth considering an investment into Osmosis or MedCram.
Best of luck with your study!
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