Kaplan Medical Master the Boards: Internal Medicine

Here's my ABIM history:Early 90's: My impression is that the ABIM exam was a great exam back then, very highly relevant. In my opinion, it had yet to be corrupted by the highly abused grandfathering process and the exorbitant pay now given to those in charge. I used the first edition of MedStudy, which I absolutely loved. It was highly condensed and written by a single author. However, the best preparation back then was simply completing an IM residency. As I went through the exam, I could tick off almost every question and say to myself, "Oh, that's Mr. Smith, that's Ms. Jones, etc." It's my recollection that there were few tricks to the exam back then and there was no vindictively humiliating security, career-destroying lawsuits, or dubious maintenance of certification issues like there are today.Early 2000's: My recollection of my first recertification exam is that the questions were a bit random and that its clinical relevance was on the decline. I purchased MedStudy but found that it had grown way too big and disliked its multi-author format, which tended to have redundant yet uneven coverage. I actually ended up using FrontRunners to prepare and it seemed to be adequate.Early 2010's: For my second recertification exam, I never would have thought that in my 50's I would still be putting my medicine career on the line by taking make-it-or-break-it exams. Wow, what can I say? My impression is that the exam is almost totally random, irrelevant to clinical practice, full of tricks, and at times seems to be deliberately irritating and mocking in tone. I'm sorry I cannot tell you why I believe this, but I had to sign something like 4 or 5 documents swearing that I would never divulge the contents. The ABIM seems to mean it--very, very nasty in my opinion. If they're trying to alienate a generation of internists, then they are succeeding. But I guess that is what happens when some of the members of the Board haven't themselves condescended to take the exam they administer in close to half a century.End of my rant. I have only great things to say about this book. It was a truly enjoyable read and I felt that I learned a lot. The author has a nice way of summarizing and integrating topics. I found that there were things that had always been a little fuzzy to me that I now finally understand. Do be warned, there is a lot on the exam that is not covered by this book. However, I also read through parts or most of MedStudy, FrontRunners, Board Basics 3, FirstAid, and some older books now no longer in print, and this book misses few topics that those books don't also miss. (I used MKSAP the first time around, but thought it was too costly, too long, and ultimately irrelevant and haven't bothered with it since.) None of those other books were very enjoyable nor nearly as insightful as "Master the Boards."Bottom line is that I believe that the current iteration of the recertification exam is just a terrible, poorly written, anti-intellectual, gawdawful test. It's being given to the wrong people and there's no good way to prepare for it--not MOC and certainly not by being a practicing physician devoted to scholarship. You're better off studying than not preparing at all (though probably only marginally so) and if you have to do it, then, in my opinion, this book is the least painful and most educational way to go.There were just a few topics where I felt I was more knowledgeable than the author and, as is almost always the case in such circumstances, I did find that there were a few over-simplifications or, rarely, inaccuracies. The book could also use a more comprehensive index; as I was reading there were things I wanted to check but I had a hard time finding them again.

This book by Kaplan/ Dr Fischer (new as of 5/2011) IM review book is organized into typical IM sections Cards, Pulm etc. Thats good.. However, this book has NO questions (& that is NOT in the advertising blurb they give you - shame).So for questions, you then goto the OTHER companion book in this series: Kaplan Medical Internal Medicine Question Book, Kaplan Publishing; 2 edition (October 6, 2009).My gripe with that book as its (intentionally, they say) random with the question content, it seems so disorganized. I don't really need to simulate the randomness of the boards when I am studying. In fact, I think disorganization is a detriment to studying.I would rather have sections: Cards, Pulm, GI etc in order.The series seems disorganized & can't make up its mind on what it wants to be. I have a feeling it was Kaplan's doing tho, not Dr Fischer.

I have used Dr Fischer's books for both USMLE step 2 and 3 and I loved his approach to Internal Medicine topics. I also had the opportunity to go to his Kaplan courses for Step 2. I was thrilled to find this book a few months ago as I was starting to prepare to take the IM boards this year. I'm slightly disappointed in this book as it has multiple errors, which in another subject matter may not be that detrimental. I also feel that a lot of important details have been left out of this book. Nevertheless, I am continuing to use it, because up to now, I have not been disappointed by his materials, having scored really well in the last 2 tests. I will update this review after I take the test and have my result. Good luck to all of you!!

Excellent

While I can echo some of the previous thoughts that this book does highlight different material than its "Master - USMLE" counterparts. At the same time, considering the environment surrounding the boards with review courses being sued and countersuits; it seems as though Dr. Fisher wrote this in a way that supports a plight of "I am not ripping off the ABIM/ACP and as such, I will change material" which highlights its complete inaccuracies in some sections. As such, therapies are not really up-to-date and so forth.There are some striking omissions - Adult Parvo B19; MCTD: cryptosporidia; Ramsay-Hunt; Pregnancy and HTN; Rabies; Actinomyces...relative "hot topics" for the current atmosphere of the ABIM. And that, by no means, is an exhaustive list. The oncology section leaves a lot to be desired. And, have we forgotten optho/ortho - while perhaps not a prime area of focus, a section on said topics is quintessential to a complete review work.That doesn't mean this book is without its positives, but I wouldn't be overtly comfortable walking into my ABIM having only read through this one (as per advertised claims).

10

Undertaking the IM board exam and recertifying in years past I can appreciate a good source of review when I see it. This is a source worth seeing.

This book is perfect for the doctor needing something for the MOC exam. Not too long nor too dense. Use it with the question book and you should have no trouble passing the exam. Learn the material here well. Do not spread your self too thin by trying to study every book available nor read a dense series like Medstudy or MKSAP!