Interview with Bryan Leppert

Why did you feel that it was important to write Netter’s Integrated Review of Medicine?  What does your publication add to the field? 

I wanted to create a book that resembled the diagnostic process employed with every patient. Many pre-clinical courses focus on understanding the pathophysiology and treatment of diseases, but patients are not labeled with a disease when they see a doctor.  Rather, they present with a chief complaint which may derive from dozens of different diseases.  This book is structured to mimic the progression from chief complaint, to examination findings, to tests and procedures, and finally to common diseases in each subspecialty.  Each section taken by itself yields valuable information, but in resembling practical medicine, students can evolve their approach to clinical care.   

What is the most exciting aspect of Netter’s Integrated Review of Medicine?  What chapter or topic covered in the new edition are you most excited about?  

I am excited that most of the authors in this book were residents and fellows, physicians at the forefront of the daily clinical care in the hospital.   These authors are intimately familiar with the most high-yield, practical information for clinical care, and we all wanted to make that information available to students as they advanced through medical school.  The section I am most excited about is “Common Tests and Procedures,” which gives a terrific overview on how these tests are performed and, importantly, how to interpret the invaluable information they provide. 

Who will find the greatest value from Netter’s Integrated Review of Medicine and why?  

This book is geared toward students entering the clerkship year.  Clerkships are high-intensity, hands-on training, so having an accessible resource with practical, high-yield chapters will best prepare students for day-to-day practical care. 

What new ideas, practices, or procedures do you hope your readers take away from Netter’s Integrated Review of Medicine?  

I hope students will gain an appreciation for variety in clinical medicine.  As the saying goes, “Patients don’t read the textbook,” and keeping a broad view of what a patient’s symptom represents, and how it can be worked up, is critical to developing one’s clinical skills.  

What problem do you hope the future generation of your specialty will be able to solve?  

While practical clinical care is continuously evolving at the pace of scientific discovery, the next generation of physicians will need to ensure that all patients, regardless of background or circumstance, can access and receive the benefits of that care. 

Bryan Leppert is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine and the Medicine Clerkship Director at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City.  He’s originally from Iowa and attended medical school at Duke University before moving to NYC for residency at NewYork-Presbyterian Columbia University Irving Medical Center. 

Purchase Netter’s Integrated Review of Medicine here!