Why I started this series
In Japan, medical students are trained to approach patients by mastering 33 essential symptoms — such as dizziness, fatigue, nausea, or anxiety. These are the real complaints we face in outpatient clinics and emergency rooms, where patients rarely present with a diagnosis.
As a junior doctor (PGY-1), I realized how challenging it is to reason from symptoms to diagnosis, especially in English.
That’s why I created this blog — to help others like me build both clinical thinking and English communication skills, one symptom at a time.
What this series covers
Each post explores a specific symptom — for example:
- 🌀 Dizziness
- 🦴 Joint Pain
- 😰 Anxiety
- 😮💨 Low Energy / Fatigue
- 🤢 Nausea & Vomiting
- 🦵 Lower Back Pain
All articles follow a structured and practical format, including:
- 📝 Introduction & Clinical Context
- 🔍 Key Questions in History Taking & Physical Exam
- 🧠 Differential Diagnosis with “VITAMIN CDE” Method
- 🔬 High-Yield Findings for USMLE & OSCE
- 💡 Clinical Pearls
- 🎭 Mock Patient Scripts (realistic conversation examples)
What makes this different
Most medical books teach from diagnosis to treatment.
But in real life, patients come to us with symptoms — vague, unclear, and sometimes confusing.
This series teaches how to think from the symptom forward — just like in real clinical encounters.
It also includes realistic mock interviews, semantic qualifiers, and practical medical English you can use right away.
Let’s begin!
➡️ Pick any symptom that interests you.
You’ll find real-world examples, diagnostic tips, and reflection points to sharpen your reasoning.
One symptom at a time — we’ll build solid clinical judgment and confidence in English together.