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06/01/26

Core + Clusters: a practical clinical reasoning-based toolkit for revitalizing physical diagnosis training.

Gowda, Deepthiman; Silvestri, Ronald C; Blatt, Benjamin; Kosowicz, Lynn; Khan, Asra R; Gangopadhyaya, Ananya. Clin Teach.

Collection Topics
Cognition and Decision Making Tests, Screening, and Laboratory Processes
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Summary

Physical examination is foundational to diagnosis, yet clinical reasoning is not consistently taught as part of the skill. This article describes an innovated approach to medical teaching history which includes a "core" physical exam and "clusters" of exam features that correspond with diagnostic reasoning, with curricular examples and lessons from more than 10 years across several schools.
Read the paper
Gowda D, Silvestri RC, Blatt B, et al. Core + Clusters: a practical clinical reasoning-based toolkit for revitalizing physical diagnosis training. Clin Teach. 2026;23(3):e70416.