One Stem at a Time: High-Yield Board Review for Medical Students

Amyloidosis: Pearls, Pitfalls & Boards

Amyloidosis can seem intimidating—until you know the pattern. In this high-yield board review, we break down the four major systemic amyloidoses (AL, AA, ATTR, and Aβ2M), including their pathophysiology, classic clinical presentations, diagnosis, and treatment. Through board-style clinical vignettes and exam pearls, you'll learn how to recognize the key clues that point to amyloidosis and identify the protein responsible. Perfect for medical students, residents, and anyone preparing for Step 2, COMLEX Level 2, or Internal Medicine boards.

Grab Bag Part 1: Pressure, Panic, & Plaques

Not every “classic” presentation comes with a single clear answer. In this surprise Grab Bag episode of random, unrelated topics, we work through three high-yield board exam conditions that test very different parts of clinical reasoning. Through practice question stems, we rapidly review how to recognize the key clues, avoid common traps, and choose the next best step for each condition. In this episode, we go over (spoilers ahead): * The pathophysiology, classic presentations, and management of renal artery stenosis * How to distinguish acute stress disorder from PTSD based on timing, symptom duration, and treatment approach * The characteristic presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of tinea capitis, including why topical therapy alone is not enough * High-yield question-stem clues, common distractors, and second-order reasoning points for all three conditions.

Green ≠ Good: Pediatric Bilious Vomiting

Green isn't always a good thing...In this episode, we go over the classic pediatric vomiting and bowel obstruction conditions that every medical student needs to recognize. Through practice question stems, we rapidly compare the presentations, imaging findings, and management steps for five high-yield conditions: intestinal atresia, malrotation with midgut volvulus, Hirschsprung disease, meconium ileus, and necrotizing enterocolitis, with a cameo of pyloric stenosis. In this episode, we go over: * The physiology and pathology behind pediatric vomiting and bilious emesis * Comparing and contrasting each condition and identifying them through context clues already given in the question * The key presenting features, risk factors, imaging findings, and next best steps for each condition * How to know when to order an abdominal x-ray, upper GI series, abdominal ultrasound, contrast enema, or when to call surgery immediately, and more

Bad Blood Part 2: Secondary Hemostasis Disorders

Not all bleeding disorders are platelet problems! We go over the different conditions that involve abnormalities in secondary hemostasis for the second and final part of this miniseries. Here, through practice question stems, we do a rapid-review of what secondary hemostasis is, and quickly go over many different potential causes for deficiencies in coagulation factors in less than 24 minutes. In this episode, we go over: * The physiology and pathology of secondary hemostasis, the coagulation cascade, and its relevant diseases * Comparing and contrasting different seconhemostasis disorders in patient presentation and lab findings * The key treatments for conditions such as VWD, Hemophilias, Hemorrhagic Disease of the Newborn, Vitamin K Deficiency, and DIC. * Key high-yield USMLE exam traps that often trap students!

Shock Talk: Basics of Obstructive Shock

Obstructive shock is one of the most testable—and most misunderstood—shock states on boards and in clinical medicine. In this episode of One Stem at a Time, we break it down from first principles so you can stop memorizing arrows and start understanding them. Through two classic board-style cases—cardiac tamponade and pulmonary embolism—you’ll learn how to recognize obstructive shock, interpret hemodynamic profiles, and confidently work through “arrow questions” involving cardiac index, right atrial pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, and systemic vascular resistance. We focus on building a simple, powerful framework: follow the flow of blood, identify where it’s blocked, and let the physiology guide you. Along the way, we highlight key distinctions between tamponade, tension pneumothorax, and massive PE, explain why SVR is increased (even in hypotensive patients), and review how PCWP is measured and applied clinically. By the end of this episode, you’ll be able to: * Recognize obstructive shock from clinical presentations and exam clues * Understand the underlying pathophysiology and compensatory mechanisms * Interpret hemodynamic “arrow” questions with confidence * Differentiate tamponade, pulmonary embolism, and tension pneumothorax * Apply high-yield board strategies and clinical reasoning in real time Perfect for USMLE and COMLEX prep, clinical rotations, and rapid review before exams.