First, on this "the surgery shelf is medicine" thing. I agree with the above posts. And furthermore let me state, the surgery shelf is not nearly as hard as the medicine shelf. The medicine shelf is a bear -- a bear that will most likely eat you. And you will love every second of it. Because you love medicine. You are going to love getting a 50th percentile score on the medicine shelf and still being the smartest person in the observable universe, still destined to become the greatest doctor since Osler.
The surgery shelf is just a little jackal. It can certainly take a piece out of your leg, and it is a nasty little beast, but you can outsmart a jackal. Just keep it at a distance with a sturdy piece of hickory. And even if it gets its teeth on you, just whack it harder.. or something.
But if you don't know how to approach a jackal, a jackal will take you out. And not really think much of it.
To recap:
Medicine shelf. A bear you cannot outsmart -- a beast of boundless power and bloodlust, whose jaws you cannot loose, whose hunger you cannot abate, whose bloodmeal you will provide with honor.
Surgery shelf. A little jackal with big jaws. A relentless little chap, outsmartable, easily whacked with a properly balanced hickory stick. Yet if unprepared to face the jackal, the proud man is torn apart. Without honor.
***
It's really quite simple. Get yourself a Lawrence. Not because you're going to read the whole thing necessarily, but because if it's not in there, you definitely don't need to know it. Then read the first chapter of Lawrence and for GOD'S SAKE, DO WHAT IT SAYS. Mainly set up a reading schedule and FOLLOW IT. And the stuff it says to do on the wards, DO THAT STUFF.
You know what else? That FA for the Surgery Clerkship book don't look half bad neither. Didn't have it myself, but in retrospect, kinda wish't I had't.
It probably don't matter which one you pick. S'long as you pick one and R.E.A.D. I.T.
It's all algorithms. Learn them.
Let the healing begin!
