1. Dr. Pestana's Surgery Notes
Plenty of the upperclassmen have recommended using this book to study for the shelf and for general knowledge of surgery. I've been reading through it on and off throughout the rotation, but the organization doesn't work as well for me with my type of learning. Most people read this and love it, so while it may not have worked as well for me, it seems to be the go to for most other students!
2. OnlineMedEd.
I recommended this for internal medicine, and it still rings true for surgery. With my type of learning, watching the video and making my own organized notes has been insanely helpful for my understanding and memorization. When I did it on internal medicine, I impressed my attending with the foundational knowledge and intern level knowledge. For surgery, it's giving me an understanding of the thinking and the rudiments of surgery along with treatment pathways and indications and contraindications. I highly recommend it!
3. UWorld
I still need to do practice questions! There are few surgery questions which I managed to get through in a few days. Instead, I've been trying to finish my medicine questions. Numerous people have said the surgery shelf is a lot of medicine. I'm fortunate to have already had medicine, and it actually did help me. So much of that surgery shelf was medicine, so be sure to do those, too! Continue practicing questions and applying knowledge. And do read the explanation for the answer and why your incorrect answer is not the choice!
4. NBMEs
A few 4th years have told me to do a practice NBME or two for this shelf. It honestly makes sense since our shelf exams are all NBME's. Try to do at least two I would say.
I hope this is helpful!
