This list is part of a series of articles about the best books for medical students. Click on the Med School Books Main Page to see other lists including the best books for each year in medical school, the best books for each clinical rotation, and the best books for USMLE Steps 1, 2, and 3.
The surgical internship is unique in that you will care for the full spectrum of patients: acute surgical patients, post-operative patients, patients with chronic illness, and very sick patient in the ICU. The surgical intern is truly a "Jack-of-all-trades" physician and must be able to reconcile huge med lists, manage diabetes, identify an acute abdomen, and take care of acute electrolyte changes in the ICU.
These are tall orders for a newly minted doctor. And don't forget, after 7am you will likely be the only one on the floor while the rest of your team heads to the operating room. Having the right books is one easy way to calm some of the inevitable anxiety. After much discussion with interns and residents at my last two hospitals, I have compiled the following Top Ten Books for Surgical Interns. These books are also great resources for preliminary surgery residents, or other surgical supspecialistis completing a general surgical internship. Most of the general surgery residents I spoke to agree that this list remains the same into their entire residency. Good Luck!
- Updated May 2015
1. The Mont Reid Surgical Handbook:
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2. Surgery On Call:
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3. A Textbook: Cameron, Current Surgical Therapy:
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4. Tarascon Pocket Pharmacopedia:
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5. The ICU Book:
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6. The Washington Manual Internship Survival Guide:
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7. Zollinger Atlas of Surgical Operations:
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8. Operative Dictations in General Surgery:
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9. The ABSITE Review (FISER):
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10. Old-School and Out-of-Print:
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is a great reference tool to keep in your pocket or on your phone. It was written by a group of surgical residents and is very high yield. It will cover the majority of issues you run into while managing the floors during a surgical internship. It is also great for reviewing for OR cases…if you get to see any during your first year.
, which has a similar format but is geared more towards 3rd and 4th year medical students.
is the highest rated by surgical residents. However, there are other great options. 
is well-regarded and cheaper than Cameron's. There are also many people who swear by the 
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. Not as well known as the Mont Reid manual, this is a book from a similar mold with a small but vocal cult-following.
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and 
. These two books come as high or more highly recommended than every other book on this list. Some residents say these were the most used books in their white coats. Unfortunately, you can no longer buy either of them new, but there are many used options.
My name is Andrew and I am a first year resident training to be an ophthalmologist. I created ShortWhiteCoats to provide medical students, residents, and the public with all the information I spent so many hours looking for during medical school.
