So I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, and I want honest opinions.
Do you feel like rote learning is just part of the deal in medicine, or do you think we overdo it?
Let me put both sides out there.
On one hand, yeah — rote learning is everywhere. There’s a ridiculous amount of information. Anatomical terms, pathways, values, classifications… it doesn’t always wait for you to “fully get it.”
Some things you just have to know. Like normal blood pressure — around 120/80 mmHg — you can’t sit there trying to reason it out every single time. You need quick recall. In a field where time matters, that kind of memorization does make life easier.
But then there’s the other side.
When you actually understand what’s going on, everything starts connecting. It sticks longer, it makes more sense, and you don’t feel like you’re constantly cramming and forgetting. Instead of remembering isolated facts, you start seeing patterns. And suddenly, even new topics feel less overwhelming because you’re building on something, not starting from scratch every time.
So yeah… both sides make sense in their own way.
What do you think —
Is rote learning something we just have to accept in medicine, or are we relying on it more than we should?
Drop your take below — I’m really curious where people stand on this.
MBH/PS