Clinical Expertise

Abstract

Clinical diagnosis is at the heart of medicine. Since the discovery of X-rays, technology has transformed the confirmatory investigation of initial diagnoses but the subtle evaluation of signs and symptoms remains as the crucial core skill required of doctors. The educational journey from first year medical student to competent practitioner is about much more than knowledge acquisition. It is this journey from novice to expert that provides much of the special fascination of medical education as a distinct branch of educational research.