HSLS provides access to several resources that present both real and fictional case studies for use in teaching and studying in the health sciences. Utilizing case studies in health sciences education encourages critical thinking, enhances problem-solving skills, and challenges students with a real-world context for information learned in the classroom.
Here are a few of the case study resources available through HSLS:
PubMed Central
As part of the NIH/NLM, PubMed Central (PMC) provides access to an archive of case report journals from a wide variety of medical specialties, from emergency medicine and surgery to drug safety and dentistry. Visit PMC to browse available journals and read full texts of published case reports.
McGraw Hill Medical “Access” Resources
AccessMedicine, AccessPharmacy, and AccessSurgery each offer an extensive library of specialty-specific case studies. From each homepage, look for “Cases” in the row of drop-down menus (near the top of the page). These case studies walk you step by step through the diagnostic process, with questions along the way to prompt critical engagement with each case.
Biomedical & Life Sciences Collection from HSTalks
Ranging from 10 to 45 minutes in length, HSTalks case studies are available in a variety of topics, which can be narrowed down using search filters. Instructors who wish to incorporate a video into a classroom lecture or Canvas site can click “Embed in Course/Own Notes” and select a method for adding it to course materials. HSTalks’ Biomedical & Life Sciences Collection can be found under Streaming Media from the HSLS homepage.
All of these resources are accessible from any computer on the Pitt network, or by using Pitt Passport to log in off-campus. Additional case study resources are available through HSLS; utilize Ask a Librarian if you need assistance finding and utilizing these or any other HSLS resources.
~Colleen Ashley