Comment Section for But What Is Gestalt, Really? » in-House, the online peer-reviewed publication for residents & fellows

This webpage is an article titled "But What Is Gestalt, Really?" written by Nicole Perkes, MD, and published on in-House, an online peer-reviewed publication for residents and fellows. The article explores the concept of "gestalt" in the field of medicine. "Gestalt" is a German term that translates to "pattern" or "shape". In psychology, gestalt theory is the study of perception, often summarized by the idiom, "The whole is greater than the sum of the parts." Perkes explains that the concept of gestalt is often used in medical education, representing an impression, clinical intuition, or gut feeling that medical professionals are expected to develop over time. It is used to recognize patterns of disease and make clinical decisions based on physical exam findings and historical facts. The author emphasizes that gestalt is not intuition but the result of acquiring complex cognitive skills, arguing that it should be intentionally taught in medical education. She suggests that this could improve learning efficiency and effectiveness, producing better residents and physicians, and preserving the art of medicine for future generations. The webpage also includes a call to donate to in-House and purchase their books, along with a brief description of the publication.