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Harrison’s PodClass: Internal Medicine Cases and Board Prep stands out for its case-based approach to teaching, making it a key tool for both board exam preparation and everyday clinical reasoning. The podcast is hosted by Dr. Cathy Handy Marshall and Dr. Charlie Wiener of The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, who bring clinical expertise and educational experience to each episode. The show is produced by McGraw Hill and draws its material from Harrison's Review Questions and chapters of Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. By June 2026, Harrison’s PodClass had released 197 episodes, maintaining a biweekly update schedule since its launch in 2019.
The core format of the podcast revolves around board-style case vignettes. Each episode introduces a clinical scenario grounded in the types of cases and questions found in medical board exams. Listeners are walked through the diagnostic reasoning, differential diagnoses, and key management decisions. This approach mimics the problem-solving process that clinicians face in real-world medicine, reinforcing not just memorization, but the application of knowledge.
Episode 197, released on May 28, 2026, provides a clear example of this methodology. The episode presents the case of a 77-year-old patient hospitalized with pneumonia who develops confusion. The discussion centers on the diagnostic workup for confusion in patients admitted with pneumonia. The hosts dissect the potential causes of confusion in this context, including hypoxia, metabolic abnormalities, and adverse drug reactions, illustrating the complex and multifactorial nature of delirium in hospitalized patients.
The podcast’s approach to education emphasizes the importance of recognizing subtle differences in clinical presentations. For instance, episodes often explore cases where the initial symptoms can lead to several possible diagnoses, requiring careful analysis to distinguish between overlapping conditions. In adolescent medicine, the podcast frequently highlights the challenges of interpreting symptoms that may be nonspecific or atypical for age, such as chest pain or shortness of breath. By unpacking such cases, Harrison’s PodClass teaches the careful consideration necessary when evaluating young patients whose presentations may not fit classic textbook patterns.
Between 2020 and 2025, Harrison’s PodClass maintained its biweekly release cadence, covering a wide spectrum of internal medicine topics. The hosts have discussed everything from complicated infectious diseases to rare endocrine disorders. Their teaching style balances concise, high-yield facts with deeper dives into clinical reasoning, often referencing the foundational knowledge found in Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine. Each episode is designed to be approachable for learners at different stages—medical students, residents, and practicing physicians—making the content broadly relevant.
By June 2026, the podcast had been rated by 373 listeners, achieving a 4.7 out of 5 average score. This high rating reflects the value listeners place on the combination of case-based learning and practical clinical advice. A listener review from March 6, 2026, captures this sentiment: “Excellent work. I try not to miss any cases.” Another review, dated November 25, 2025, comes from an internist preparing for the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment, who praised the episode on heart failure for its clear review of the condition's pathology.
The educational reach of Harrison’s PodClass extends beyond board preparation. Many clinicians use it as a source of ongoing medical education, refreshing their knowledge and staying up to date on evolving standards of care. The episodes are accessible on major platforms like Apple Podcasts and AccessMedicine, making them easy to integrate into busy professional schedules.
Each episode is built around real-world diagnostic challenges. For example, cases may focus on distinguishing viral from bacterial pneumonias in adolescents, or recognizing when non-respiratory symptoms might signal an underlying pulmonary process. The discussions often underscore the importance of context, such as travel history, exposure risks, or underlying medical conditions, in making an accurate diagnosis.
The two hosts, Dr. Cathy Handy Marshall and Dr. Charlie Wiener, draw on their Johns Hopkins backgrounds to add layers of academic and clinical insight. Their dialogue models how experienced clinicians think aloud, weighing possibilities and considering pitfalls. By verbalizing the thought process, they make abstract reasoning tangible and accessible to listeners.
In one episode, the podcast tackled the challenge of diagnosing autoimmune lung diseases in adolescents—a rare but important consideration in internal medicine. The discussion outlined how to separate symptoms of autoimmune conditions from more common causes of cough or shortness of breath, such as infection or asthma exacerbation. The hosts covered key laboratory findings, imaging clues, and the nuances of patient history that can steer a clinician toward or away from an autoimmune etiology.
Another episode explored the diagnostic workup of an adolescent with persistent fever and joint pain after an international trip. Here, the hosts discussed the steps to differentiate between common viral syndromes, travel-related infections such as dengue or malaria, and rarer systemic conditions like juvenile idiopathic arthritis. They highlighted the need to ask about specific exposures, travel destinations, and vaccination status to narrow the list of possible diagnoses.
A particularly complex case presented in the series involved a teenager with gradual onset of dyspnea and weight loss. The hosts walked through the reasoning involved in distinguishing between chronic infectious causes like tuberculosis, as opposed to malignancy or primary immunodeficiency. The discussion included the importance of considering epidemiological clues, such as recent immigration, exposure to high-risk environments, or family history of serious illnesses.
Harrison’s PodClass also addresses the management side of internal medicine cases. In episodes focusing on adolescent patients with respiratory complaints, the hosts break down the evidence for different treatment modalities, explaining when to choose antibiotics, when supportive care is best, and how to monitor for complications. They discuss the risks and benefits of various interventions, always linking decisions back to the clinical reasoning discussed earlier in the episode.
Episodes frequently incorporate board-style multiple choice questions, pausing to let listeners consider their answers before explaining the rationale. This not only reinforces learning but simulates the test-taking experience, helping listeners hone their skills in identifying key details and avoiding common traps.
The show’s production by McGraw Hill means every episode benefits from access to the current editions of Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine, ensuring the information aligns with the latest standards of care. The use of actual review questions and textbook cases roots each discussion in material trusted by generations of internists.
By consistently presenting nuanced, real-world cases and modeling expert reasoning, Harrison’s PodClass has become a trusted source for internal medicine education. As of May 28, 2026, the podcast had reached 197 episodes, illustrating sustained commitment to high-quality, accessible clinical learning. The most recent episode tackled the diagnostic complexities of confusion in a patient hospitalized with pneumonia, highlighting the podcast’s ongoing focus on the intersection of practical challenges and foundational medical knowledge.