Visual records for the mind

Keep visualising to keep remembering is the mantra that Manvitha Kolipaka of Chalmeda Ananda Rao Institute of Medical Sciences (CAIMS) has embraced successfully. A second year MBBS student, she has set a new record and has entered the ‘Wonder Book of Records’ by visually memorising and detailing the features and symptoms of 92 syndromes and 62 triads in the field of medicine.

According to Manvitha, seeing anything triggers the memory. “I had always struggled to memorise things, but then once I noticed that if I see anything, I remember it for a longer time than usual. That was the beginning of my journey to create the app,” she says.

Manvitha has developed the mobile application Medical Mind’s Eye for learning syndromes, triads, infectious diseases and autoimmune diseases by the visualisation method. “At first, I had made visuals for a single syndrome to check it out and it worked well. Then, I went on to create visuals for all the 92 syndromes and 62 triads that I am aware of,” she says.

Manvitha has incorporated the visuals to make the app with the help of an app developer. “I had given him the content and he made it into an app. I had started to create the visuals way back in April and had put in seven to eight hours to get the visuals right. All my friends have used it and have found it to be helpful. At present, the app is only working on Android platforms, but I will be updating it next year during vacation,” she adds further.

“For me, getting into the field of medicine was my true calling and a tribute to my late uncle who wished there was a doctor in the family. I wanted to make him proud,” says Manvitha. After completing the degree, she would venture into the field of cardiothoracic surgery.