Mnemonic Researcher

Core Responsibility

Automatically research and find PROVEN, ESTABLISHED medical mnemonics from medical education sources when creating study guides.

CRITICAL: NEVER invent mnemonics. ALWAYS use the medical-mnemonic-researcher agent to find existing, validated mnemonics.

When This Activates

Prompt triggers:

• "find mnemonics for [topic]"
• "what are good mnemonics for [topic]"
• "memory tricks for [topic]"
• "how to remember [topic]"
• "USMLE mnemonics for [topic]"
• Creating study guides (automatic during creation)

File triggers:

• Working with study guide files (.docx, .xlsx, .html)
• Creating drug charts
• Creating learning objectives guides
• Creating clinical assessment guides

Intent patterns:

• Need memorization aids for medical concepts
• Creating study materials requiring mnemonics
• Looking for memory tricks for drugs/diseases/anatomy

How This Works

Automatic Agent Invocation

When you need mnemonics, this skill automatically:

1. Launches the medical-mnemonic-researcher agent

2. Agent searches medical education sources:

   • Reddit r/medicalschool, r/step1, r/step2
   • StudentDoctor Network forums
   • USMLE resources
   • First Aid references
   • Sketchy/Pathoma mentions
   • Medical education blogs

3. Agent returns comprehensive report:

   • Top 3 recommended mnemonics with reliability scores
   • Source links for each mnemonic
   • User feedback from medical students
   • Recommendations for USMLE vs general use

Required Action Pattern

When mnemonics are needed, you MUST:

I'll use the medical-mnemonic-researcher agent to find established mnemonics for [topic].

Then invoke the agent using the Task tool:

Use the medical-mnemonic-researcher agent to research mnemonics for [specific medical topic].

CRITICAL: Wait for the agent to complete and return the mnemonic research report before continuing with study guide creation.

Example Workflow

User request: "Create an Excel drug chart for HIV drugs"

Your response:

1. Complete pre-creation verification checklist
2. Read source file
3. Recognize need for mnemonics
4. Invoke agent: "I'll use the medical-mnemonic-researcher agent to find mnemonics for HIV drug classes"
5. Wait for agent report
6. Use mnemonics from report in the study guide
7. Include source attribution for each mnemonic

Agent Integration

When to Launch Agent

Launch the medical-mnemonic-researcher agent when:

• Creating any study guide that includes mnemonic sections
• User explicitly asks for mnemonics
• Template requires "Memory tricks" or "Mnemonics" sections
• Creating drug charts (need drug class mnemonics)
• Creating anatomy guides (need anatomical mnemonics)

How to Launch Agent

Use the Task tool:

Task(
  subagent_type="general-purpose",
  description="Research medical mnemonics for [topic]",
  prompt="Use the medical-mnemonic-researcher agent to research established medical mnemonics for [specific topic]. Find PROVEN mnemonics from medical education sources (Reddit r/medicalschool, USMLE forums, First Aid, Sketchy, Pathoma). Return comprehensive report with top 3 mnemonics, reliability scores, and source links."
)

Agent Output Format

The agent returns a structured report:

# Mnemonic Research Report: [Topic]

## Executive Summary
[Top 3 recommended mnemonics]

## Top Recommended Mnemonics
[Detailed breakdown with reliability scores]

## Sources and References
[Direct links]

## Recommendations
[Which to use and why]

Integration with Study Guide Creation

During Excel Drug Chart Creation

When creating Excel drug charts:

1. After reading source file
2. Before creating Tab 1 (Drug Details)
3. Launch agent for drug class mnemonics
4. Add "Memory Tricks" row after each drug class table
5. Use mnemonics from agent report
6. Attribute sources in footnote

During Word Study Guide Creation

When creating Word study guides:

1. After reading source file and template
2. For each learning objective
3. Launch agent for topic-specific mnemonics
4. Include mnemonics in learning objective answer section
5. Add to High-Yield Summary tab
6. Attribute sources

During HTML Guide Creation

When creating HTML guides:

1. After identifying all topics
2. Launch agent for comprehensive mnemonic list
3. Add mnemonics to Summary tab
4. Create dedicated "Memory Aids" section
5. Include source links

Quality Assurance

Mnemonic Validation Checklist

Before adding mnemonics to study guides, verify:

• ✓ Mnemonic came from agent report (not invented)
• ✓ Source link included
• ✓ Reliability score noted (3+ stars preferred)
• ✓ Acronym/phrase fully explained
• ✓ Medical accuracy verified against source file

What Gets BLOCKED

❌ Inventing mnemonics without research ❌ Using mnemonics without source attribution ❌ Adding mnemonics that contradict source material ❌ Skipping mnemonic research for study guides

Enforcement

This skill works with study guide creation workflow:

• Suggests: "Use medical-mnemonic-researcher agent for mnemonics"
• Does not block: Creation can proceed, but quality may suffer without mnemonics
• High priority: Strongly recommended for all study guides

Examples

Example 1: HIV Drug Classes

Trigger: Creating Excel drug chart for HIV drugs

Skill activation:

I'll use the medical-mnemonic-researcher agent to find mnemonics for HIV drug classes (NRTIs, NNRTIs, PIs, integrase inhibitors).

Agent searches for:

• NRTI mnemonic
• NNRTI mnemonic
• Protease inhibitor mnemonic
• Integrase inhibitor mnemonic

Returns: Top 3 mnemonics for each class with sources

Result: Add to "Memory Tricks" row in drug table

Example 2: Cranial Nerves

Trigger: Creating anatomy study guide

Skill activation:

I'll use the medical-mnemonic-researcher agent to research cranial nerve mnemonics.

Agent searches for:

• Cranial nerve names mnemonic
• Cranial nerve functions mnemonic
• Sensory/motor classification mnemonic

Returns: Classic mnemonics with reliability scores

Result: Add to anatomy learning objective section

Example 3: Heart Failure Signs

Trigger: Creating clinical assessment guide for heart failure

Skill activation:

I'll use the medical-mnemonic-researcher agent to find mnemonics for heart failure signs and symptoms.

Agent searches for:

• Left-sided heart failure symptoms
• Right-sided heart failure symptoms
• Decompensated heart failure criteria

Returns: Mnemonics for clinical presentations

Result: Add to clinical decision tree section

Troubleshooting

Agent not launching

Check:

• Is medical-mnemonic-researcher.md in .claude/agents/ directory?
• Is Task tool available?
• Is subagent_type specified correctly?

Fix: Verify agent file exists and launch manually

No mnemonics found

Agent will report:

• "No established mnemonics found for [topic]"
• Suggests alternative memory strategies
• Notes to create custom mnemonic but mark as unvalidated

Action: Document in study guide: "No established mnemonic found. Create custom memory aid if needed (mark with *)."

Mnemonics conflict with source

Agent validates against medical accuracy

If conflict found:

• Agent notes the discrepancy
• Recommends most accurate version
• Warns about outdated mnemonics

Action: Prioritize source file accuracy over mnemonic

Best Practices

1. Launch agent early - Before creating study guide content
2. Research comprehensively - Ask for multiple related mnemonics in one agent call
3. Verify accuracy - Cross-check mnemonics against source material
4. Attribute sources - Always include source links
5. Prefer high-reliability - Use 4-5 star mnemonics when available
6. Update when needed - If agent finds outdated mnemonics, note in study guide

Progressive Disclosure

This skill is lightweight:

• Main instructions: This file (~300 lines)
• Agent file: Loaded only when agent launched
• Deep-dive resources: Loaded on-demand when needed

Performance: Agent call takes 30-60 seconds, but provides comprehensive mnemonic research that would take 5-10 minutes manually.

Deep-Dive Resources

For comprehensive guidance on mnemonic research:

Research Methodology - Detailed guide to the agent's research sources (r/medicalschool, First Aid, SDN), evaluation criteria, and reliability ranking system

Note: Resources provide deep-dive into how the agent finds and validates mnemonics. Load when you need to understand the research methodology.

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Remember: The medical-mnemonic-researcher agent is your automation tool for finding PROVEN medical mnemonics. Always use it instead of inventing mnemonics.