Getting time with a doctor is becoming increasingly difficult—and the situation is only expected to worsen. Estimates suggest a physician shortage of between 40,000 and 120,000 doctors by the year 2030. For the sake of your health, this means you will need to become more self‑reliant: learning how to find medical information, interpret it accurately, and remember it—without completing seven to ten years of medical school.
That may sound impossible, but it can be done. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI) now make it possible for ordinary people to access, organize, and understand complex medical information. This will be a two-part article that shows you, step by step, how to begin becoming your own doctor. Before we get there, however, it’s important to address a foundational skill: memory—and how to improve it.
The problem with how we learn medical information
Most truly useful medical information today is obtained by reading articles, watching YouTube videos, or consulting AI tools such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini. While this information is often detailed and comprehensive, it is rarely organized in a way that makes it easy to remember.
The challenge is compounded by the brain’s natural way of storing information. Much of what we read ends up in what is called passive memory. We’ve all experienced this: reading a passage, then rereading it multiple times, only to realize that very little actually sticks. Passive memory is inefficient and unreliable—especially when the volume of information is large, as it often is in medicine.
Fortunately, memory becomes far more effective when it is active rather than passive.
Turning passive memory into active memory
Active memory is created when new information is deliberately connected to existing knowledge. One of the simplest and most effective ways to do this is by asking yourself questions about what you’ve just learned.
As author Mihailo Zoin explains, “The moment you begin asking questions across multiple facts or memories simultaneously, you activate retrieval pathways that previously existed in isolation.” These retrieval pathways form stronger, more durable memories than rereading ever could.
A practical, time‑tested way to apply this principle is through the use of flashcards.
Why flashcards still work
Flashcards may seem old-fashioned, but they remain one of the most powerful learning tools available. Many of us were introduced to them as early as grade school, using them to memorize multiplication tables, vocabulary, or historical facts.
Flashcards work because they force recall. Instead of passively reviewing information, you must actively retrieve an answer in response to a question. This process strengthens memory by linking related facts and reinforcing retrieval pathways in the brain.
A practical health example
Consider a common real-world scenario: you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes and told to follow a healthier diet. What does that actually mean? Which food groups matter most? Which foods raise blood sugar levels, and which ones help control them? And how do you remember all of this information well enough to apply it in daily life?
In next week’s Part 2 article, I will walk you through exactly how to research a question like this, organize the information, simplify it using artificial intelligence, and then have that same AI tool generate flashcards to help you remember it.
If you can use email and “copy and paste”, you already have all the technical skills required. I’ll show you the free tools that make this process straightforward and accessible.
You CAN learn to be your own doctor.
Dr. Charlie Barnett is a contributor to KnoxTNToday, where he writes a weekly column, DocTalk, sharing his expertise on health and wellness management.
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Using AI to gather medical information can be dangerous. AI tools such as ChatGPT or Google Gemini can be very unreliable. Yes, we do need to become more self-reliant. However, we should be very careful what data we use. Many major medical facilities, e.g. Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, John Hopkins, Vanderbilt, and more have great reference information. If you insist on using AI, you really need to confirm any of the resulting information from a separate source. I have a lot of my medical information filed and stored in envelopes in a large plastic box, easy to reference. You may not be able to see a doctor, but you may be able to see a NP or PA or ask the practice a question that they can get back an answer. It is scary as the shortage of doctors increases. But, be careful where you turn for medical information.