SMLE CONTENT OUTLINE

This outline provides a common organization of SMLE content. SMLE council continually reviews the
outline to ensure content is relevant to the practice of medicine. As practice guidelines evolve or are
introduced, the content on SMLE is reviewed and modified as needed.

The examination will emphasize certain parts of the outline, and no single examination will include
questions on all aspects. Questions may include content that is not included in this outline.

Mastery Level keys:

Level 3: Core knowledge of which candidates must be able to demonstrate understanding.

Level 2: Knowledge of which candidate must have a good practical understanding.

Level 1: Knowledge of which candidates must have some understanding.

MEDICINE SECTION

SUBSECTION: CARDIOLOGY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
CORONARY ARTERY D ISEASE 3

HEART FAILURE 3

ATRIAL F IBRILLATION 2

CARDIOVASCULAR RISK REDUCTION 2

VALVULAR HEART DISEASES 2

SUBSECTION: PULMONARY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
BRONCHIAL A STHMA 3

COPD 3

LUNG MASS 1

PLEURAL EFFUSION 2

PULMONARY EMBOLISM 3

Aug 2020 1
 SUBSECTION: GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE 3

GERD 2

IBD 3

CELIAC DISEASE 2

ACUTE VIRAL HEPATITIS 2

ACUTE NON-VIRAL HEPATITIS 2

CHRONIC VIRAL HEPATITIS 3

COMPLICATIONS OF LIVER CIRRHOSIS 3

SUBSECTION: NEPHROLOGY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY 2

CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE 2

HYPER AND HYPOKALEMIA 3

HYPO AND HYPER NATREMIA 3

PRIMARY HTN 2

SECONDARY HTN 1

SUBSECTION: ENDOCRINE
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
THYROID DISORDERS 3

DIABETES (DIAGNOSIS) 3

ACUTE DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS 3

CHRONIC DIABETIC COMPLICATIONS 2

ADRENAL DISORDERS 1

OSTEOPOROSIS 1

Aug 2020 2
 SUBSECTION: RHEUMATOLOGY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS 2

SLE 3

OSTEOARTHRITIS 1

GOUT 1

SPONDYLOARTHROPATHY 1

SUBSECTION: HEMATOLOGY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA 3

HEMOLYSIS 1

THROMBOTIC DISORDERS 3

SICKLE CELL DISEASE 3

ANTICOAGULANT RX MANAGEMENT 1

THROMBOCYTOPENIA 2

SUBSECTION: INFECTIOUS DISEASES

TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
PNEUMONIA 3

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS 2

TUBERCULOSIS 3

BRUCELLOSIS 1

MENINGITIS 2

INFECTIVE ENDOCARDITIS 2

MERS-COV, COVID-19 1

CHICKENPOX AND SHINGLES 2

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS (INCLUDING HIV) 1

MALARIA AND DENGUE FEVER 1

Aug 2020 3
 SUBSECTION: NEUROLOGY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
ISCHEMIC STROKE 3

HEMORRHAGIC STROKE 1

TIA 1

SEIZURE DISORDERS 2

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS 1

SUBSECTION: ONCOLOGY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
TUMOR LYSIS SYNDROME 1

FEBRILE NEUTROPENIA 1

SUBSECTION: CRITICAL CARE

TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
RESPIRATORY FAILURE 2

SEPSIS AND SEPTIC SHOCK 2

HEMORRHAGIC SHOCK 1

CARDIOGENIC SHOCK 1

SUBSECTION: GERIATRICS
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
ACUTE CONFUSIONAL STATE 2

DEMENTIA 1

Aug 2020 4
 SUBSECTION: PSYCHIATRY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
DEPRESSION 1

SIDE EFFECTS OF MEDICATIONS 1

SUBSTANCE ABUSE 1

BIPOLAR DISORDER 1

SCHIZOPHRENIA 1

Aug 2020 5
 PEDIATRICS SECTION
SUBSECTION: GENERAL PEDIATRICS
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
GASTROENTERITIS 3

FEBRILE SEIZURE 3

BRONCHIAL ASTHMA 3

IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA 3

BRONCHIOLITIS 3

PNEUMONIA 3

OTITIS MEDIA 2

CELLULITIS 3

UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT INFECTIONS 3

URINARY TRACT INFECTIONS 3

CELIAC DISEASE 2

HENOCH SCHONLEIN PURPURA 2

CONSTIPATION 3

RICKETS 3

HYPERTENSION 2

WELL BABY 2

SUBSECTION: AMBULATORY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
IMMUNIZATION 3

DEVELOPMENT AND BEHAVIOR 3

SEQUENT 1

FAILURE TO THRIVE 2

ENURESIS 1

Aug 2020 6
 SUBSECTION: CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
GUILLAIN BARRE SYNDROME 2

HEADACHES 2

EPILEPSY 3

HYPOTONIA 2

ATAXIA 2

CEREBRAL PALSY 2

MYASTHENIA GRAVIS 2

SUBSECTION: CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
CONGENITAL HEART DISEASE 3

HEART FAILURE 3

SYNCOPE 2

RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE 2

SUBSECTION: RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
SINUSITIS 2

ADENOTONSILLITIS 3

LARYNGOMALACIA 2

TRACHEOMALACIA 2

CYSTIC FIBROSIS 3

CROUP 3

Aug 2020 7
 SUBSECTION: GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX 2

CONGENITAL GASTROINTESTINAL ANOMALIES 2

PEPTIC ULCER DISEASE 2

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE 3

APPENDICITIS 3

INTUSSUSCEPTION 2

CHRONIC LIVER DISEASE 2

JAUNDICE 3

SUBSECTION: MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM

TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
SYSTEMIC LUPUS DISEASE 3

KAWASAKI DISEASE 2

POST INFECTIOUS ARTHRITIS 2

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS 3

Aug 2020 8
 SUBSECTION: INFECTIOUS DISEASES
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
BRUCELLA 2

TUBERCULOSIS 3

OSTEOMYELITIS 1

SCARLET FEVER 2

PHARYNGITIS 3

MENINGITIS 3

ENCEPHALITIS 3

SEPTIC ARTHRITIS 1

MALARIA, ENTERIC FEVER, LEISHMANIA, BOX 1

DENGUE FEVER, CORONA VIRUSES 2

CMV, EBV, HSV, HIV, HEPATITIS 2

MEASLES, MUMPS, RUBELLA , PERTUSSIS 3

PARASITES (A SCARIS, PINWORMS, GIARDIASIS, AMOEBA ) 2

SUBSECTION: NEPHROLOGY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
POST STREPTOCOCCAL GLOMERULONEPHRITIS 3

ACUTE AND CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE 3

NEPHROTIC SYNDROME 3

HEMOLYTIC UREMIC SYNDROME 2

RENAL TUBULAR ACIDOSIS 2

CONGENITAL ANOMALIES OF KIDNEY AND GENITOURINARY TRACT (CAKUT), 2

(POLYCYSTIC KIDNEY DISEASE, VESICOURETHRAL REFLUX , NEUROGENIC BLADDER)

Aug 2020 9
 SUBSECTION: ACUTE CARE
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
DRUG INGESTIONS (E.G. IRON, ACETAMINOPHEN) 3

FOREIGN BODY INHALATION 3

ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME 2

SHOCK 2

TRAUMA 1

ARRHYTHMIAS 1

TESTICULAR TORSION 1

SUBSECTION: HEMATOLOGY/ONCOLOGY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
IMMUNE THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA 3

HEMOLYTIC ANEMIAS 3

HEMOGLOBINOPATHIES 3

LEUKEMIA 2

LYMPHOMA 2

RETINOBLASTOMA 2

WILMS TUMOR 2

NEUROBLASTOMA 2

NEPHROBLASTOMA 2

SUBSECTION: NEONATOLOGY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
TRANSIENT TACHYPNEA OF THE NEWBORN 3

INTRAUTERINE GROWTH RETARDATION 2

HEMORRHAGIC DISEASES OF NEWBORN 1

INFANT OF DIABETIC MOTHER 2

MECONIUM ASPIRATION 2

PREMATURITY 2

Aug 2020 10
 SUBSECTION: ENDOCRINOLOGY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
DIABETES MELLITUS 3

THYROID DISORDERS 2

DIABETES INSIPIDUS 1

PANHYPOPITUITARISM 2

GROWTH AND GROWTH DISORDERS 1

AMBIGUOUS GENITALIA 2

ADRENAL DISORDERS 3

SUBSECTION: GENETICS/METABOLIC
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
INBORN ERRORS OF METABOLISM 2

HYPOGLYCEMIA 3

DYSMORPHOLOGY 2

SUBSECTION: ALLERGY/IMMUNOLOGY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
PRIMARY IMMUNODEFICIENCY 2

ATOPY 3

Aug 2020 11
 SURGERY SECTION
SUBSECTION: BASIC PRINCIPLES
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
SURGICAL INFECTION AND ANTIBIOTICS: Systemic inflammatory response 2

SURGICAL INFECTION AND ANTIBIOTICS: Surgical Site infection and prevention 3

SURGICAL INFECTION AND ANTIBIOTICS: Infections of the Skin and Soft Tissue 3

ANESTHESIA AND PAIN MANAGEMENT : Preoperative evaluation 1

ANESTHESIA AND PAIN MANAGEMENT : Local and regional anesthesia 3

WOUND CARE : Wound healing 1

WOUND CARE : Wound dressing 2

POST-OPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS: Postoperative care 3

POST-OPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS: Postoperative fever 3

POST-OPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS: Thromboembolism 3

FLUIDS, ELECTROLYTES AND NUTRITION: Electrolytes and acid base abnormalities 3

FLUIDS, ELECTROLYTES AND NUTRITION: Nutrition in surgical patient 1

Aug 2020 12
 SUBSECTION: GENERAL SURGERY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
BREAST: Breast mass approach 3

BREAST: Nipple discharge 2

BREAST: Benign breast disorders 1

BREAST: Breast cancer screening 3

THYROID AND PARATHYROID: Neck mass evaluation 2

THYROID AND PARATHYROID: Thyroid nodule approach 2

THYROID AND PARATHYROID: Complications of thyroidectomy 3

THYROID AND PARATHYROID: Surgery for Hyperparathyroidism 1

GIT: GERD 2

GIT: Upper GI bleeding 3

GIT: Peptic Ulcer Disease 3

GIT: Perforated viscous 3

GIT: Surgical management of Obesity 1

GIT: Bowel obstruction 3

GIT: Lower GI bleeding 3

GIT: Mesenteric bowel ischemia 3

GIT: Appendicitis 3

GIT: Colon cancer 2

GIT: Diverticular disease 2

GIT: Anorectal conditions 2

HEPATOBILIARY: Biliary conditions 3

HEPATOBILIARY: Liver abscess 1

HEPATOBILIARY: Pancreatitis 2

HERNIAS: Inguinal hernia 3

HERNIAS: Ventral hernias 3

Aug 2020 13
 SUBSECTION: GENERAL SURGERY (CONTINUATION)
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
SUBCUTANEOUS LESIONS: Necrotizing fasciitis 3

SUBCUTANEOUS LESIONS: Soft tissue mass 1

VASCULAR SURGERY: Diabetic foot 3

VASCULAR SURGERY: Acute and critical limb ischemia 3

VASCULAR SURGERY: Compartment syndrome 3

VASCULAR SURGERY: Abdominal aortic aneurysms 1

PEDIATRIC SURGERY : Neck mass 1

PEDIATRIC SURGERY : Pyloric stenosis 1

PEDIATRIC SURGERY : Umbilical hernia 1

PEDIATRIC SURGERY : Undescended testicle 1

PEDIATRIC SURGERY : Hirschsprung disease 1

PEDIATRIC SURGERY : Intussusception 1

PEDIATRIC SURGERY : Circumcision 1

PLASTIC SURGERY: Hand infections 1

PLASTIC SURGERY: Burns 3

PLASTIC SURGERY: Bed sores 3

SUBSECTION: TRAUMA AND ACUTE CARE SURGERY

TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
INITIAL ASSESSMENT OF TRAUMA PATIENT 3

LIFE THREATENING INJURIES 3

CHEST TRAUMA 3

SHOCK 3

ABDOMINAL TRAUMA 3

PELVIC TRAUMA 3

HEAD TRAUMA 3

Aug 2020 14
 SUBSECTION: SUBSPECIALTIES
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
UROLOGY: Acute Urinary Retention 1

UROLOGY: Testicular Torsion 1

UROLOGY: Hematuria 1

UROLOGY: Fournier’s Gangrene 1

UROLOGY: Renal colic 1

NEUROSURGERY: Cerebrovascular diseases 1

NEUROSURGERY: Spinal cord compression 1

ORTHOPEDICS: Open fracture treatment 1

ORTHOPEDICS: Principles of fracture/ dislocation management 1

ENT: Epistaxis 1

ENT: Foreign body 1

OPHTHALMOLOGY: Red eye 1

OPHTHALMOLOGY: Leukocoria 1

OPHTHALMOLOGY: Ocular trauma 1

Aug 2020 15
 OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY SECTION
SUBSECTION: GENERAL OBSTETRICS
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
HISTORY & EXAMINATION 3
PREECLAMPSIA-ECLAMPSIA 3
THIRD TRIMESTER BLEEDING 3
PRETERM LABOR 3
PRETERM RUPTURE OF MEMBRANES 3
POSTPARTUM HEMORRHAGE 3
MATERNAL-FETAL PHYSIOLOGY 3
PRECONCEPTION CARE 3
ANTEPARTUM CARE 2
INTRAPARTUM CARE 2
POSTPARTUM CARE 2
INTRAPARTUM FETAL SURVEILLANCE 2
POSTPARTUM INFECTION 2
POST-TERM PREGNANCY 2
FETAL GROWTH ABNORMALITIES 2
LEGAL AND ETHICS ISSUES IN OBSTETRICS 2

Aug 2020 16
 SUBSECTION: GENERAL GYNECOLOGY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
HISTORY & EXAMINATION 3

ECTOPIC PREGNANCY 3

SPONTANEOUS ABORTION 3

NORMAL AND A BNORMAL UTERINE BLEEDING 3

DYSMENORRHEA 3

UTERINE LEIOMYOMAS 3

FAMILY PLANNING 2

ENDOMETRIOSIS 2

CHRONIC PELVIC PAIN 2

PUBERTY 2

AMENORRHEA 2

PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME AND PREMENSTRUAL DYSPHORIC DISORDER 2

LEGAL AND ETHICS I SSUES IN GYNECOLOGY 2

Aug 2020 17
 SUBSECTION: SUBSPECIALTY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
PAP SMEAR & DNA PROBE & CULTURE 3

SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED INFECTIONS AND URINARY TRACT INFECTION 3

MEDICAL AND SURGICAL C OMPLICATIONS OF PREGNANCY 2

ALLOIMMUNIZATION 2

MULTIFETAL GESTATION 2

FETAL DEATH 2

OBSTETRICS PROCEDURES 2

HIRSUTISM AND VIRILIZATION 2

MENOPAUSE 2

INFERTILITY 2

GESTATIONAL T ROPHOBLASTIC NEOPLASIA 2

CERVICAL DISEASE AND NEOPLASIA 2

ENDOMETRIAL HYPERPLASIA AND CARCINOMA 2

OVARIAN NEOPLASMS 2

PELVIC ORGAN PROLAPSE AND URINARY INCONTINENCE 1

Aug 2020 18
 PATIENT SAFETY, PREVENTIVE MEDICINE, ETHICS SECTION
SUBSECTION: ETHICS
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
INFORMED CONSENT 1

DNR/DNI 2

BREAKING BAD NEWS 3

DAMA 1

PATIENT PRIVACY 3

CONFIDENTIALITY 3

CONFLICT OF INTEREST 3

ABUSE (SPOUSE, CHILD AND ELDERLY ) 2

SICK LEAVE 3

DEATH CERTIFICATE 1

ABORTION 2

FERTILITY ETHICS 1

BULLYING AND A BUSE 2

COMMUNICATIONS WITH PEERS' PATIENTS 1

SECOND OPINIONS / REFERRAL 1

MEDICO-LEGAL ISSUES/WHISTLEBLOWING 2

IMPAIRED PHYSICIANS 2

SOCIAL MEDIA PRACTICES/ TECHNOLOGY 3

RESEARCH ETHICS 3

Aug 2020 19
 SUBSECTION: PATIENT SAFETY
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
INTERNATIONAL PATIENT SAFETY GOALS 1

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION: COMMUNICATION WITH PATIENT AND FAMILY 3

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION: INTER-PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION 3

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION: PATIENT /C OMMUNITY E DUCATION 2

MEDICATIONS SAFETY 3

SURGICAL SAFETY 2

HEALTH CARE - ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS 2

CLINICAL PRIVILEGES 3

CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 1

PATIENT IDENTIFICATION ERRORS 2

DIAGNOSTIC ERRORS 2

TRANSITIONS OF CARE ERRORS (HANDOFF, TRANSFER, DISCHARGE ) 2

BLOOD TRANSFUSION SAFETY 3

RADIATION SAFETY 3

PATIENT EMPOWERMENT 2

INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE QUALITY DIMENSIONS (DEFINES QUALITY , DOMAINS OF 1

QUALITY )

VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM PROPHYLAXIS 2

Aug 2020 20
 SUBSECTION: PREVENTIVE
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
LIFESTYLE AND C LINICAL P REVENTIVE SERVICES: PREVENTIVE CARDIOLOGY 3

LIFESTYLE AND C LINICAL P REVENTIVE SERVICES: RISK FACTORS FOR NCDS, 3

ASSESSMENT AND MODIFICATIONS

LIFESTYLE AND C LINICAL P REVENTIVE SERVICES: DISEASE SCREENING (CANCER, 3

CVD, DM, HTN, LIPID)

LIFESTYLE AND C LINICAL P REVENTIVE SERVICES: OBESITY 2

LIFESTYLE AND C LINICAL P REVENTIVE SERVICES: NUTRITION 2

LIFESTYLE AND C LINICAL P REVENTIVE SERVICES: EXERCISE 3

LIFESTYLE AND C LINICAL P REVENTIVE SERVICES: SMOKING 3

LIFESTYLE AND C LINICAL P REVENTIVE SERVICES: SLEEP HEALTH 2

LIFESTYLE AND C LINICAL P REVENTIVE SERVICES: TRAVEL HEALTH 2

INFECTIOUS DISEASES: INDICATORS (ATTACK RATE , CASE- FATALITY RATE , 2

REPORTABLE DISEASES )

INFECTIOUS DISEASES: MODE OF TRANSMISSION 3

INFECTIOUS DISEASES: VACCINATION AND PROPHYLAXIS 3

INFECTIOUS DISEASES: OUTBREAK INVESTIGATION 2

IMMUNIZATION: CHILD 3

IMMUNIZATION: ADULT 1

IMMUNIZATION: SPECIAL GROUPS 2

IMMUNIZATION: HERD IMMUNITY 1

Aug 2020 21
 SUBSECTION: PREVENTIVE (CONTINUATION)
TOPIC MASTERY LEVEL
EPIDEMIOLOGY/BIOSTATISTICS: MEASURES OF DISEASE FREQUENCY (INCIDENCE , 3
PREVALENCE )

EPIDEMIOLOGY/BIOSTATISTICS: MEASURES OF HEALTH STATUS (MORTALITY AND 2

MORBIDITY RATES E .G. MATERNAL MORTALITY , NEONATAL/INFANT/UNDER-5
MORTALITY )

EPIDEMIOLOGY/BIOSTATISTICS: SURVEILLANCE 2

EPIDEMIOLOGY/BIOSTATISTICS: LEVELS OF PREVENTION 2

EPIDEMIOLOGY/BIOSTATISTICS: TYPES OF STUDY DESIGN AND SELECTION OF 3

STUDIES

EPIDEMIOLOGY/BIOSTATISTICS: MEASURES OF ASSOCIATION (RELATIVE RISK, 3

ODDS RATIO)

EPIDEMIOLOGY/BIOSTATISTICS: PRINCIPLES OF SCREENING (VALIDITY, TEST 1

PARAMETERS, CRITERIA FOR SCREENING TEST )

EPIDEMIOLOGY/BIOSTATISTICS: DISTRIBUTION OF DATA (MEASURES OF CENTRAL 1

TENDENCY AND VARIABILITY )

EPIDEMIOLOGY/BIOSTATISTICS: CORRELATION AND REGRESSION 1

EPIDEMIOLOGY/BIOSTATISTICS: INTERPRETATION OF STUDY RESULTS (CAUSALITY, 2

CHANCE , CONFOUNDING , BIAS)

Aug 2020 22