Here’s a step-by-step framework to build a compelling, professional clinical case presentation that educates without overwhelming.

Phase 1: Pre-Production (Critical First Steps)

1. De-identify Ruthlessly
Before touching PowerPoint: Remove all PHI (Protected Health Information). Use fake initials (e.g., "J.D."), alter ages by ±2-3 years, omit specific dates (use "Day 1," "Week 3"), and crop/blur faces/tattoos/unique scars on images. When in doubt, ask your IRB or compliance officer.

2. Define Your "Teaching Pearl"
Pick one key learning objective. Ask: "What mistake do I want my audience to avoid?" or "What rare presentation should they recognize?" Build every slide around this single takeaway.

Phase 2: The Slide Architecture

Use this 8-slide backbone (adjust for your 10-15 min time slot):

Slide 1: Title

• Case Title: Make it descriptive but not clickbait
  Good: "A 34-Year-Old with Fever and Rash: When to Suscept Kawasaki Disease in Adults"
  Bad: "Mystery Fever"
• Authors, Institution, Date
• Disclosure: "No conflicts of interest" (or list them)

Slide 2: Learning Objectives (1-2 bullets)

• "Recognize atypical presentations of [condition]"
• "Differentiate between [differential A] vs. [differential B] using [specific test]"

Slide 3: Case Presentation (The "Hook")

• Chief Complaint: One line
• History: Bullet points—only relevant positives/negatives
  Format: Use the "SOCRATES" or "OLDCART" mnemonics for symptoms
• Vitals: Highlight abnormalities in red
• Key Physical Exam Findings: Use icons (→) to point to findings on photos

Slide 4: Diagnostic Workup

• Timeline graphic: Horizontal bar showing tests ordered chronologically vs. symptom progression
• Key Labs: Highlight abnormal values (use bold/red), include reference ranges
• Imaging: One "money shot" per image with arrows/annotations
  Tip: Use PowerPoint’s "Magnifier" tool or insert a zoomed crop to the side

Slide 5: Differential Diagnosis

• Create a table with 3 columns: Condition | For | Against
• Cross out ruled-out diagnoses with a diagonal line as you narrate

Slide 6: Management & Clinical Course

• Treatment Algorithm: Flowchart or numbered steps
• Daily progression: Small calendar icons showing improvements/setbacks
• Complications: If any occurred, show how they were managed

Slide 7: Outcome & Follow-up

• Status at discharge: Modified Rankin Scale, pain scores, or functional status
• Final Diagnosis: Confirmatory test result or pathology report
• Long-term outcome: 3-month, 6-month data if available

Slide 8: Discussion & Take-Home Points

• Key Clinical Pearl: Bold, 24pt font
• 3 Bullet "Don't Miss" List
• Evidence: One seminal citation summarizing management strategy
• Questions?

Phase 3: Visual Design Rules for Medicine

Color Psychology

• Red: Only for danger, active bleeding, or critical abnormal values
• Blue/Green: Stable findings, therapeutic response
• Grayscale: Normal anatomy or background context

Typography

• Font: Arial or Calibri (sans-serif projects better on screens)
• Size: Never smaller than 18pt for body text, 32pt for headers
• Contrast: White text on dark blue background reduces eye strain in dim lecture halls

Images

• Radiology: Use "soft tissue" and "bone" windows side-by-side if relevant
• Pathology: Include H&E stain on left, special stain (IF/IHC) on right with labels
• EKGs: Rotate in PowerPoint to standardize lead orientation; use calipers or measurement lines overlaid

Phase 4: Delivery Techniques

The "Black Slide" Method
Insert a black slide (or hit "B" key) after your case presentation. Pause. Ask the audience: "What’s your differential?" This increases retention by 40%.

The 10/20/30 Rule (Modified for Medicine)

• 10 slides max for a 15-minute talk (allows 1.5 min/slide + discussion)
• 20 minutes max presentation time
• 30-point font minimum for critical values (ensures readability)

Narrative Arc
Structure your spoken words as:

1. Setup: "This looked like routine pneumonia…"
2. Rising Action: "…but day 3, the creatinine doubled…"
3. Climax: "…the biopsy revealed vasculitis…"
4. Resolution: "…steroids saved the kidney, but we almost missed the window."

Phase 5: Technical Checklist

Save your file as: LastName_CaseTitle_Date.pptx

• Embed fonts: File → Options → Save → "Embed fonts in the file"
• Compress images: Pictures → Compress Pictures (to avoid file size issues)
• Bring a backup: PDF version + USB drive (hospital Wi-Fi fails)

Final Slide: Always include your email for case follow-up questions and a QR code linking to the cited paper or hospital guidelines.

Which aspect would you like me to expand on?

For example:

• Are you presenting at a morning report (diagnostic focus) or grand rounds (literature-heavy)?
• Do you have complex multimodal imaging (CT/MRI/PET) that needs animation?
• Is this a rare case requiring heavy differential discussion, or a classic case meant for teaching basics?
• Do you need help with the HIPAA-compliant image de-identification workflow specifically?

Presenting a clinical case study is about more than just reciting facts; it is about telling a medical mystery story that leads your audience to a logical conclusion.

Follow this step-by-step guide to build a professional, engaging, and educational PowerPoint presentation.

Phase 1: Preparation & Narrative Arc

Before opening PowerPoint, identify the "Clinical Pearl." What is the one thing you want your audience to learn? Every slide should support this objective.

1. Protect Patient Privacy: Ensure all names, birthdays, and identifying ID numbers are removed (HIPAA compliance).
2. Gather High-Quality Media: Collect clear images of labs, EKGs, X-rays, or pathology slides.
3. Establish the Timeline: Clinical cases are best told chronologically.

Phase 2: The Slide-by-Slide Structure

A standard clinical presentation should follow this 10–12 slide flow:

1. Title Slide

• Title (Catchy but professional, e.g., "A Case of Progressive Dyspnea in a 45-year-old Male").
• Your name and credentials.
• Date and Institution.

2. Case Introduction & Chief Complaint

• The Hook: A one-sentence summary of why the patient sought care.
• Example: "Patient is a 62-year-old female presenting with sudden onset left-sided weakness."

3. History of Present Illness (HPI)

• Use bullet points, not paragraphs.
• Include relevant positives and negatives (symptoms they have vs. symptoms they don't have).
• Include pertinent Past Medical History (PMH), Medications, and Social History if relevant to the current illness.

4. Physical Examination

• Start with Vitals (Highlight abnormalities in red).
• Focus on the relevant systems (e.g., if it’s a heart case, focus on the cardiovascular exam).
• State "Normal" for systems that weren't relevant to keep the slide clean.

5. Differential Diagnosis (The "Thinking" Slide)

• List 3–5 potential diagnoses based on the information provided so far.
• Briefly explain why you considered them. This shows your clinical reasoning.

6. Diagnostic Workup (Labs & Imaging)

• Labs: Create a table or use a "fishbone" diagram for BMP/CBC. Highlight out-of-range values.
• Imaging: Embed the actual X-ray, CT, or MRI. Use arrows to point out the pathology so the audience doesn't have to guess where to look.

7. Final Diagnosis

• A single, clear slide stating the definitive diagnosis.
• Include the "Gold Standard" test that confirmed it.

8. Management & Treatment

• What did you do? (Medications, surgery, lifestyle changes).
• Include the patient’s response to the treatment.

9. Clinical Outcome & Follow-up

• How is the patient doing now?
• If the case had a poor outcome, discuss why.

10. Discussion & Literature Review

• This is the most important slide for an academic setting.
• Summarize current guidelines or recent research regarding this condition.
• Explain why this case was unique or representative.

11. Conclusion & Take-Home Points

• List 2–3 "Clinical Pearls" the audience should remember.

Phase 3: Design & Visual Best Practices

To keep your audience focused on your message rather than your slides:

• The 6x6 Rule: No more than six bullet points per slide and six words per bullet point.
• Contrast is Key: Use dark text on a light background (or vice versa). Avoid "busy" templates.
• High-Resolution Images: If a photo is blurry, don't use it. Crop images to focus on the area of interest.
• Minimal Animations: Use "Appear" or "Fade." Avoid "Fly-in" or "Bounce" transitions, which can look unprofessional in a medical context.

Phase 4: Delivery Success Tips

1. Don’t Read the Slides: Use the slides as visual cues. Talk to the audience, not the screen.
2. Practice the Timing: Most clinical case presentations are 10–15 minutes. Spend the most time on the Differential and the Discussion.
3. Prepare for Questions: Anticipate why you didn’t order a specific test or why you chose one treatment over another.

Ready to get started?

To provide more specific advice, I need to know a bit more about your presentation:

1. What is the specific medical topic or diagnosis? (I can help you brainstorm the "Clinical Pearl.")
2. Who is your audience? (Medical students, experienced attendings, or a general healthcare team?)
3. What is your time limit for the presentation?