Hisam Siddiqi: Review of Interactive Cases by Blood Academy First Edition
Hisam Siddiqi, Consultant Haematologist at LycaHealth, The Blackheath Hospital, Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust, shared a post on LinkedIn:
“Review of Interactive Cases by Blood Academy First Edition
Full disclosure
- I have not been paid to write this.
- I haven’t received any vouchers.
- Ali (the author) and I have never met – we interact mainly on social media around haematology education.
I told him: send me the book and I’ll give an honest opinion.
Back in 2014, I started haematology as an ST3 after switching from medical oncology.
I felt completely out of my depth, surrounded by colleagues who had already done haematology fellow jobs.
In a (toxic) deanery, the expectation was that you should already ‘know things’. The usual advice? Read Robbins.
Read the Oxford Handbook. Not exactly realistic.
If I’d had a resource like this book, I’d have built confidence, structure and fluency much earlier.
The book offers:
- 45 interactive, case‑based scenarios
- High‑definition blood film images, with the ability to pan across fields
- Video slide reviews, not just static pictures
I randomly opened Case 2: a 64‑year‑old with lymphocytosis.
Clear morphology, exam ‑ oriented language (FRCPath‑relevant), sensible discussion around smudge cells, immunophenotyping tables
across LPDs, and – crucially – real ‑ world next steps.
It constantly switches between theory, exams and clinical reality, which is exactly how haematology is practiced.
Where does this book sit?
- Ideal for ST3‑level trainees
- Excellent case‑based introduction
- Embraces digital haematology
- Very importantly: easy to read
I now see our registrars reading it in the office – and getting better. That, for me, is the ultimate test of an educational resource.
Only thought: a PDF version in the future would be fantastic.
If I had to choose between this and some of the ‘big name’ books out there?
This wins – any day of the week.”

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