The story of SketchyMicro is a classic tale of students helping students. It all began in 2012 with a couple of hand-drawn videos uploaded to YouTube. Founders Andrew Berg and Saud Siddiqui, M.D. were medical students frantically studying for Step 1, struggling to memorize the endless, fiddly details about microbes. Frustrated by traditional methods, they created a system based on the Method of Loci—an ancient Greek memory technique that places visual symbols in a memorable setting to unlock the ability to recall an astounding amount of facts.

"The new videos aren't as good as the old ones." Response: Long-time users often feel nostalgic for the original artists and narrators. Sketchy has updated its art style and added newer bugs (like COVID-19 and Mpox). While the "golden age" of Sketchy (2015-2018) is often cited as the best, the current content is still highly effective and more comprehensive.

: Details protozoa and helminths, focusing on transmission methods and clinical presentations. Why Students Use Sketchy Micro Visual Mnemonics

However, it may not be ideal for:

If you are a medical student, pre-med, or even a pharmacy student struggling with microbiology, the sketchy microbiology videos are well worth your consideration. Just remember to use them wisely—as part of a balanced study diet that includes deeper understanding alongside visual memorization.