Ok, this is actually a history of medicine with a focus on cancer. I'm only about a hundred pages in, but I absolutely LOVE how the author weaves personal anecdotes of patient experiences and historical references seamlessly among the facts. Also addressed- ethics, development of modern treatment, effects on patients' lives...
Cutting for Stone
By far, my favorite book on this list, and one of my all-time favorites. I couldn't do it justice, so here's a critique:
Lauded for his sensitive memoir (My Own Country) about his time as a doctor in eastern Tennessee at the onset of the AIDS epidemic in the 80s, Verghese turns his formidable talents to fiction, mining his own life and experiences in a magnificent, sweeping novel that moves from India to Ethiopia to an inner-city hospital in New York City over decades and generations. Sister Mary Joseph Praise, a devout young nun, leaves the south Indian state of Kerala in 1947 for a missionary post in Yemen. During the arduous sea voyage, she saves the life of an English doctor bound for Ethiopia, Thomas Stone, who becomes a key player in her destiny when they meet up again at Missing Hospital in Addis Ababa. Seven years later, Sister Praise dies birthing twin boys: Shiva and Marion, the latter narrating his own and his brothers long, dramatic, biblical story set against the backdrop of political turmoil in Ethiopia, the life of the hospital compound in which they grow up and the love story of their adopted parents, both doctors at Missing. The boys become doctors as well and Vergheses weaving of the practice of medicine into the narrative is fascinating even as the story bobs and weaves with the power and coincidences of the best 19th-century novel.
The Checklist Manifesto
While the author (a physician) wrote this with the focus of medicine, it's applicable to many other fields as well- business, law, government. The author explains that while we have more knowledge and technology at our fingertips than ever before, flaws still exist in medicine (or business or law or you name it) because of imperfect execution and delivery.
For example, we know that heart attack patients need to have an intervention within a short period of time, but only about half make the time cutoff, because of all the little things in between or not recognizing the fact that the patient is having the heart attack to begin with despite our capability to do so.
I just started this a few minutes ago, which prompted me to post this blog entry. I think the idea of placebo in medicine is incredibly important and not only underutilized but unrecognized or misused. We often consider placebo effects to be psychosomatic or for weak-minded people, but actual molecular changes can occur, especially regarding pain modulation! I think this is a fascinating topic, not addressed in medical school, that can revolutionize how a doctor practices medicine. I don't think we should withhold medicine, but rather augment treatment with evidence-proven techniques like encouragement, empathy and awareness.
This book is written by a physician and geared toward physicians, unlike many of the other books which are more for patients and lay people.
So I haven't started this one yet, but highly recommend it by what I've heard so far. So here's a professional review.
With groundbreaking new research, Dr. Guarneri skillfully blends the science and drama of the heart's unfolding. She reveals the heart as a multilayered, complex organ and explores the new science that indicates the heart acts as a powerhouse of its own, possessing intelligence, memory, and decision-making abilities that are separate from the mind.
Having spent six weeks on cardiothoracic surgery, this one hits close to home. There's not enough money in the world that would make me want to be a surgeon, but as a female looking to join a male-dominated field, this is a great motivator. In fact, the first chapter provided me with an epiphany for my residency application (sorry, not sharing that for awhile!). It's a humerus and occasionally-serious look at the struggles she faced in her journey to becoming a surgeon.
I read this over the summer after my 2nd year, and I wish I'd found it earlier. It's a few years old, but many of the emotions and reflections eerily parallel to my own (leading me to believe that this is a good representation of what med school is like). In fact, I made my boyfriend read it at the beginning of our relationship so he knew what I was going through and how it would affect him. It basically starts at the beginning of the author's journey and chronicles the trivial and the not-so-trivial experiences, from anatomy lab to clinical rotations to life outside of the classroom (what little there is).
The House of GodAn oldie but goodie! The author's emotions transcend time, and are 100% applicable to being an intern today. You also need to be familiar with the laws of the House of God as they are occasionally referenced to in the clinical setting and you're expected to understand the joke.
The Spirit Catches You and You Fall DownA look inside the Hmong culture (mostly medicine) and how it clashes (and occasionally meshes with) "modern" medicine; a bit frustrating to read (I made it halfway through) but enlightening nonetheless- provides insight into cultural influence on how disease is understood, the role of family, decision-making, etc. This has greatly impacted my understanding and appreciation (and patience) for other cultures with less trust in our system.
Better: A surgeon's notes on performanceNot my favorite, but a worthwhile read. Critic review: A surgeon at the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and an assistant professor at the Harvard School of Public Health, Dr. Atul Gawande succeeds in putting a human face on controversial topics like malpractice and global disparities in medical care, while taking an unflinching look at his own failings as a doctor. Critics appreciated his candor, his sly sense of humor, and his skill in examining difficult issues from many perspectives. He conveys his message—that doctors are only human and therefore must always be diligent and resourceful in fulfilling their duties—in clear, confident prose. Most critics' only complaint was that half of the essays are reprints of earlier articles. Gawande's arguments, by turns inspiring and unsettling, may cause you to see your own doctor in a whole new light.
My Stroke of InsightA ridiculously easy read (written with the layperson in mind), by a neuroanatomist who details her experience of having a stroke from a scientist's point of view. I've recommended this book to family members, coworkers and patients- it's a great way for health care professionals to gain insight into what stroke patients are experiencing, and for stroke patients to understand what is happening to the brain. Symptom by symptom the author reflects on the anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology of strokes (while remarkably remaining in denial about the fact that she needed help). Pretty fascinating!
The Lost Art of Healing: Practicing Compassion in MedicineWritten by Dr. Bernard Lown, who developed the defibrillator, this is one of my all-time favorites. It should be a must-read for all physicians and physicians-in-training. Using patients' stories, he reflects on the importance of empathy and compassion, and shares insight about how seemingly-trivial words can change someone's life. My favorite is when he has his students and residents listen to the "gallop" of a patient with severe heart failure, who miraculously recovered, later crediting Dr. Lown for giving him the encouragement, because a heart that could still gallop must be strong!
On the shelf, to be read:
The Sublime Engine: A biography of the human heartAmazon description: In this lyrical history of our most essential organ, a critically-acclaimed novelist and a leading cardiologist--who happen to be brothers--draw upon history, science, religion, popular culture, and literature to illuminate all of the heart's physical and figurative chambers. Divided into four sections: ‘The Ancient Heart,’ ‘The Renaissance Heart,’ ‘The Modern Heart’ and ‘The Future Heart,’ each section will focus on a major epoch in our understanding of the heart and the hidden history of cardiology. Erudite, witty, and enthralling, The Sublime Engine will make the heart come alive for readers.
Intern Blues: The timeless classic about the making of a doctorAmazon description: While supervising a small group of interns at a major New York medical center, Dr. Robert Marion asked three of them to keep a careful diary over the course of a year. Andy, Mark, and Amy vividly describe their real-life lessons in treating very sick children; confronting child abuse and the awful human impact of the AIDS epidemic; skirting the indifference of the hospital bureaucracy; and overcoming their own fears, insecurities, and constant fatigue. Their stories are harrowing and often funny; their personal triumph is unforgettable.
Other books on Medscape's must-read list:
My Own Country (Abraham Verghese)
Love in the Time of Cholera (Gabriel Garcia Marquez)
The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (Rebecca Skloot)
Arrowsmith (Sinclair Lewis)
Complications: A surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science (Atul Gawande)
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