A Life in Medicine


Book Description

“Excellent” poetry and prose about physicians and their patients, by Raymond Carver, Kay Redfield Jamison, Rachel Naomi Remen, and more (Library Journal). A Life in Medicine collects stories, poems, and essays by and for those in the healing profession, who are struggling to keep up with the science while staying true to the humanitarian goals at the heart of their work. Organized around the central themes of altruism, knowledge, skill, and duty, the book includes contributions from well-known authors, doctors, nurses, practitioners, and patients. Provocative and moving pieces address what it means to care for a life in a century of unprecedented scientific advances, examining issues of hope and healing from both ends of the stethoscope. “An anthology of lasting appeal to those interested in medicine, well-written literature, and a sympathetic understanding of human life.” —Booklist




Planning a Life in Medicine


Book Description

A life in medicine is something that many dream of but few achieve. The tests students face–both literal and figurative–just to get into medical school are designed to weed out the weak. InPlanning a Life in Medicine, the experts at The Princeton Review will help you succeed in a premedical program, score higher on the MCAT, meet the challenges of medical school, and ultimately flourish in your medical career. More than just a comprehensive plan for getting into medical school,Planning a Life in Medicineis a handbook that will help you to cultivate the skills and habits–such as compartmentalizing knowledge and improving concentration–that will help you along your “path of heart” and serve you well throughout your education and medical career.




William Osler


Book Description

In his time the most famous physician in the world, Canadian-born William Osler (1849-1919) is still the best-known figure in the history of medicine. This new, definitive biography by Michael Bliss is the first full-scale life of Osler to appear since 1925. An award-winning medical historian, Bliss draws on many untapped sources to recreate Osler's life and medical times for a new generation of readers. Born at Bond Head, north of Toronto, Osler rose from obscurity to become the greatest medical teacher and writer in three countries. At Canada's McGill University, America's Johns Hopkins University, and finally as regius professor at Oxford, Osler was idolized by two generations of medical students and practitioners, for whom he came to personify the ideal doctor. His quest was to bring high standards and scientific methods into general practice in the medical world and to give teaching hospitals a solid place in the education of doctors. The publication of his book, The Principles and Practice of Medicine (1892), established him as the authority of modern medicine, a position he held well into the new century. Osler was revered as the high priest of the advent of twentieth-century medicine. In this fine biography, Michael Bliss animates the epic quality of Osler's life - not only in telling his personal story, but in setting that story against the dramatic backdrop of the coming of modern medicine. Winner of the Jason A. Hannah Medal, awarded by the Royal Society of Canada and the Hannah Institute for the History of Medicine




Your Money or Your Life


Book Description

The problems of medical care confront us daily: a bureaucracy that makes a trip to the doctor worse than a trip to the dentist, doctors who can't practice medicine the way they choose, more than 40 million people without health insurance. "Medical care is in crisis," we are repeatedly told, and so it is. Barely one in five Americans thinks the medical system works well. Enter David M. Cutler, a Harvard economist who served on President Clinton's health care task force and later advised presidential candidate Bill Bradley. One of the nation's leading experts on the subject, Cutler argues in Your Money or Your Life that health care has in fact improved exponentially over the last fifty years, and that the successes of our system suggest ways in which we might improve care, make the system easier to deal with, and extend coverage to all Americans. Cutler applies an economic analysis to show that our spending on medicine is well worth it--and that we could do even better by spending more. Further, millions of people with easily manageable diseases, from hypertension to depression to diabetes, receive either too much or too little care because of inefficiencies in the way we reimburse care, resulting in poor health and in some cases premature death. The key to improving the system, Cutler argues, is to change the way we organize health care. Everyone must be insured for the medical system to perform well, and payments should be based on the quality of services provided not just on the amount of cutting and poking performed. Lively and compelling, Your Money or Your Life offers a realistic yet rigorous economic approach to reforming health care--one that promises to break through the stalemate of failed reform.




Life After Medicine


Book Description

This book helps and motivates doctors facing or contemplating leaving the profession. It offers simple but comprehensive strategies, resources and reflections to explore where they are, where they want to be, how to get there, and how to lead a content and fulfilling life if and when they do leave medicine.




Doctor of the Heart


Book Description

An autobiographical account of Dr. Isadore Rosenfeld-recounting his most memorable experiences as "America's Doctor" and Doctor to the Stars. Told with grace and humor, the many anecdotes in this book offer insight into what it is like to be a doctor during some of the most progressive eras of medicine. Doctor of the Heart is a unique and engaging portrait of this cardiologist's remarkable international medical career. Inspired at an early age to become a physician, Isadore Rosenfeld shares a lifetime of challenges, advances in patient care, and unique experiences that have enriched his life personally as well as professionally. This memoir captures an extraordinary career in medicine spanning more than sixty years and provides a compelling picture of a life dedicated to healing. Dr. Rosenfeld has authored more than a dozen books for the layperson, many of which were New York Times best-sellers. His weekly television broadcasts and contribution as Health Editor for Parade Magazine earned him beloved recognition as "America's Doctor."




Finding Balance in a Medical Life


Book Description

The system of medicine, world-wide, is in a state of rapid change. This has left physicians in a state of anxiety, fatigue and even burnout. Finding Balance in a Medical Life is the culmination of the authors years of working with large physician groups, evaluating physician health research and delivering workshops to physicians and their families. It is intended to help physicians, healthcare professionals and their families to understand how they find themselves 'stuck' in their work lives and even in their personal relationships. It explores the ramifications of the physician personality structure and helps the reader to analyze their own personality. It clarifies the effect of medical training and practice on the physicians' health and relationships. It teaches the reader various tools and techniques to manage stress, enhance performance, and improve communication as well as how to plan their futures in by identifying their life purpose. About the Author Lee Lipsenthal, M.D., ABHM is a recognized leader, teacher and pioneer in the field of provider wellness. He is an internist by training and is internationally known for his research work with Dr. Dean Ornish, in preventive cardiology. He is also well known in the field of Integrative Medicine. Dr. Lipsenthal is a member of the American Medical Association Physician Well-being Planning Committee and has authored many professional and popular publications on healthcare provider wellness medicine. He is a frequently invited workshop presenter and speaker at healthcare conferences in the U.S. and world-wide. "Finding Balance in a Medical Life is an eloquent, potent way of enhancing awareness and promoting healing in ourselves, ourfamilies, and our patients. It is a call to action that may help you save a very important life. Yours." - Dean Ornish, M.D., Founder and President, Preventive Medicine Research Institute, Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco "Finding Balance in a Medical Life is distilled from the author's experience over many years of teaching physicians about managing stress, improving performance, and increasing connection with life s purpose. I know you will enjoy it and find it useful." - Andrew Weil, MD "Lee Lipsenthal brings tremendous insights into the stresses and strains of being a physician. Put down your medical journal and pick up this book; it may be the most important read of your life." - Steve McDermott, Chief Executive Officer, Hill Physicians Medical Group




Mothers in Medicine


Book Description

Women are entering medical school in equal numbers as men, yet still face unique challenges in a profession where, overall, male physicians outnumber female physicians 3 to 1. Women in medicine also face decisions such as when to have a child during training and often struggle with work-life balance. This book features real stories and advice from mothers in medicine at all stages of training from medical student to practicing physician and addresses the topics that shape the lives, joys, and challenges of women in medicine today. The book is based on the best posts and wisdom shared on the Mothers in Medicine blog, which was established in 2008 by the editor and has published over 1500 posts and has over 4.8 million page views to date. The book is organized by themes that are unique to the physician-mother: career decisions, having children during training, navigating life challenges, practice issues, and work-life balance. Each chapter features an excerpt from the blog followed by an honest discussion of the key considerations, guidelines, and tips as related to each topic in the conversational, personal tone of the blog. The book concludes with a chapter that features the most popular questions posted on the Mothers in Medicine blog and a summary of the responses received from the community of readers. Mothers in Medicine: Career, Practice, and Life Lessons Learned is a valuable and contemporary resource for pre-medical students, medical students, residents, and physicians.




Life Is Your Best Medicine


Book Description

"The division between conventional and traditional medicine is as artificial as the division between science and nature. They can be woven together in a fashion that meets our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. This is the foundation upon which integrative medicine is built." -- Tieraona Low Dog, M.D. In Life Is Your Best Medicine, Dr. Low Dog weaves together the wisdom of traditional medicine and the knowledge of modern-day medicine into an elegant message of health and self-affirmation for women of every age. This is a book that can be read cover to cover but also dipped into for inspiration or insight about a particular physical or mental health issue or remedy. We learn that, despite the widespread availability of pharmaceutical medications, advanced surgical care, and state-of-the-art medical technology, chronic illness now affects more than 50% of the American population. The evidence is overwhelmingly clear that much of the chronic disease we are confronting in the United States has its roots in the way we live our lives. Research shows that if Americans embraced a healthier lifestyle, which includes a balance between rest and exercise; wholesome nutrition; healthy weight; positive social interactions; stress management; not smoking; limited alcohol use; and no or limited exposure to toxic chemicals; then 93% of diabetes, 81% of heart attacks, 50% of strokes, and 36% of all cancers could be prevented! This means that each one of us has the power to shift the odds of being healthy in our favor. And if you do get sick, being fit gives you a much better chance for getting well. Your health has a great deal more to do with your lifestyle and a lot less to do with taking prescription drugs than most people realize. Part I. The Medicine of My Life is a personal and passionate introduction to the book Part II. Honoring the Body includes Food, Supplements, Illness, Wholeness Part III. Awakening the Senses includes Nature, Garden, Music Part IV. Listening to Spirit includes Humor, Relationships, Play, Meditation, Animals Epilogue. Contentment




Medicine of the Person


Book Description

Medicine of the Person is an international, multi-faith exploration of the demonstrable need to integrate the scientific basis of healthcare more fully with spiritual, religious and ethical values. Informed by the principle of 'medicine of the person', the contributors argue for a medical practice which takes account of personal relationships, spirituality, ethics and theology in keeping with the ideas and beliefs of Paul Tournier, an influential Swiss general practitioner whose thinking has had a substantial impact on routine patient care relevant to national health services. Bridging the gap between the basic sciences and faith traditions, the contributors discuss notions of personhood in different faiths and its consideration in spirituality and mental health issues, general practice issues, public health, home care for the elderly and neuroscience. This volume offers a broad spectrum of approaches to the needs of patients and is a key text for students of the health disciplines, and practitioners and managers in these fields.