2 comments about Sacred Space : Stories from a Life in Medicine.

1. I love the book! This book depicts the human aspect of the medical profession as it should be, before patients became numbers and before doctors became enslaved to the insurance companies/HMO's.



2. Clif Cleaveland, M.D., MACP and former president of the ACP, has described over 30 events in his medical career, mostly dealing with patient care. There is, as well, a brief autobiographical account of his early life, education, and the medical training that molded him into one of the outstanding practicing physicians in the country. Even after many years of caring for patients and handling administrative duties, it is apparent that he uses concern and empathy with each patient encounter. There are not many such unjaded physicians left because of the extraneous factors that invariably interfere with patient care. Dr. Cleaveland demonstrates the value of patience in unraveling complex and refractory clinical problems, for in many instances, compassion and understanding overcame barriers that had developed between the physician and the patient. Young doctors reading this book will be stimulated to learn more about their patients' backgrounds and to listen.

   This book would be an inspirational gift to anyone in the arena of medical care, whether nurse, patient, student, or physician. One reader's response to the book was as follows: "I feel lucky to know him (Dr. Cleaveland) as a friend; I wish that he were my doctor." Highly recommended.

No comments about Borrowed Time: A Surgeons Struggle With Transfusion Induced AIDS.

No comments about Lauren's Story An Inspirational Cancer Journey.

5 comments about Cry Bloody Murder:: A Tale of Tainted Blood.

1. The only book on the subject availible, and long overdue. Elaine DePrince writes from the heart, with a sharp eye for contradictions. Though it is a personal story of pain and loss, anyone who reads it can not come away without a sense of outrage. It is a story that should have been writen ten years ago about a forgotten group forced into the battle against HIV?AIDS unarmed and unprepared, but continues to fight back to the last man and woman if necessary. Every health care worker, doctor, and politician should read this, and if it doesn't scare them silly, they are not paying attention.



2. This book serves well as both the intimate story of a family whose lives have been profoundly altered by AIDS, and an expose of the events that allowed this deadly disease to invade them.

   While the average American probably believes, as I did until recently, that the infection of thousands of hemophiliacs with the AIDS virus was an unavoidable tragedy, DePrince uncovers the awful truth that for many, if not most, hemophiliacs, infection with AIDS and the deadly hepatitis C virus was not only avoidable, but that the government and hemophilia profiteers (like Bayer "The Aspirin People") chose not to act to produce a safer product in favor of bigger profits.

   DePrince also reminds us that the tragedy experienced by the hemophilia community isn't an isolated incident. Many millions of Americans are exposed to blood products each year, sometimes unknowingly, which means anyone at anytime could find themselves facing infection with HIV, HCV, or perhaps some unknown virus making its way into the blood supply today. Blood safety is an important issue to everyone - not just those who rely on blood products regularly. DePrince also advocates for the passage of the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund Act which provides compassionate payments to victims of this disaster along with important improvements to blood safety.

   Read this book as if your life depended on it.




3. The only book on the subject availible, and long overdue. Elaine DePrince writes from the heart, with a sharp eye for contradictions. Though it is a personal story of pain and loss, anyone who reads it can not come away without a sense of outrage. It is a story that should have been writen ten years ago about a forgotten group forced into the battle against HIV?AIDS unarmed and unprepared, but continues to fight back to the last man and woman if necessary. Every health care worker, doctor, and politician should read this, and if it doesn't scare them silly, they are not paying attention



4. The only book on the subject availible, and long overdue. Elaine DePrince writes from the heart, with a sharp eye for contradictions. Though it is a personal story of pain and loss, anyone who reads it can not come away without a sense of outrage. It is a story that should have been writen ten years ago about a forgotten group forced into the battle against HIV?AIDS unarmed and unprepared, but continues to fight back to the last man and woman if necessary. Every health care worker, doctor, and politician should read this, and if it doesn't scare them silly, they are not paying attention



5. The only book on the subject availible, and long overdue. Elaine DePrince writes from the heart, with a sharp eye for contradictions. Though it is a personal story of pain and loss, anyone who reads it can not come away without a sense of outrage. It is a story that should have been writen ten years ago about a forgotten group forced into the battle against HIV?AIDS unarmed and unprepared, but continues to fight back to the last man and woman if necessary. Every health care worker, doctor, and politician should read this, and if it doesn't scare them silly, they are not paying attention

No comments about Ships of Mercy: The Remarkable Fleet Bringing Hope to the World's Forgotten Poor.

2 comments about Transplanting a Face: Notes on a Life in Medicine.

1. I could not put this book down and I am not in the medical field. Maria really brings the reader into her personal journey as a premiere doctor, scientist, wife, mother, daughter from Poland, now living in the U.S. For a lay person, her descriptions of microsurgery I found fascinating. As the frontier of medicine shifts to regenerative medicine using stem cells, I now have a better understanding of the potential to help so many people as well as the ethical questions posed. It was inspiring to hear this story of diligence and noble efforts. The style in which it was written, really speaks from the heart and that is what I appreciated most. Cheers to Dr. Siemionow for sharing her story and educating us along the way! I highly recommend this book!



2. This book was truly a joy to read. I could not put it down! Dr. Siemionow interweaves her life story as a surgeon and scientist with the developments of Plastic Surgery and Transplant Medicine. She gets your hooked with her story of reattaching the hand of a young wood-chopper and then travels through many years of research and discovery to her current work in face transplantation. It is a breath of fresh air showing the struggles and successes of reconstructive plastic surgeons, in stark contrast to the drama of cosmetic surgery that dominates news-media today. A must-read for any woman planning a career in medicine or science and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning more about medical science and practice!

3 comments about Daktari: A Surgeon's Adventures With the Flying Doctors of East Africa.

1. Daktari is a tribute to dedicated people who make their dreams come true through hard work, a passion for helping mankind and focusing on their goals. Tom Rees, a master plastic surgeon, could have lived in the lap of luxury every day of the year but chose to help others in the developing world of Africa. His experiences in forming the Flying Doctors of East Africa, an organization that grew from three founding doctors to a full time staff of over 500 people, is fascinating. Not only did he have adventures as a doctor, but as a pilot. Intrigue, perseverance and skill helped him help Africans better their lives through surgery. He found himself in political situations and in abysmal medical equipment facilities, yet he did what he had to do to get the job done.

   I have known Tom Rees, as the chairman of plastic surgery, at Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital. He is a gentleman and always functioned with courtesy and kindness. I never knew he had such moxie till I read the book. His persistence in helping deformed Africans lead a better life is admirable. His style of writing is literarily pleasing and often poetic. "Several dry excavations pockmarked the river floor, mute testimony to the futility of their efforts to find water." Descriptions of the scenery and the people, as he journeyed toward his destinations, made me feel like I was on a safari in Africa. Details of the political and moral customs and policies gave me food for thought.

   I enjoyed reading the adventures of Tom Rees, learning about Africa and its people, listening to the sincere, compassionate ideas he shares with us and closing a book with a feeling of thought, knowledge, hope and the satisfaction of a good read. Good job, Tom




2. This is a beautifully written account of a lifetime of experiences and lessons by a gifted man whose generosity and kindness shines through with good natured humor and sophistication.



3. Dr. Rees has not only lived the kind of life that all of us wish that we could have lived, he has also shown his gratitude for all his good luck by giving back to the world in great measure.
   The book was really interesting and inspiring.

3 comments about A Measure of My Days: The Journal of a Country Doctor.

1. I had some spare time and was browsing through Amazon when I ran across this book. I have owned the hardcopy book for several years, I had purchased it after reading an article in "Life" magazine about Dr. Loxtercamp in which this book had been noted. I found the book most interesting and found myself walking through the area of Maine he practices as he went about journalling his days and his times & thoughts of his personal family time.

   I found the man and his story most inspiring. Alot of people in today's medicine either are in the field for the money or find themselves disallusioned with the field because of all the insurance buracracy. I find those people who are in their field because that is where they truly want to be and for the want of helping others to be a rare find.

   I could also follow along Dr. Loxtercamp's views and journeys of a small town doctor from working in the medical area. He tells his story compassionately and the reader can feel his humanity for others.

   Over the past couple of years, I had looked forward for another publication and writing for Dr. Loxtercamp but sadly never ran across progression of this book. I found myself wanting to know more about how his journey has progressed along in the small town medical practice.

   A highly suggested read.




2. I enjoyed this book a good deal, particularly Loxterkamp's attention to God and faith and the notion of ministering. I admire Loxterkamp's bravery for so much soul-searching over a year of his practice. This is a book to savor for those interested in rural medicine or family medicine. I give it 4 stars instead of 5 because I found his writing a bit labored. It's slow-going reading. It's also very much about him, him, him. A good contrast is to read Verghese's In My Own Country. Loxterkamp lacks Verghese's fluid style and attention to others. Despite his efforts to humanize, Loxterkamp presents fairly 2-dimensional portraits of his patients. This book is really more of an interior meditation, albeit a very good one.



3. This is the first book in a long time that I read with care. Usually I skim through pretty rapidly. I liked his candor and insight into his patients' lives. It was interesting how he managed to intertwine his professional life with his family. I enjoyed his constant concern about the effect of religion on his life and others. His questions about death and dying were good. It has to be of concern for all of us eventually. I recommended this book to our local librarian!

No comments about Andrew Taylor Still, 1828-1917.

2 comments about Med School.

1. I love this little book. Of course the fact that I was in med school in Birmingham, AL about the same time author Meador was in med school in Nashville, TN, probably has a lot to do with that. Although some of the content is historical, and some frankly hysterically funny, this is how the American doctors of the past 50 years were trained. It behooves patients to try to understand this as they work on their own patient-physician relationships. Yes, medicine has changed a lot, but Meador's tales suggest that med school, in essence, may not have changed much. We have published an excerpt chapter of Med School at www.medscape.com/viewarticle/473668, if the Amazon reader wants to taste before buying.



2. In reading this enthralling book, one is taken step by step through the education and life of a medical student and young doctor. You will laugh and you will cry. This is an exciting and entertaining memoir. It is filled with true stories, vignettes and experiences that will make you understand how doctors are created and why they are like they are. He pays tribute to his patients, as well as, his professors as eminent teachers. Dr. Meador's compassion and extraordinary sense of humor combine to give him an inimitable voice...one that leads you rapidly through the book... When you finish you wish it had not ended so soon.....