Winter Break Book List

As Winter Break draws closer fantasies about sleeping in and watching Christmas specials with the family you've become estranged from over the past 4 months become a consistent day-dream. We are less than 2 weeks away!! stick in there so you do well in your classes. I look forward to the break as its a time to put down that cursed Biochem book and take on some recreational reading, but may I suggest choosing a book that exposes you to an area of medicine you find of particular interest. I have found that as I read certain books my goal of becoming a physician gains greater resolve and that I become more of an insider. The fact is so much of the practice of medicine is a mystery to the pre-medical student, even if they have family members who are currently practicing medicine. Exposure removes much of the mystery but as a pre-med you are likely very limited in the types of exposure you can gain through first hand experience that is why I suggest picking up a good book. It has been said "wise people learn from their own experience, but super-wise people learn from the experiences of others".This is a brief history of open heart surgery and the personal story of a few of its pioneers. If you interested in cardiology this book is a must.

Mountains beyond mountains is the story of Dr. Paul Farmer who grows up in what many of of us would consider poverty to become a Harvard Medical School graduate who's compassion for the poor and passion to wipe TB off the face of the earth cause Dr. Farmer to start a non-profit medical organization 'Partners in Health' . If you are interested in public health, medical anthropology, or in serving medical missions as part of your practice, you will love this book. When I returned home from my mission and attended the 'mini-medschool' lecture series at University of Washington two of the presenters referred to this book which I later found out was required reading for all incoming freshman the year before.

Dr. Groopman shares his experiences as he is transformed from a medical student to a resident to a physician and ultimately to a medical educator teaching at some most prestigious teaching hospitals and schools in the country. Dr. Groopman provides insight into what goes into the decision process of correctly diagnosing and treating diseases. Groopman confronts many erroneous paradigms concerning modern medicine and offers ways to overcome these barriers when possible. Among other things Groopman discusses how the way information is presented and the order in which information is given leads to whether or not the majority of physicians will arrive at the correct diagnosis and ultimately administer the proper medical treatment. He also discusses how many errors in judgement occur from a lack in communication skills. He discusses practical matters such as the amount of time a doctor listens to the patient before interrupting correlates to successful diagnosis or the amount of distractions from unnecessary details and data cause in delay of proper diagnosis.
If you are interested in medical education, any medical practice, or even just as a patient want to know how to receive quality medical care you should read this book.


If you are considering practicing military medicine or just want the nice scholarship with stipend and signing bonus this book is for you. Dr. Jadick is a DO with a military background before entering the Navy as a physician. This story goes into great detail about what is now the cutting edge in battlefield medicine. Dr. Jadick was instrumental in implementing forward (front lines) mini portable trauma centers which allowed soldiers to receive medical treatment up to an hour faster than medivacs out of the battle. Jadick did this in one of the deadliest battles in the Iraq war, 'Fallujah'.

Atul Gawande's two books are fairly similar as they pertain to sharing with the reader his personal insight as a general surgeon at one of the prestigious hospitals in the world as to the current state of medicine. He explains everything from how Doctors have a history with spreading disease and how something as simple as washing their hands religiously could solve this problem, to the circus that is medical malpractice, to how a medical conference is like Disneyland for Physicians, to the decision making process of physicians, to nasty diseases, and cutting edge surgical procedures. These books are two of my favorite books of all time and if I had a medical school would be required reading before entering.Another Great book that delves into many different areas of medicine. Dr. Sanders is a great writer who was a non-traditional applicant, she was a journalist who decided later in life to apply to medical school. She attended Yale and hasn't really left because she is part of the Yale faculty now, as well as provides material to the TV show HOUSE. She is a renowned internist who shares some insight into the world of modern medicine.