Medicine is a jealous mistress. To practice successfully a life commitment is necessary, but not to the extent of becoming stale and boring. This book describes the author’s roller coaster approach to avoid this which resulted in a fulfilling but contentious career.

From 1987 to 1990, author Dr. Richard Moss traveled extensively through Asia while working as a cancer surgeon in four different countries including Thailand, Nepal, India, and Bangladesh. His work was voluntary, however the “payoff” was in the rich, fascinating, and, often bizarre experiences he had both as a surgeon and wanderer. Based on this three-year excursion, A Surgeon’s Odyssey delves into the true-to-life adventures, struggles, and quandaries of a young surgeon from humble beginnings who found himself in a strange and tragic but beautiful world, striving to save those suffering from horrifying disease under hellish circumstances. In this memoir, Moss shares his story that includes insights into life, other cultures and religions, and the tragedy of intolerable disease amidst destitution and scarcity. A Surgeon’s Odyssey tells of a young man’s decision to forgo comfort and financial security for the adventure of a lifetime, pitting himself against the specter of overwhelming suffering and illness. It narrates the unique journey of a cancer surgeon who, against conventional wisdom, embarked on a pilgrimage of healing and experienced surgical triumphs and setbacks amidst some of the most beguiling and fascinating cultures in the world. "A Surgeon's Odyssey" by Richard Moss MD wins the Independent Press Award for 2019 for best book in the category of Travel.

The relationship between animals and humans is more complex today than ever before. In addition to the animals that have served as household pets, and the farm animals that have provided labor and food, countless monkeys, rabbits, rats, and cats have enabled modern scientists to treat and cure humanity's most devastating illnesses. This aspect of animal-human interaction has engendered a bitter enmity between animal rights activists and the biomedical researchers whose work depends on the use (and oftentimes the killing) of laboratory animals. In An Odyssey with Animals, veterinarian and sleep researcher Adrian Morrison argues that humane animal use in biomedical research is an indispensable tool of medical science, and that efforts to halt such use constitute a grave threat to human health and wellbeing. The target of repeated acts of intimidation by anonymous animal rights activists because of his own research, Morrison is himself an animal advocate, and this volume is the culmination of his years spent negotiating the treacherous divide between a legitimate concern for animals and the importance of biomedical research. Drawing on the disciplines of philosophy, history, biology, and animal behavior, Morrison crafts a multi-faceted argument in favor of using animals humanely in research, the center of which is his staunch belief that human interests must be the primary concern of science and society. Along the way, Morrison delves into other human uses of animals in domains such as agriculture, hunting, and education, examining each use along with its philosophical, moral, and ecological implications. The result is a thought-provoking, intelligent and fair-minded discussion of a charged subject-- of the past and present of animals' relationships with humans, and how and why we should be able to use them as we do.

"Threads of Destiny: A Surgeon's Odyssey" by Charles Marks describes the developments in cardiovascular and transplantation surgery within the parameters of his own surgical career. The author reviews his migration from Ukraine and Lithuania to Cape Town, South Africa where he completed his medical studies. Many years of unique surgical training and practice take him on a prolonged journey that encompasses challenges and opportunities in Southern Africa, England, United States and Israel. Written from an insider's vantage point, "Threads of Destiny" provides a thoughtful account of medical education and describes interesting clinical challenges that ring with verisimilitude and drama. Throughout his sojourn Dr. Marks is fortified by the love and support of a happy home life provided by his wife, Joyce, as they raise their four sons and observe the growth and development of their American-born grandchildren.

Can we quickly alter our health care system so that we can discover new medical breakthrough therapies and make them rapidly available to patients? The answer to this critical question is a resounding Yes! Dr. Stephen L. DeFelice has put forthhis creative solution to this critical problem through conferences, talks, articles, books and the efforts of his Foundation for Innovation in Medicine, FIM.His solution has yet to catch on so its tremendous promise remains to be fulfilled. But things may be about to change dramatically. Dr. DeFelices answer seems simple at firstperhaps too simple. Its called Doctornauts, the term he coined to describe physicians who can more easily volunteer for clinical studies than the rest of us. These physician-volunteers can be the subjects in clinical trials that the general public cannot participate in because of legal and ethical concerns. Doctornauts has the potential to help patients all over America--immediately and immensely. This book tells the story of Dr. DeFelice and of his life-long passion, not only to prevent and treat illness, but also, to conquer disease through his innovative approach to increasing medical discovery and improving medical treatment. Perhaps the single most important aspect of the Doctornaut concept becomes evident when it is understood who it will most helpyou!

The stories of divine intervention in people's everyday lives continued to occupy Peter Shockey's thoughts, even after his documentaries on the subject for The Learning Channel had been completed and garnered numerous awards. In Reflections of Heaven, Shockey shares the most compelling accounts he has heard over the past decade, and also offers profound insight into what the increasing presence of the divine in daily life can mean in the new millennium. Beginning with his own personal story, Shockey goes on to introduce others who relate their miraculous experiences, ranging from visions of heaven to the presence of angels. He then puts these encounters in an enlightening context as he explores discernible patterns of divine intervention in history, as well as in the Bible. In doing so, he takes readers on an unforgettable spiritual odyssey that will change the way they look at the here-and-now--and the hereafter.

Medicine is a jealous mistress. To practice successfully a life commitment is necessary, but not to the extent of becoming stale and boring. This book describes the author's roller coaster approach to avoid this which resulted in a fulfilling but contentious career.

Dr Alexander J. Walt (1923-1996) expanded the breadth of surgical education, believing that a cultured surgeon is a better surgeon. He instructed his residents on the importance of being well-rounded individuals. This is a collection of his selected papers.