INTHESTACKS Books we think that those aspiring to become doctors might be interested in reading ADVENTURES OF A SURGICAL RESIDENT by Philip B. Dobrin M.D. In his memoir, Dr. Dobrin gives an inside look into the days of his residency training at Loyola University Medical Center. While sharing the struggles and the challenges that came during those times, In addition to what he learned about diagnosing and treating patients, Dr. Dobrin shares accounts of his hands-on surgical experience. He is also quite candid about many of the not-sonice aspects of a doctor in training, including but not limited to being sleep deprived, spending a lot of time completing paperwork, and having a lack of time to enjoy personal interest. This book is great for those looking for another account of what goes on behind the scene during medical training. BRAIN RULES: 12 PRINCIPLES FOR SURVIVING AND THRIVING AT WORK, HOME, AND SCHOOL by John Medina, PhD Molecular biologist Dr. John Medina unveils some of the latest research on cognition to give readers a better understanding of how the brain works. Filled with tons of insight and related stories, Dr. Medina’s book may leave many readers reconsidering the things they do in everyday life like taking an afternoon nap and the affect of a lack of sleep to the effectiveness of multitasking and the power of exercise on your ability to think better. Premed students, future medical students, and residents in training can benefit from many chapters in this book, including but not limited to the following: Exercise, Attention, Short-Term Memory, Long-Term Memory, Sleep, and Stress. LIVING AND DYING IN BRICK CITY: AN E.R. DOCTOR RETURNS HOME by Sampson Davis and Lisa Frazier Page Best known from his book The Pact, Dr. Sampson Davis reintroduces his personal story to tell another story of the healthcare crisis of inner city communities like the one he grew up in. With quite a personal connection to the story he tells, Dr. Davis shares with readers what it is like for him to work as an emergency care physician in the community he once lived. His book brings attention to the health crises in America’s inner cities and is an informative book that is certainly a must-read for anyone interested in practicing medicine - regardless of where the will will eventually practice or what they will be their final specialty choice. THE YEAR THEY TRIED TO KILL ME: SURVIVING A SURGICAL INTERNSHIP...EVEN IF THE PATIENTS DON'T by Salvatore Iaquinta, MD An informative, but humor-filled read, Dr. Salvatore Iaquinta offers many interesting points on what it is like to be a first-year medical resident. In the book Dr. Iaquinta opens up and shares a lot of personal moments and shares with readers a glimpse of his life outside of medicine as well.
May/June 2013 | PreMedLife Magazine | 47