Emily R. Transue

Transue started writing this as a series of emails to friends and family while doing her residency to explain what she was going through and why she occasionally had to go on an emotional walkabout and not be completely present for them. It's not so much about the mechanics of being in residency, although that is certainly a big part, but rather about the patients, their experiences, and her own reactions to them. What I really appreciated about her writing is that she seems completely show more honest about her emotions and reactions, not shying away from revealing feeling stupid or ignorant or overwhelmed or tired. It's a fairly quick read since each story is only a few pages, but it packs quite an emotional punch and I've come away with, if possible, an even higher respect for the difficulties of the medical profession than I had before. show less

This is the doctor we all want to have! What a wonderful look at medicine from an internist's richly compassionate view of her patients, her training, her own hopes and her own life. I feel as though I know Emily (Dr. Transue), from the moment she steps inside the door of the patient room. She describes to us her methods of working with all kinds of people and their problems---her own special techniques---some humor, some directness--just the right touch, medically speaking.

This is kind of a "blog on paper" of the three years that Emily Transue spent as an intern and resident. Turns out she spent those years right here in Seattle and is now an internist here (with an office right across the street from the library where I got the book!) which made the book even more interesting for me. She does a good job of sharing the highs and lows and inbetweens of learning how to doctor. I love ER and this was ER with detail and without commercials.

I gave this book to my daughter, who is just finishing her third year of medicine residency. She felt very validated by it. Transue is a compassionate doctor who gets lectured by senior doctors about her sensitivity; is told she can't cry, etc. My daughter had many of the same experiences. Transue's writing is very descriptive and immediate - you feel as though you're right there in the room with her and her patients.