The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy：and Other Stories

WhiteCoatisDr.EllenLernerRothman'svividaccountofherfouryearsatHarvardMedicalSchool.DescribingthegruelinghoursandemotionalhurdlessheunderwenttoearnthedegreeofM.D.,Dr.Rothmantellsthestoryofonewoman'stransformationfromaterrifiedfirst-yearmedicalstudenintoaconfident,competentdoctor.Touchingonthemostrelevantissuesinmedicinetoday—suchasHMOs,aIDS,andassistedsuicide—Dr.Rothmanrecountsherdespairandexhilarationasamedicalstudent,fromthestressofexamstothhard-wonrewardsthatcamefromtreatingpatients.TheanecdotesinWhiteCoatarefunny,heartbreaking,andattimeshorrifying.EachchaptertaesusdeeperintoDr.Rothman'smedicalschoolexperience,illuminatingherstruggletowalkthelinebetweentoomuchandnotenoughintimacywithherpatients.ForreadersofPerriKlassandRichardSelzer,Dr.Rothmanlookscandidlyatmedicineandpresentsanunvarnishedperspectiveonasubjectthatmatterstousall.WhiteCoatopenstheinfamouslycloseddoorbetweenpatientanddoctorinabookthatwillchangethewaywelookatourmedicalestablishment.InWhiteCoat,EllenRothmanoffersavividaccountofherfouryearsatoneofthebestmedicalschoolsinthecountry,andopenstheinfamouslycloseddoorbetweenpatientanddoctor.Touchingontoday'smostimportantmedicalissues—suchasHMOs,AIDS,andassistedsuicide—theauthornavigatesherwaythroughdespair,exhilaration,andalotofexhaustioninHarvard'sclassroomsandBoston'shospitalstoearntheindisputabletitletowhichweentrustourlives.Withathoughtful,candidvoice,Rothmanwritesaboutawiderangeofexperiences—fromadreamaboutholdingthehandofacadavershehaddissectedtotheacuteembarrassmentshefeltwhenaskingpatientsabouttheirsexualhistories.Shesharesherhorrorattreatingapatientwithaflesh-eatingskininfection,theanxietyofbeing"pimped"bydoctorsforinformation(whendoctorsquizstudentsonanatomyandmedicine),aswellastheultimaterewardofmakingthetransformationandofearningadoctor'swhitecoat.ForreadersofPerriKlass,RichardSelzer,andthemillionsoffansofER,WhiteCoatisafascinatingaccountofonewoman'sjourneythroughschoolandintothehigh-stakesdramaofthemedicalworld.InWhiteCoat,EllenRothmanoffersavividaccountofherfouryearsatoneofthebestmedicalschoolsinthecountry,andopenstheinfamouslycloseddoorbetweenpatientanddoctor.Touchingontoday'smostimportantmedicalissues—suchasHMOs,AIDS,andassistedsuicide—theauthornavigatesherwaythroughdespair,exhilaration,andalotofexhaustioninHarvard'sclassroomsandBoston'shospitalstoearntheindisputabletitletowhichweentrustourlives.Withathoughtful,candidvoice,Rothmanwritesaboutawiderangeofexperiences—fromadreamaboutholdingthehandofacadavershehaddissectedtotheacuteembarrassmentshefeltwhenaskingpatientsabouttheirsexualhistories.Shesharesherhorrorattreatingapatientwithaflesh-eatingskininfection,theanxietyofbeing"pimped"bydoctorsforinformation(whendoctorsquizstudentsonanatomyandmedicine),aswellastheultimaterewardofmakingthetransformationandofearningadoctor'swhitecoat.ForreadersofPerriKlass,RichardSelzer,andthemillionsoffansofER,WhiteCoatisafascinatingaccountofonewoman'sjourneythroughschoolandintothehigh-stakesdramaofthemedicalworld.