A Doctor's Journey

A Collection of Memoirs

Non-Fiction - Autobiography
162 Pages
Reviewed on 06/04/2011
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Author Biography

Frederic A Mendelsohn attended undergraduate school on a music scholarship before entering medical school. He now practices neurology in Suffolk County, New York, and is an adjunct clinical Assistant Professor of Neurology at Stonybrook University Medical School. He is also a professional artist. Dr. Mendelsohn is married and has three sons and three grandchildren.

    Book Review

Reviewed by Karen Pirnot for Readers' Favorite

A Doctor's Journey by Fredric Mendelsohn, M.D. is a delightful read for those who crave to view medicine as a humanistic profession. Dr. Mendelsohn takes us through a brief autobiographical journey in which his musical background will eventually play a large role in the type and administration of his medical practice. He gives the reader glimpses of miraculous cures, conversion disorders, real-life medical drama and insight into the correlation of music and imagination to the practice of medicine.

The author makes a welcome and clear distinction between the physician's ability to hear his patients and to truly understand those same patients. He makes a wonderful argument for the neuroplasticy of people who adapt to situations and use their imaginations to intervene in cases which may seem hopeless.

This book has stories that appeal to most readers. There is a boy injured in a boating accident who is faced with forgiveness of a friend. There is a 10-year-old child faced with a terminal brain tumor who later has a miraculous recovery. There are stories of infidelity and indifference by medical community staff members. And then, there is an epileptic patient who defies all odds because of the belief and support of family and friends.

Being a health care professional myself, this was a refreshing and much-needed book for laypersons who feel their five minute allotted time with the primary care physician is barely enough for a respectful "hello."