House of Hippocrates

House of Hippocrates is the intellectual and emotional journey of a naive twenty year old, "force fed" a lifetime of human experience compressed into four years of medical school. The first two years involve the basic sciences and anatomy, which is the real test of intellect and mental stamina. The incredible stress of the process is impressed upon the reader. The students' methods of coping, with their limited experience as young, immature adults, are a source of outrageous humor.

The third and fourth years are the clinical years during which patient contact and increasing levels of responsibility occur. The harsh, devastating realities of death and human suffering are contrasted with the wonderful experiences of birth and healing in a vivid and moving style. The various specialty areas are explored in detail giving the reader an understanding of each and feeling of involvement as the narrator voices his reasons for sonsidering and ruling out each as a lifetime pursuit.

Through this quasi-autobiographical memoir, the reader experiences many of the adventures of a medical education.

House of Hippocrates does not spare the human flaws of physicians, but does not detract from or demean the honorable profession of healing.