Zalina Ardasenov, MD, PhD, FACP
Internal Medicine, General, Geriatric & Hospital Medicine
Clinical Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"A Young Doctor's Notebook is a collection of short stories by the Russian writer Mikhail Bulgakov. The stories were inspired by Bulgakov's experiences as a newly graduated young doctor practicing in a small rural hospital in 1916-1917, unaffected by such novelties as the motor car, the telephone or even electric light. How his alter-ego copes (or fails to cope) with the new and often appalling responsibilities of a lone doctor in a vast country practice on the eve of Russian Revolution."

Stepheny Berry, MD, FACS
Surgery
Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"This book frames how important our words are as we relate to our patients, their families and each other. We all have opportunity to improve our communication. I read this book annually to remind myself to practice with empathy and to avoid becoming jaded which is not uncommon in our field."

Jeffrey L. Bose, PhD
Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology
Associate Professor with Tenure

Why I selected this book:
"Endurance is a historical account of the Shackleton voyage to Antarctica. It is the most amazing story of adventure, trials, survival, and perseverance that I have ever read. It puts a lot of things into perspective."

Kyle Brownback, MD
Internal Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care Medicine and Sleep Medicine
Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
“After many years of formal education, this work by a fellow physician exposed me to the many different avenues by which we can advance our own knowledge, and the consequences of our educational backgrounds on our view of the world.“

Erin Corriveau, MD, MPH
Family Medicine and Community Health
Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"I chose a small collection of poems by Mary Oliver because her writings have deepened both my personal and professional reflections. We are trained to be astute observers of patient’s behaviors and conditions in medicine, but early in my career I began to understand observation and attention as just a first step – a report – if you will. Through reading Oliver’s work, I realized that attention needs also openness, willingness and understanding to really matter. I have grown to enjoy a level of feeling and even of vulnerability in my role as a physician. Too, I have grown to recognize great similarity between my own longings and those of my patients, which has often felt more human to me, and I hope to those I serve. “…. Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, The world offers itself to your imagination, Calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting – Over and over announcing your place In the family of things.”“

Jonathan Dangers, MD, MPH
Emergency Medicine
Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
“The author speaks about finding meaning and self-compassion in a world that can often be unwelcoming or even overtly hostile. The author is a Catholic priest who taught at Notre Dame, Harvard, and Yale before leaving academics to care for adults with special needs.“

Michelle DeSouza, MD, FACS
Plastic, Burn and Wound Surgery
Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
“I read this as a general surgery resident. It was a reminder that we are all striving to do our best and yet complications do occur. It gave me reassurance that there are common struggles for us all.“

Raghuveer Dendi, MD
Cardiovascular Medicine
Professor

Why I selected this book:
“A formula for reducing stress and ensuring success. When the Gītā was first translated in English it was called 'The Song Celestial.' Logically, if Divinity is everywhere, the resultant song (gīta) can only be divine. This book provided me with roadmap to solve any life's problems. It was said to be written 5000 years ago but still relevant.“

Emily Diederich, MD
Department of Internal Medicine
Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine

Why I selected this book:
"I've had the honor of helping launch the Zamierowski Institute for Experiential Learning. The opportunity to serve so many groups across campus led our team to appreciate the importance of having a clear organizational focus, which we found through the Hedgehog Concept and other principles in this book."

Leigh M. Eck, MD
Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Metabolism & Genetics
Professor

Why I selected this book:
“The stress and strain of 2020 has highlighted the need for each of us to engage in personal inquiry in order to move forward with collective change. This book is a starting point for me as I move forward with this work as an individual and a leadership team.“

Jennifer Fink, MD
Internal Medicine, General, Geriatric & Hospital Medicine
Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
“This book and it's principles made the financial aspect of being a physician much easier to digest and apply!“

Deetra Yelena Ford, MD
Neurology
Clinical Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"I was introduced to this book as a Junior in High School. I was drawn to this book, as it truly embodies the emotional turmoil that follows the death of a loved one. I believe having the understanding of the stages of grief apply to much more than just death, as we grieve so many things in life: unmet expectations, unfulfilled dreams, illness, etc. This book provides a tool for insight into our feelings and how we can help others navigate them as well. I have felt well served as a physician many times by the lessons I learned from this book."

Garth Fraga, MD, MSCR
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Professor

Why I selected this book:
"The authors summarize the fundamental problem of our health care system as "unexplained clinical variation." Different doctors treat the same problem differently with little scientific backing and minimal feedback. The authors skewer common medical myths such as scientific certainty in medicine, more health care is better health care, and that our payment system works. A must-read for healthcare workers and a clarion call for quality improvement."

Valerie French, MD, MAS
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"This compilation of stories from people from all walks of life highlights why is it such privilege to participate in patient's reproductive experiences. Whether, when and how patients seek pregnancy is intimate part of a person's life experience. These 17 true stories reflect the dynamic journeys that my patients navigate. I truly love the relationships we build with patients and feel honored to be a part of this part of their lives."

Elizabeth Friedman, MD
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Clinical Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"Nelson Mandela's walk to freedom was indeed very long. He never faltered during his epic journey and always showed dignity and grace, despite the cruelties, unfairness, hardships, humiliation and sacrifice he had to endure to achieve his goal. This book, his autobiography, is particularly meaningful to me as I grew up in apartheid South Africa as a privileged white person who was kept in the dark regarding the truth about this wonderful brave hero, by the oppressive government who managed to keep the majority of the population totally suppressed and without any political rights for so long. Before his release from prison, I had never seen a photograph of him and all news of him had been banned or distorted. I was able to discover the details of the arduous freedom struggle from this book, and I am filled with admiration for all the brave men and women who were involved. My respect and admiration for "Madiba" is deepened by his lack of revenge and need for retribution toward his oppressors, as his goal was to achieve freedom and equality for his people and all the people of South Africa, and for all of them to live in harmony with each other."

Charles Gibbs, MD, MFA
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Clinical Associate Professor

Why I selected this books:
"The year I graduated from medical school (1998), I had a major existential crisis regarding purpose, meaning, and existence. The reasoned, logical, and practical arguments in this book gave me hope, and that turned out to be what I was most in need of... I've turned to this author often in times of crisis and he always brings me comfort."

Abdul Ahad Haleem, MD
Orthopedic Surgery and Sports Medicine
Clinical Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"It tells a story of racial injustice and how there is even present coexistence of good and evil. Sometimes justice simply isn't achieved and sometimes evil wins over despite one's strong efforts. The book also shows disparities in social class and brings up themes of social prejudice."

Jessica Hamilton, PhD
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"His book reminded me that while I want to continue to work towards my dreams there are many things to take in along the way in my professional and personal life."

Reza Hejazi, MD
Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Motility
Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"A philosophical novel by French writer Jean-Paul Sartre, about humanism, own existence and value of life. A story of an ordinary individual in adventure what has existed, and never an existing one can justify the existence of another Existing."

Chao Huang, MD
Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology
Professor

Why I selected this book:
"It gave the perspective from the patient standpoint about lung cancer."

Jennifer Klemp, PhD, MPH
Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology
Professor, previously tenured

Why I selected this book:
"This book, Being Mortal, highlights the triumphs of medicine, but also ongoing challenges and the human experience of working in medicine and the fact that we are all "time limited". This is an eloquent delivery of the realities of aging, death and medicine. As I have committed myself to addressing cancer risk and disparities in access to care."

Matthew Lineberry, PhD
Population Health
Associate Professor with Tenure

Why I selected this book:
"Rilke's letters are full of transformational wisdom, and in my academic calling, I return especially often to one of his most famous admonitions: 'Be patient to all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign language. Do not seek the answers, which cannot be given to you because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps you will then gradually, without noticing it, live along some distant day into the answer.'"

Mei Liu, PhD
Internal Medicine, Medical Informatics
Associate Professor with Tenure

Why I selected this book:
"We are living in an increasingly stressful society, thriving on performance, competition and perfection. Pursuit of work and life balance can itself be exhausting. This book describes skillful ways to handle stress and anger, find livelihood, and cultivate loving and friendly relationships with others. It is suitable for everyone of any age, gender, race, religion, economic-class, and nationality at any time. Happiness does not come from our external circumstances, possession of wealth, or pursuing of power. It is important for us to start from the abandonment of any prejudice and knowing our inner self through introspection so that we can live a self-disciplined and increasingly happy life. May everyone be happy, peaceful, and liberated!"

Teresa D. Long, PhD
Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Professor

Why I selected this book:
"This book exemplifies the importance of caring for each patient comprehensively, with attention to medical issues while managing the associated (or co-morbid) psychiatric symptoms. The issues addressed herein are the core of my medical practice."

Mary Markiewicz, PhD
Microbiology, Molecular Genetics and Immunology
Associate Professor with Tenure

Why I selected this book:
"Henrietta Lacks' story is one of many that needs to be told to keep such injustices from occurring in the future in the name of scientific discovery. In addition, Skloot's book gave me a new perspective on how our work as scientists can affect the individuals whose tissue we use to make our discoveries."

David Naylor, MD, FACP
Internal Medicine, General, Geriatric, & Hospital Medicine
Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"I read this to try to get better at climbing rocks. Which is a silly and selfish pastime, but also really hard. I find myself applying the same concepts in this book to other hard things in my life. Be open, be curious, be observant, and pay attention."

Mamatha Pasnoor, MD
Neurology
Professor

Why I selected this book:
"The anatomy of human body is very intriguing and complicated. The expanding medical knowledge has lead to increasing size of this book over the years. The diagrams of the anatomy of various parts of the human body are amazing and kept me thinking about how complicated human life is and getting to know it became a challenge over the years. Localization of the disease process is the most challenging part in diagnosing a condition and this is only possible with a good knowledge of the anatomy. This has been my companion over the many years of medical school, residency, fellowship and continues to be with me through my career as a neurologist and neuromuscular specialist. Even today, reading and looking at the book and its various illustrations makes me wonder how challenging it must have been to draw and understand the details of human anatomy many years ago and was made possible through dissections."

Francesca Perez Marques, MD, FAAP
Pediatrics
Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"One of my favorite books is 1984 by George Orwell. I love how it reminds us of essential values like freedom and individualism that we often take for granted. It’s also fascinating that a book written in 1949 is still so relevant today and it will always be in the future."

Milind A. Phadnis, PhD
Biostatistics & Data Science
Associate Professor with Tenure

Why I selected this book:
"This book has been a source of inspiration for me since my childhood. It is a documented biography about the genius of one of the best mathematicians that mankind has witnessed. The thing I like most about the book is that it reminds me of the thin line between receiving recognition, and, on the other hand living a life of obscurity. The main protagonist is a genius, but with the slightest amount of less luck, the slightest amount of less perseverance, or the slightest amount of less helpful people in his life, would have been consigned to anonymity. It therefore reminds me to be thankful to all those who played a positive influence in my life as without them, I would not have achieved whatever little success I have achieved. Without my parents who made sacrifices to educate me and without the excellent mentoring I have received from my teachers at different stages of my life, I would not have reached here. More importantly, reading this book has taught me to share my success with others and to always be a student for life. I strongly recommend reading this book or watching the movie by the same name!"

Deepika Polineni, MD, PhD
Internal Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical Care Medicine and Sleep Medicine
Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"The CFTR gene was identified as the underlying pathogenic defect in cystic fibrosis (CF) in 1989. Ten years later, this book was published by two mentors and founding physician scientists in CF. This book contains early and yet prevailing insights into CF pathophysiology, and began forecasting the future of CF as we know it today: an adult disease."

Benjamin Powers, MD
Internal Medicine, Medical Oncology
Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"Dr Mukherjee does an unbelievable job with this "biography" of the disease I try to fight every day, and why/how cancer is so amazing (both good and bad). It is a look into what makes cancer a part of all of our lives."

Megha Ramaswamy, PhD, MPH
Population Health
Professor, previously tenured

Why I selected this book:
"I read Harmful to Minors almost 20 years ago, but back then it articulated all of my beliefs about teen sexuality: acknowledging that young people are sexual beings, often capable of making decisions about their own sexuality. I went on to have a career in designing, implementing, and evaluating sexual health interventions www.kumc.edu/she."

Mohammad Rumi, MBBS, MS, PHD
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Associate Professor with Tenure

Why I selected this book:
"I was in 4th grade (1972) when I read Maxim Gorky's My Childhood. I lived in Brussels 1991-1993 for my masters study program. My mother died of cancer and my father got married again. I didn't have a good time in Belgium, and after 20yrs, I understood Gorky's sufferings, and read the book again."

Anurag Singh, MD
Internal Medicine, Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics
Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"The Story of My Experiments with Truth by M K Gandhi is a story of one man's search for ideals which will help him transform himself (and the world). Gandhi was far from being perfect, but he never stopped questioning himself and what was considered acceptable. Even if you do not believe in any kind of 'ism', this book helps with so many existential questions."

Timothy Ryan Smith, MD
Pediatrics
Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"This book profiles the search for self for an immigrant physician practicing in rural Tennessee at onset of the AIDS epidemic. Personally, the work highlighted how our patients influence our identity as providers. We shape and are shaped."

Jason Sokol, MD
Ophthalmology
Professor

Why I selected this book:
"Reminds physicians to do no harm. Tragedy that happened at an Academic Center that resulted in terrible outcomes for patients."

Lori Spoozak, MD, MHS, FACOG, FACS
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"This books reveals the story of Dinah, a named, but not fully formed figure in the story of the Bible. Dinah gives voice to the experience of all women in being responsible for knowledge sharing, healing, caregiving, and keeping the legacy of other women alive. She is a midwife who summons the courage to support other women to bring life into the world and elegantly support life’s departure. She is a metaphor for the multifactorial life giving power of women. I read this book while driving across country to begin work as a medical assistant at Planned Parenthood after completing a Public Policy fellowship with ACOG in my last year of college. It helped confirm my decision to apply to medical school and pursue a career that would allow me to use my privilege as a physician to advocate for and provide direct care to women throughout their lives."

Danielle Staecker, MD
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Clinical Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"We are killing the earth along with ourselves and it is nearly too late to check our fate. This book changed my belief from humans being superior and dominating over our animal and plant world to a more to recognizing humankind has a more egalitarian place in our world."

Michael Waxman, MD, MBA
Family Medicine and Community Health
Education Professor

Why I selected this book:
"Albert Einstein's letters to children who had written him show both the human and professorial side of a genius whose teachings changed our world. How many of us can speak to the scientists and the youths and both understand what we are saying and can learn from it?"

Brian Weiford, MD
Cardiovascular Medicine
Clinical Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"Significant part of training and early career."

Janet Woodroof, MD
Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
Clinical Professor

Why I selected this book:
"I read this book while in high school, and the memory of Amelia Earhart's accomplishments and life story has stuck with me, as she was a person who forged many new paths during her life. I had an interest in flying from a young age, as my father had a small plane and used to take us for rides on Saturday mornings while growing up. Amelia Earhart accomplished many "firsts" in her life, such as being the first woman to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, and her dogmatic attitude towards accomplishing her goals was an inspiration to me at that time. The book documents the details of the search to find out what happened to her, as she was lost in 1937 in the South Pacific while on a round-the-world flight. The tenacity and attention to detail of the person involved in the investigation was also an inspiration, noting that back then, the investigation was mostly in-person and on-site interviews, as they tried to re-construct the events of her disappearance."

Hadley Wyre, MD
Urologic Surgery
Associate Professor

Why I selected this book:
"Fray Marshall was my chairman during residency and is my urologic hero. The consummate academic surgeon, he was a master in the OR but had a worldly intelligence that reached outside of the hospital. He often quoted a non-existent handbook containing life lessons that he ultimately published with his son as he himself was dying from cancer."

Yuxia (Lisa) Zhang, PhD, MD
Pharmacology, Toxicology, & Therapeutics
Associate Professor with Tenure

Why I selected this book:
"This book includes thousands of biologically important signaling molecules that are described by world’s foremost experts. My work has been recognized and cited in this book."