ebooks Black Man in a White Coat: A Doctor's Reflections on Race and Medicine by Damon Tweedy M.D. in History

Review

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful. Fantastic; eye-opening memoirBy Rachel McElhanyBlack Man in a White Coat is Damon Tweedy’s memoir of his experience as a black man getting into medical school up through becoming a practicing physician. At the very beginning of medical school; one of his professors mistook him for a maintenance worker even though he was dressed nicely and had been in his class for a month. Tweedy recounts his embarrassment; even though it was the professor who should have been embarrassed. He also talks about the mixed emotions he felt about a form of affirmative action being one of the reasons that he was admitted to Duke medical school.Once he starts interacting with patients; he has a variety of experiences related to race that make him aware of the issues that both black doctors and black patients face. Some of them aren’t too surprising (although still horrible); like the white patient who didn’t want a black doctor. Some were very surprising to me. For instance; he encountered a black patient who didn’t want a black doctor. Tweedy backs up his personal examples with research that shows whatever issues he encounters exist on a larger scale. They are not isolated incidents experienced only by him.Tweedy writes about medical information in an accessible manner with a conversational tone. My eyes were opened to race related issues in the medical field that I hadn’t previously considered. This is a great memoir that I highly recommend.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Worried For All of Us; Colorblind.By CounterpointI am thoroughly enjoying Dr. Tweedy's memoir. He and I have shared many experiences; me 50 years before and protected by a hide of a different hue.Tweedy puts the personal touch on a number of issues of intense concern to all of us today: income inequality; our third-world healthcare system (yes; with 40 million uninsured we are no better than a banana republic!); the racist leitmotif that pervades current practices. There is no other explanation for the results we see in our outcomes when they are laid out by race.Through his heartfelt examples; Dr. Tweedy reemphasizes that we still fall short of our founders' aspirations even though we have the riches and wherewithal to provide everyone with quality; affordable healthcare. A system that results in inferior care for the poor (too often a surrogate for skin color) fails to meet the ideals we have set for our nation and weakens us all.Cry; my beloved country! I see little progress - even serious backsliding - since I graduated from medical school 55 years ago. President Obama often said; "We are better than this!" I once thought so; but I no longer am so certain.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An Engaging Telling MemoirBy RYCJMost striking about this memoir was the overall perceived intent. I commend Dr. Tweedy on what read like an open plea; using his own biases as a framework to encourage other physicians to see; and treat patients with respect; if not for the individual being serviced; then for the profession. Upending flawed belief structures inherited from nascent medical practices; indeed could very well be the catalyst that uprights an otherwise dysfunctional healthcare system.In other words; while socioeconomics might explain the awfulness of being poor; it doesn’t venture near to uncovering; much less discovering underlying biological specifies of diseases and illnesses. Enlightenment in this area will certainly go a long ways towards changing old beliefs governed by relic practices in need of overhauling.And still; one after the next the cases cited were tremendously engaging. I praised “Dr. Garner.” Her standing in for Leslie was wonderful. Questioned “Lucy’s” exact cause of death; in as much as I questioned the precise cause of “Adrian’s” stroke. Was it medication; singularly cigarettes; or a combination of both or something else? I as well was warmed to tears by “Chester” and his family. Sighed a bravo for “Gary” and shame..shame for the ‘presumptuous’ doctors. I found myself tickled in a couple of spots; (the knee exam and the “Tar Heel” fans); and got my feathers in a ruffle over “Diane;” though glad everything worked out there. On and on this memoir presents much to comment on. I turned every single page; skipping none; the best sign of a phenomenally engaging book. Highly recommend!