Eyes & Ears
Good Movies, Books, Listens, and Surfs
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HENRY KAPLAN And the Story of Hodgkin’s Disease
By Charlotte DeCroes Jacobs
Thanks to Henry Kaplan, MD, professor of radiology at Stanford, from 1948 until his death in 1984, Hodgkin’s disease went from fatal to nearly 90 percent curable. Charlotte Jacobs, an oncologist and emerita professor of medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine, has written a compelling biography of Kaplan. Her book covers not only his work on Hodgkin’s disease, but also his gifts as a clinician and teacher, his work with fellow Stanford faculty member Saul Rosenberg, MD on clinical trials, and his advocacy on a national and international level in the fight against cancer. Writes Stanford faculty member and author (Cutting for Stone) Abraham Verghese, “Jacobs’ exquisite, compelling biography of the man who helped make Hodgkin’s disease a curable condition is also an insight into the adventures of scientific inquiry and the mavericks who make it happen.”
The Vanishing Physician-Scientist?
Edited by Andrew I. Shafer
In years past, discoveries were often made by those who could move freely from bench to bedside. These physician-scientists bring a unique perspective to their work, allowing them to communicate effectively with researchers and clinicians. Stanford University School of Medicine Dean Philip A. Pizzo is among more than 20 experts who examine the factors that make it increasingly challenging to pursue both roles—along with exploring solutions.
Danger to self: on the front line with an er psychiatrist
By Paul R. Linde, MD
When working in the chaos of an emergency room, there’s rarely time to ask a patient: “What do YOU think?” As Dr. Linde discovered in his 17 years at San Francisco General Hospital, the psychiatrist on duty must end-run traditional therapy and use instincts to make quick decisions to serve patients. His gripping firstperson journey deconstructs 10 diverse cases to illustrate the power and importance of the human dimension in high-quality care.
Vino Argentino: An Insider’s Guide to the Wines and Wine cou ntry of Argentina
By Laura Catena, MD ’92
Travel with Catena to Argentina, the world’s fifth largest producer of wine and home to Malbec, the country’s best-known indigenous grape and fastest-growing wine import to the United States Her travel journal is part wine primer, part cultural exploration, and part introduction to the Argentine lifestyle. A fourthgeneration member of an Argentine-Italian winemaking family and president of Botega Catena Zapata, Catena gives readers access to unique wine regions, wineries, shops, restaurants, and more. (Editor’s note: see Alumni Uncorked for more about Catena)
Listen
1:2:1—Health & Policy Research
Podcast
How does the intersection of health-care policy and biomedical research impact our lives? That’s the question School of Medicine Office of Communication and Public Affairs Executive Director (and Editor of Stanford Medicine) Paul Costello asks on this free podcast, available on iTunes. Each episode focuses on front-page topics, from the experiences of a Stanford team of doctors in Haiti to a look at the future of U.S. health care reform.
Watch
The Barefoot Doctors of Rural China, 1975
DVD
Without the equipment, technology, and training available in major cities, providing health care to the villages and farming communities in 1970s China required innovation, resourcefulness, and boundless energy. This documentary follows paramedics with on-theground responsibilities for everything from dentistry to contraception to infectious disease control in rural China. Winner of the University Film Association Award for Best Educational Film.
Doctors’ Diaries
TV
In 1987, NOVA brought cameras to the campus of Harvard Medical School to capture the journeys of seven promising students. The two-part series begins by reuniting the group 17 years after graduation to look back at the rewards and sacrifices each member experienced as a physician. Remarkably candid, personal, and engaging, Doctors’ Diaries is available on DVD or online at PBS.org.
Lost Boundaries
DVD
This out-of-the-vault 1949 film tells the story of a light-skinned African- American medical school graduate unable to get a job due to his race. When an offer comes from New Hampshire, he and his wife (also light-skinned), make the decision to “pass” as white for the sake of his career. Many years later, he and his family—including a son and daughter who believe they are white—are forced to confront the consequences of the difficult decision.
Surf
Scope
scopeblog.stanford.edu
Looking for timely coverage of health care policy and biomedical research? Check out Scope, a blog brought to you by an allstar team of writers from the School of Medicine. Whether you’re a practitioner, researcher, or simply someone interested in the world’s latest scientific and medical developments, you’ll want to add this to your bookmarks, STAT.
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