Physician

How Science Transformed the Art of Medicine

Non-Fiction - Health - Medical
322 Pages
Reviewed on 04/30/2018
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Author Biography

Rajeev Kurapati, MD, practices Hospital Medicine. He holds an MBA from the University of Missouri and writes on health, wellness and culture. He is the author of award winning books "Unbound Intelligence" and "Physician: How Science Transformed the Art of Medicine."

His articles pertaining to medicine, culture, and lifestyle have been published in Slate Magazine, Cincinnati Enquirer, Smart Health Today, NKY Tribune, Mind Body Green, Life Hack, Millennial Magazine, KevinMD, the Yoga Blog, The Good Men Project, and other outlets. Born and raised in India, he now lives in Cincinnati, USA .

    Book Review

Reviewed by Joel R. Dennstedt for Readers' Favorite

Physician: How Science Transformed the Art of Medicine by Rajeev Kurapati achieves three major milestones of non-fiction writing. It is hugely important. It is masterfully researched. It is fascinating to read. Dr. Kurapati has done a major service to his profession by recapping the most cogent aspects of medicine’s rise to respectability, consistency, and applicability, including the earliest days of philosophical and religious-based misunderstandings, entrenched myths and dogmas, as well as genuinely good intentions towards healing the diseased and stricken. One might think this would take volumes, but it speaks to Dr. Kurapati’s keen ability to condense a mass of information into a coherent and highly accessible chronology that this book reads so easily and quickly, yet impacts one’s understanding with the power of revelation.

Lest one think Rajeev Kurapati deals only with the past in his comprehensive book, Physician, the whole point of his efforts is to bring the reader into present awareness of current day medicine and the implications for its rapid immersion within a fast-approaching, almost incomprehensible future. In so doing, Rajeev Kurapati is compelled to return to medicine’s philosophical roots and the grand ideal of a holistic but personalized study, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals. While there is no going back to mystical incantations or denial of technological tools, the digital age promises an ability for internal monitoring and reporting and even experimentation and treatment that rivals past and current methods with quantum levels of improvement. The implications and ramifications of this profound development, along with some last-minute adjurations to his fellow doctors, are what concludes this brilliant author’s elegant summary of what it means to be a physician.

Deborah Lloyd

The transformation of the practice of medicine from an art to a scientific endeavor is the main thesis of this fascinating narrative. Beginning with a real-life medical dilemma of a young man dealing with the physical ravages of diabetes, Dr. Kurapati illustrates how this shift affects today’s medical practices. A concise rendition of how the priest has been replaced by the physician, now trained to be devoid of the emotional and spiritual perspectives, is informative and thought-provoking. In Physician: How Science Transformed the Art of Medicine, written by Rajeev Kurapati, MD, there is a treasury of factual and inspirational knowledge. Dr. Kurapati demonstrates how not addressing the “why me” question, as well as other areas of human suffering, misses the essential issues for patients. Not only does he look at the past and the present, he also develops possible solutions for future patient-physician relationships. These solutions provide hope for a new reality in the healthcare arena.

Although there is a great deal of information in this book, it is easy to read and digest. It is written in everyday language and can be understood by patients and physicians alike. The skillful writing of this physician engages the reader from the first page to the last. There is a clarity throughout the book, punctuated by heartfelt empathy. Rajeev Kurapati, MD, author of Physician: How Science Transformed the Art of Medicine, has presented a thorough and honest perspective regarding medical practice. There is a powerful message within its pages; this excellent book should be read by every patient and healthcare professional.

Sefina Hawke

Physician: How Science Transformed the Art of Medicine by Rajeev Kurapati is a non-fiction health/medicine book that would appeal most to a mixed audience made up of young adults interested in working in the medical field, adults who work in the medical field, and all those who are interested in learning more about the relationship between doctor and patient. This book explores the history of how healers gave way to doctors, the role of technology in medical practices, the role of logic and emotions, and the limitations of current medicine. All of these aspects of medicine and more are explored through the perspective of a practicing hospital physician who seeks to both gain and share different views on medicine.

Physician: How Science Transformed the Art of Medicine by Rajeev Kurapati is a well written book that managed to get me interested in the topic and the whole book with its very first chapter, titled “Why me.” This chapter is what made me interested in the book itself. This first chapter focused on a situation where the author was the physician for a patient that was suffering and looking to understand if there was a purpose to his suffering, and why it had to be him that was suffering. I found it interesting that it was not anti-depressants that helped the patient, but instead a priest. As a psychology graduate, I especially enjoyed the way Dr. Kurapati explored how doctors have to balance their emotions with their thoughts as it gave me a new understanding of the mindset that doctors have to employ, especially when working with terminally ill patients. Overall, I found this book to be a worthwhile read and it has changed the way I think about physicians entirely as it helped me to see them more as individuals who are not always perfect, instead of as just another doctor!

Ruffina Oserio

Physician: How Science Transformed the Art of Medicine by Rajeev Kurapati is a book with a subject matter that is so succinctly captured in the subtitle. This book answers the question: What does it mean to be a doctor and a patient at this time in history? Written by a professional in the field, this work of many years of research helps readers see how the art of care has evolved over the ages and how being a physician has changed with the changing times. In the author’s note that opens this discussion, he makes a statement that translates the thoughts and sentiments of anyone who has ever given due thought to what it truly means to be a physician: “Why is it that physicians and poets feel destined never to speak the same language? In other words, why is medical literature dry, devoid of rhyme and rhythm, and full of technical language, like an instruction manual describing the workings of a machine?” This book describes the author’s journey to find answers to this question and provides a comprehensive and healthy notion of what a physician should be .

This is the work of a brilliant mind; thoughtful, and deeply understanding of the overall needs of a person. In this book, the author demonstrates with skill and mastery, and in a language that is very accessible, how modern medicine has morphed into something that could depend a lot on our advanced tools, neglecting some of the essential aspects of care, such as the emotional involvement in the patient-doctor relationship, the relationship between how we think and how we feel, and a lot more. This book brings together elements from the different disciplines, including psychology, mathematics, physics, and others, to create a positive and healthy profile of an ideal physician. It is interesting how the author weaves his personal experiences and medical history into this compelling work. Physician: How Science Transformed the Art of Medicine isn’t just for doctors; it’s a book with incredible wisdom and wonderful gems on medicine.

Romuald Dzemo

What are the essential traits that drive a physician in their practice? What makes a physician and patient relationship one that creates life and makes it possible for people to find meaning even in the midst of their suffering? In Physician: How Science Transformed the Art of Medicine, Rajeev Kurapati offers stunning answers to these questions and his style is very clever and compelling. The author shows how the concept of the healer has changed over time and how the spiritual, moral, and social aspects of being a healer faded as humanity began to experience new and advanced technologies. The reader will understand the history of medicine and the evolution of the art of being a physician. They will also learn about how the concept of a good physician changed with science, and the qualities that create a huge difference in the doctor-patient relationship.

It is a priceless work, imbued with wisdom, and the author has put a lot of research into the work. He articulates in a way that allows the message to go straight to the heart of the reader. The writing is upbeat and the beauty in phraseology, the depth of insight, and the overall diction make it impossible to resist. Rajeev Kurapati shares his personal experiences with patients while drawing lessons from the history and practice of medicine. One learns that medicine is more than restoring the health of patients; it is more than science. It is relational! This book might have been written for medical professionals, but it has the advice and wisdom that ordinary people will find extremely useful. Physician: How Science Transformed the Art of Medicine is a tool capable of revolutionizing the art of healing.