Alumni in Print
By Bonita Eaton Enochs, Editor
Funny People: Short Stories
George M. Burnell’57
Outskirts Press, 2018
Dr. Burnell’s newest book is a compilation of short stories about “people caught in the vicissitudes of life, sometimes tragic, sometimes comical, but always life-changing and transforming.” Story titles include “The Little Boy and the Fat Man,” “Transplant,” “Blind Date,” “Kismet,” and “CRISPR World.” As one reader described the book: “The main characters in these stories share a deep quiet compassion for others. Waiting to see what happens next in each story kept me engaged to the end, where each one touched me deeply, but with a feather touch that left me surprised and satisfied.” Dr. Burnell also collaborated with his wife, Adrienne L. Burnell, PhD, on a 2015 book, “Picking Up the Pieces. What Everyone Needs to Know When a Child Dies.”
Coming About: The Bliss and Bane of Coastal Sailing
Lawrence Norton’58
Zulon Press, 2018
Dr. Norton’s newest book describes a lifetime of yearning and fulfillment in sailing. The book recounts the sailing adventures, mostly in the Pacific Northwest, of Dr. Norton and his wife, Ann, over the past 25 years. The “bliss” included sailing among magnificent mountain vistas of British Columbia and Alaska on their way to Glacier Bay. The “bane” is seen in such episodes as grounding on rocks, engine failures, incessant rainfall, blinding fog, and being charged by a whale. The book balances the challenging with the beauty of being alone in the wild. Before retiring, Dr. Norton sailed a 16-foot sloop on Colorado lakes during his free time.
Stone. Bread. Salt.
Norbert Hirschhorn’62
Holland Park Press, 2018
In Dr. Hirschhorn’s new collection of poems, he takes stock of his life and gives voice to his quest to pass on the experiences of the generations before him. “Over the past decades I have lived and worked in the Middle East, coming to a greater understanding not only of Judaism, but also the other Abrahamic religions,” says Dr. Hirschhorn. “As I approach my ninth decade of life I am aware of the need to share with my descendants the wisdom, texts, and lessons handed down by our ancestors of all religions. The poems in this collection reflect this aim and necessity.”
Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies for U.S. Drug Development (Second Edition)
Edward Tabor’73
Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society, 2018
The second edition of Dr. Tabor’s book is an updated analysis of the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies program, which gives the FDA the authority to ask developers of high-risk products to submit risk assessment documentation as part of the regulatory review process. Several new aspects of the program have been introduced by the FDA since the original edition of this book was published in 2012. The book is meant for companies that submit a new drug to the FDA or pursue approval for a generic copy of a product that has already undergone risk assessment.
Beyond Every Wall
Velma Scantlebury’81
www.BeyondEveryWall.com, 2018
Dr. Scantlebury’s memoir is subtitled “Becoming the 1st Black Female Transplant Surgeon,” and this book outlines her journey from her childhood in Barbados, her family’s move to New York, college, medical school, and her career. She describes the obstacles and challenges—the walls—that met her at every turn in her life and how she overcame them. The book describes highlights of her career, including a fellowship with the famed surgeon Thomas Starzl in Pittsburgh, her move to the University of South Alabama as chief of transplantation and assistant dean of community outreach and education, the recognition she received as a pioneering female surgeon of color, and the importance of mentorship.
Life After Suicide
Jennifer Ashton’00
William Morrow, 2019
Dr. Ashton’s book, subtitled “Finding Courage, Comfort, & Community After Unthinkable Loss,” provides a personal look inside the suicide epidemic. She writes about the 2017 suicide of her ex-husband and the effect of his death on her and her children. After the high-profile suicides of Kate Spade and Anthony Bourdain in 2018, Dr. Ashton recognized the importance of discussing suicide and its resulting grief instead of suffering in silence. As ABC News chief medical correspondent, Dr. Ashton used her media platform to give voice to her pain and recovery and to help other suicide survivors. The book also includes interviews with others who have been touched by suicide and shares their tales of resilience.
Doctor
Andrew Bomback’03
Bloomsbury Academic, 2018
Dr. Bomback’s book is part of the Object Lessons book
series, published in partnership with an essay series in the Atlantic, about the hidden lives of ordinary things. After coming to the conclusion that even doctors struggle to define their profession, Dr. Bomback attempts to unravel how much of doctoring is role-playing, artifice, and bluffing. He examines the career of his father, a legendary pediatrician on the verge of retirement, and the health of his infant son, who is suffering from a vague assortment of gastrointestinal symptoms. The book is at times serious, comedic, analytical, and confessional, providing an unflinching look at what it means to be a physician today.
Am I Dying?
Christopher Kelly’11 and Marc Eisenberg’91
William Morrow, 2018
This book is a resource for “your inner hypochondriac,” with guidance to common symptoms—and what to do about them. The Columbia cardiologists offer advice on when to chill out, when to make a doctor’s appointment, or when to get to the hospital. The authors recognize that new health symptoms can be alarming and acknowledge the temptation to use online search engines to find a diagnosis (which can cause people to ask, “Am I dying?”). Drs. Kelly and Eisenberg describe the 40 most common symptoms and provide conversational guidance on what to do next.