1/
Like many of you, I’m an unapologetic book nerd. I love a good recommendation and love sharing after I enjoy a book.

So check it:

Just finished this book by our very own #medtwitter @AaronLBerkowitz. Here’s my unsolicited review.

(Spoiler alert: I loved it.)
2/
In full transparency, @AaronLBerkowitz told me (via Twitter) about his recently published book. And because:

1. I like books.
2. I believe #supportisaverb
3. It was on Audible.

I immediately used my November @audible_com credit and gave it a try.

Yup.
3/
I’ll admit—I’m a fan of @AaronLBerkowitz’ Neuro textbook. But I had no idea what to expect out of THIS particular book.

I mean, even with reviews from everyone from Dr. Paul Farmer himself to @drsanjaygupta, the book nerd in me was skeptical.

IJS
4/
Add to this my voracious appetite for audiobooks and resultant audiobook snobbery? Dude. I’m a tough focus group.

Which means:

1. I’m serious about my narrators.
2. A well-written audiobook with the wrong narrator can be a deal breaker.

Terrible, I know. But sooo true.😂
5/
But YAY!

This narrator Michael David Axtell was #DOPE.

Okay, so the story involves @AaronLBerkowitz’ journey with a few patients between Haiti and Boston through his work with @PIH. Axtell’s narration of #Kreyol words and unique characters was sublime.

Sooo good.
6/
What I most loved about this book was the transparency of @AaronLBerkowitz’ reflection. He shows his feet of clay and navigates the stories with such personal & cultural humility.

Global health stories and images can be tricky sometimes. But this book nails it.

Seriously.
7/
Concepts that I pondered while reading this book:

Social justice
Health equity
Cultural humility
Faith
Trust
Interpersonal communication
Consent
Fear
Mercy
Community
Servant leadership
Joy
Failure
Triumph
Imposter syndrome
Support
Love

Yup. ALL of these.
8/
I recommend this elegant book. Not just #medtwitter but to all my fellow book nerds. I loved it.

Let me also say this:

1. I’ve NEVER met @AaronLBerkowitz, worked with him, nor do I have any other #COI.

2. I’ve also never seen a whole damn thread amplifying someone.😂

But.
9/
I DO know what it’s like to work hard at a passion project. I also know what it’s like to pour my heart into an idea and hope it can be impactful.

Congrats @AaronLBerkowitz. While my #neurophobia isn’t cured, your book had an impact on me.

That is all.👊🏽
#supportisaverb
P.S.

1. Yes, I like to get hard copies for my shelf of the audiobooks I love (even if I didn’t read them with my hands.)

2. Y’all read this so we can convince @AaronLBerkowitz to do a #twitterchat book club with us.

3. My #neurophobia is down from stage 4 to stage 2.

🤓👊🏽

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More from @gradydoctor

6 Dec
1/
PICU rotation, 1998

I leaned over the sink with its rust-stained drain and ran cool water over my hands. Patting my fingertips over my face, I stared in the mirror. I’d been awake for >24 hours. It showed.

I tried to give myself a post-call pep talk.

Me: “C'mon, sis.”
2/
I was tired. But not just tired from the lack of sleep. It had been a cognitively hard night with sick-sick patients. While it had gone mostly fine, my brain was still steaming. Not to mention the sustained tachycardia I had every time I took call in the PICU.

It was rough.
3/
This was before duty hours reform. And it’s relevant here is because it explains why I had clinic that afternoon--even though I was post call.

I had just one wish:

To get through rounds in time to finish all my work and avoid having to return to the PICU after clinic.
Read 20 tweets
4 Dec
1/
“Now that it’s raining more than ever, know that we still have each other. You can stand under my umbrella.”

– Rihanna

I entered the elevator alone one evening after a long day. Leaning my head back on the wall, I prepared for a peaceful ride to the ground floor.

Yep.
2/
After passing 6 floors, the lift stopped on the 5th floor. When the door separated, I opened my eyes and saw one of the Grady environmental services employees standing there with two giant rolling trash bins and a bunch of other stuff for cleaning.

He stepped back.
3/
Him: *waving his hand* “I’m cool, doc. I got a lot of stuff. I'll just get the next one.”
Me: *stepping aside* “Nah. It’s cool. Come on.”

And so he did.

Me: *glancing at him* “You good today?”
Him: “Yes ma’am. ‘Bout to drop this stuff off & go to the hizzouse!”

*laughter*
Read 8 tweets
2 Dec
1/
Today is #WorldAIDSDay and I'm reflecting on the time that I got my first voluntary HIV test.

Wait.

I take that back. I am reflecting on the time that I decided to submit a narrative about my experience getting my first voluntary HIV test for publication.

Meta, I know.
2/
So I'd written this narrative back in 2008. And the fast story is that it was about me being a hypocrite about pressing a patient to be tested for HIV when I had never been voluntarily tested myself. Why?

Because I was scared.

Yup.
3/
I put that all on paper. Spoke this truth about being afraid and how my fear was rooted in the growing numbers of Black women impacted by HIV.

I mean. That's what I told myself.

But then I asked my colleague/wondertwin @DMalebranche to read it & give me some peer feedback.
Read 10 tweets
22 Nov
1/
Stepped onto the Grady elevator last week. A Grady elder tipped his cap to me and nodded.

Me: “Good morning.”
Him: “Good morning, doc.”

*silence*

Him: “I like your hairdo.”
Me: *patting head* “Thanks, sir.”
Him: “I see you let them greys come on in, huh?”

*laughter*
2/
Me: “Yeah. Went on and let ‘em do what they wanted even at the risk of looking older.”
Him: *scowls* “Older than who?”
Me: “Older than my age. . . or just older than I want to look.”

He turned his mouth downward and nodded.

Him: “Mind me asking your age?”
3/
Me: *nervous laugh* “I would say guess but I’m scared of what you’ll say.”
Him: *squints* “Hmm. You somewhere ‘tween ‘bout . . .mmm 45, 50 or so.”
Me: “50.”
Him: *nods and shrugs* “Yeah that seem ‘bout right.”
Me: “Wow. That’s cold.”

I laughed. He did not.
Read 8 tweets
17 Nov
1/
1st day on a new service:

Me: "Hey there. . . Mr. Jones? I’m Dr. Manning. I’m the new senior doctor on your team."
Him: *arms folded in chair and staring at floor* "Mmm hmm."
Me: “Good to meet you.”

*silence*

I noticed his long, long legs extending across the linoleum.
2/
Me: “Hmm. Let me guess...are you... 6’4? 6’5?"
Him: *eyeroll*

*silence*

Him: "That's a dumb-ass question.”
Me: “My bad, sir. Guess I was just curious and thought I'd ask."
Him: "Go on and get curious 'bout these lungs, hear?"

Yikes.
3/
Mr. Jones took exaggerated breaths as I auscultated his back. Lungs had good air exchange. He wasn't requiring oxygen. And, according to the respiratory therapist, he was tolerating less frequent breathing treatments.

This meant he'd be safe for discharge home.
Read 16 tweets
11 Nov
1/
She almost ran me over. Right outside the Grady entrance by Jesse Hill Jr. Drive.

Her: "Sorry, 'scuse me!"

She blew by panting and didn’t even look in my direction. As she did, her right shoulder shrugged hard to secure the diaper bag sliding off of it.

Me: “It’s okay.”
2/
Her young face was troubled and full of urgency and determination. Too much urgency if you asked me. But so very determined.

The next words she spoke were for the preschooler who, instead of keeping up with her, was studying me.

Her: "Come on! I said we in a hurry!"
3/
I playfully raised my eyebrows and wiggled my fingers at the child who, instead of smiling back, recoiled toward her mother. Still, as they passed me by, she craned her neck keeping those eyes trained on me in my long white coat.

My long white coat.

Oh yeah, that.
Read 20 tweets

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