Surgeon's Story - by Mark Oristano (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Surgeon's Story is the story of the life and career of Dr. Kristine Guleserian, a pediatric heart surgeon who operates on the walnut-sized hearts of newborn babies. One of only 9 women in the U.S. board certified in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. G, as she's known, spent years learning her highly specialized trade.

In the book, you'll meet Andrew Madden, the teenaged boy from West Texas who, only three weeks after his heart transplant, threw out the first pitch at a World Series game for his beloved Boston Red Sox.

You'll meet two-year old Rylynn, a tough little fighter whose wait for a donor heart stretched into months in the ICU before culminating in a dramatic, night-long surgery.

And you'll meet Dr. G, and learn about her education, her training, and most of all her selfless dedication to her patients and her craft. Dr. Guleserian opens up completely about life as a female surgeon, the obstacles she had to overcome to reach her position, and the constant challenges facing surgeons who operate on the tiniest patients.

You'll also be charmed by Dr. G's incredible humor. This is, after all, a woman whose motto is, "If you can't operate in heels... you can't operate."

Review Quotes

"I am very proud of [Kristine] as an able surgeon and a true leader. I have no doubt this book will guide and encourage many future healthcare workers." --Dr. Hisashi Nikaidoh, MD; pediatric heart surgeon and author of Healing Hearts

"Whether you have an interest in pediatric heart problems, love the opportunity to peek into someone else's life, or are considering a career in the medical profession, this book makes compelling reading. The volume of information and human-interest content will have you riveted to every single page." --Midwest Book Review

"Dr. Kristine Guleserian is a profoundly respected surgeon, and humanist, who represents the too rarely witnessed palpable, caring, doctor-patient relationship." --Grady Harp, MD

""[Surgeon's Story] presents the reader with vivid insight, and is a testament to the legions of men and women who selflessly devote their lives to the well-being of others. 'Success is measured by the lives that are touched, not the dollars that are earned' is a sentiment that Surgeon's Story brings home and nails it to the wall. A must read for
anyone contemplating a career in the healing arts." --William A. Erdman M.D., Professor and Residency Program Director (Nuclear Medicine) at the UT Southwestern Medical Center (Ret.), and Medical Director Nuclear Medicine Division at the Parkland Memorial Hospital (Ret.)