Author: Mimi Swartz
Publication Information: Crown. 2018. 336 pages.
ISBN: 0804138001 / 978-0804138000
Book Source: I received this book through the Penguin First to Read program free of cost in exchange for an honest review.
Opening Sentence: "The kids fell in love with him first."
Favorite Quote: "Science isn't always pretty, metaphorically, or literally."
Oscar Howard (O. H.) aka "Bud" Frazier Jr. is the director of cardiovascular surgery at the Texas Heart Institute. He is best known for his work in the creation of artificial devices to support to take over the work of the human heart. He has performed performed more than 1,200 heart transplants and put in place more than 900 left ventricular assist devices. This is a number greater than any other surgeon in the world.
In 2018, Dr. Frazier was awarded the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is given to those whose body of work has significantly contributed to care of patients with advanced heart or lung disease. Dr. Frazier is one of only seven recipients of this award over the course of thirty eight years of the organization's history.
Ticker is the story of the artificial heart and of Dr. Frazier's quest to further this science. This book is part science, part medical drama, and part philosophical discussion on the ethics of medical research and intervention. This book is also about the cooperation and competition in the world of medical research. To be the first matters. To be the discoverer matters.
Of course or perhaps sadly, this is also a book about economics. Medical research is big money, and medical patents are even bigger money. It is sad to think that monetary considerations enter into decision about research to be pursued and research left behind. The FDA defines an orphan disease as a condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people nationwide. Addressing these diseases is a public health concern as many are unwilling economically to invest in the research even though the research could save a life. Heart disease, on the other hand, is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. The impact of research is far greater in terms of patient population and economics. Hence, the research race.
Dr. Frazier's is the name that stands out the most from this book even though it is a look at the development of the science and all the scientists involved. At times, it is unclear whether this book is an objective story of the creation of the artificial heart or a biography of Dr. Frazier. More often than not, it seems like the latter. He is clearly the main "character". Events and other people seems presented from his perspective. I don't know enough of the history to determine the accuracy, but the book seems to have a clear novel-like protagonist and plot. The book has scientific details but is also clearly written for a non-scientific audience. It is more narrative than science.
Interestingly enough, those are the very reasons that make this book a very quick, fiction like read. Realize that, unlike fiction, there is not an ending. This is a "story" that is still evolving as the "characters" continue in their quest to improve medical science. They are "still trying to make a heart that wouldn't break."
Oscar Howard (O. H.) aka "Bud" Frazier Jr. is the director of cardiovascular surgery at the Texas Heart Institute. He is best known for his work in the creation of artificial devices to support to take over the work of the human heart. He has performed performed more than 1,200 heart transplants and put in place more than 900 left ventricular assist devices. This is a number greater than any other surgeon in the world.
In 2018, Dr. Frazier was awarded the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is given to those whose body of work has significantly contributed to care of patients with advanced heart or lung disease. Dr. Frazier is one of only seven recipients of this award over the course of thirty eight years of the organization's history.
Ticker is the story of the artificial heart and of Dr. Frazier's quest to further this science. This book is part science, part medical drama, and part philosophical discussion on the ethics of medical research and intervention. This book is also about the cooperation and competition in the world of medical research. To be the first matters. To be the discoverer matters.
Of course or perhaps sadly, this is also a book about economics. Medical research is big money, and medical patents are even bigger money. It is sad to think that monetary considerations enter into decision about research to be pursued and research left behind. The FDA defines an orphan disease as a condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people nationwide. Addressing these diseases is a public health concern as many are unwilling economically to invest in the research even though the research could save a life. Heart disease, on the other hand, is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. The impact of research is far greater in terms of patient population and economics. Hence, the research race.
Dr. Frazier's is the name that stands out the most from this book even though it is a look at the development of the science and all the scientists involved. At times, it is unclear whether this book is an objective story of the creation of the artificial heart or a biography of Dr. Frazier. More often than not, it seems like the latter. He is clearly the main "character". Events and other people seems presented from his perspective. I don't know enough of the history to determine the accuracy, but the book seems to have a clear novel-like protagonist and plot. The book has scientific details but is also clearly written for a non-scientific audience. It is more narrative than science.
Interestingly enough, those are the very reasons that make this book a very quick, fiction like read. Realize that, unlike fiction, there is not an ending. This is a "story" that is still evolving as the "characters" continue in their quest to improve medical science. They are "still trying to make a heart that wouldn't break."
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