DIFFERENT DRUMMER

A cardiologist recalls his work involving a landmark treatment for heart attack patients.

Morrison, a retired cardiologist, takes the reader into his life, detailing his education and career path, as well as the reasons why he went into his line of work, and, in particular, chose to work within the Veterans Administration medical system. It also provides a historical account of the development and acceptance of cardiac angioplasty (using a surgically inserted balloon to open blocked blood vessels) as an alternative to bypass surgery for heart attack patients. The main focus of the book is an account of a key coronary angioplasty trial known as Angina With Extremely Serious Operative Mortality Evaluation (known as “AWESOME”), conducted among patients at multiple VA hospitals. Morrison also recounts his own health struggles, including with mental health issues, and how he sought treatment for them. The book is full of photographs and descriptions of important colleagues, teachers, and family members in his life. In some ways, Morrison has written two different books, and one works better than the other. The best parts are those that address his schooling and personal issues, as well as those that provide an inside look at the medical system of which he was a part. On the other hand, his descriptions of specific procedures can get very technical and even graphic; indeed, they’re not for the faint of heart. He even admits at one point that the early drafts of this book read more like a cardiology textbook, and this feeling remains in this final version somewhat. Also, although this book recognizes the contributions of women in his field, his references to “lady” medical professionals can be off-putting. Overall, this work offers a sometimes-moving tale of a doctor’s life, but the reader must wade through a lot of other material to access it.

An intermittently engaging account, but its dense detail may limit its appeal.