THE AMERICAN DOCTOR

A man born in Italy during World War II recalls his immigration to the United States and his life as an American surgeon.

Forcina, currently a retiree living in central Florida, was born in the small Italian town of Scauri and raised in Argentina, where, as a young man, he studied to become a doctor. After graduating, he saw no future for himself in the South American country, so he immigrated to the United States, where he worked hard and had a successful medical career, reaching the status of chief of surgery at two New Jersey hospitals. He married his American wife, Roberta, in the mid-1970s and soon had a daughter; now in his late 70s, he says that he wrote this book to document the ups and downs of his life for his granddaughter, who he hopes “will read this book as a source of guidance. I wish for her to know that life will throw many things at her….I hope this book will serve as a guide for her.” To other potential readers, he also seeks to impart a lesson: “Remember that no matter what, and no matter how difficult the path may be, you can and will succeed.” Over the course of this remembrance, Forcina shows that he led an exemplary life and recalls it all with touching gratitude and affection. The prose is clear and straightforward, and he painstakingly re-creates everyday events as well as notable moments of sorrow and achievement—the many elements that make up a good life. The high note of the memoir comes when the author is discussing how his immigration to the United States gave him a sense of stability: “For many years I had lived in limbo, with great uncertainty. I was no one in particular and felt like a boat lost in the open sea at the mercy of the wind. Those feelings left me the moment I raised my right hand and pledged my allegiance to America.”

An affecting life story that the author’s family and friends are likely to treasure.