Becoming a Doctors' Doctor: A Memoir

Becoming a Doctors' Doctor: A Memoir

Becoming a Doctors’ Doctor is author and psychiatrist Michael F. Myers’ revelation of the fascinating and sometimes tragic encounters with doctors as patients. Physicians are expected to be resilient and to carry the burdens of others. But all too often, the on-the-job stresses can result in mental illness. Beginning with his roommate’s suicide in the first year of medical school, Myers found himself craving to learn more about physicians and their vulnerabilities. In this memoir of his thirty-five year career, Myers shares vignettes of treating doctors for depression, alcoholism, burnout, and more. He reveals the stigma physicians face when asking for help and the struggles they endure while keeping others healthy and safe. A psychiatrist with a passion for helping physicians, Myers highlights the importance of mental health treatment for doctors and the social and emotional costs of serving the community. Beautifully written, Becoming a Doctors’ Doctor heralds the many patients to whom he has devoted his practice and career. "In Becoming a Doctor's Doctor, noted psychiatrist Michael F. Myers offers a poignant, discerning and hopeful account of the mental health struggles of physicians. With this rich and rewarding memoir, Myers assures his place alongside Selzer, Sacks, Verghese, and the rare breed of healer who can work true magic both inside a hospital and on the printed page." Jacob M. Appel, MD , author of Who Says You're Dead?"The memoir by Michael Myers, 'Becoming a Doctors' Doctor,' is simply beautiful. His personal story - of 'otherness,' understanding, self-compassion, and courage - will inspire and move all who read this memoir, and it is told with humility and sincerity." Laura Roberts, MD, MA, DLFAPA, FACLP Chair, Katharine Dexter McCormick and Stanley McCormick Memorial Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine."Becoming a Doctors' Doctor reminds us of the importance of témoignage - the French word meaning to bear witness. Doctors all over the world can read this book and know they are not alone." Malcolm Forbes, MBBS , Clinical Senior Fellow, Department of Psychiatry University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.Dr. Myers' career journey weaves the personal and the professional right up to the crisis of COVID-19. This book is so compelling that it is the first memoir I have sacrificed sleep for in order to read cover to cover in a single sitting." Susan Abbey, MD, FRCP Psychiatrist-in-Chief, University Health Network. Professor, University of Toronto.In a humbling and humane account of one psychiatrist's journey through life looking after doctors and medical students who develop mental illnesses, this book illustrates what clinical psychiatry is about. Dr Myers' humanity, compassion, commitment, kindness and care for his patients makes this a wonderful must-read for clinicians and educators. Dinesh Bhugra, MBBS, PhD, M Phil, MSc, MA. King's College London. I started writing about doctors, their strengths and struggles, in the late 1980s. My goal then and now is the same, to pay homage to their professional calling and lay bare their humanness. " Becoming a Doctors' Doctor: A Memoir"  comes from my heart and that has been both freeing and frightening. I could not have written this book at an earlier time in my life and given it its due. I wasn't ready. Although this is my ninth book, it is the first one with the authenticity and honesty that a true memoir demands and a reader deserves. Dr. Michael F. Myers is a professor of clinical psychiatry atSUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn,New York. He is the author and coauthor of eight previous booksdealing with medical students and physicians. He specializes inphysician health, and the majority of his private practice wasdedicated to treating physicians and their families.He has held leadership roles in both the Canadian andAmerican Psychiatric Associations and is a past president of theNew York City chapter of the American Foundation for SuicidePrevention. Currently, he serves on the advisory board of theCommittee for Physician Health of the Medical Society of theState of New York. A recipient of many national and internationalawards for his work, Myers lectures around the world. He livesin New York City with his husband Charles Edwards.