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Trauma Red: The Making of a Surgeon in War and in America's Cities
The incredible life story of the trauma surgeon who helped save Congresswoman Gabby Giffords—from his upbringing in South Korea and Africa to the gripping dramas he faces in a typical day as a medical genius.
Congresswoman Gabby Giffords is a household most people remember that awful day in Arizona in 2011 when she was a victim of an act of violence that left six dead and thirteen wounded. What many people don’t know is that it was Dr. Peter Rhee who played a vital role in her survival.
Born in South Korea, Rhee moved with his family to Uganda where he watched his public health surgeon father remove a spear from a man’s belly—and began his lifelong interest in medicine. What came next is this compelling portrait of how one becomes a world class trauma the specialized training, the mindset to make critical decisions, and the practiced ability to operate on the human body. Dr. Rhee is so eminent that when President Clinton traveled to China, he was selected to accompany the president as his personal physician. In Trauma Red we learn how Rhee’s experiences were born from the love and sacrifices of determined parents, and of Rhee’s own quest to become as excellent a surgeon as possible.
Trauma Red chronicles the patient cases Dr. Rhee has handled over two decades on two distinct battle In Iraq and Afghanistan, where he served as a frontline US Navy surgeon trying to save young American soldiers, and the urban zones of Los Angeles and Washington, DC, where he has been confronted by an endless stream of bloody victims of civilian violence and accidents. Tough and outspoken, Dr. Rhee isn’t afraid to take on the politics of violence in America and a medical community that too often resists innovation. His story provides an inside look into a fascinating medical world, a place where lives are saved every day.
Congresswoman Gabby Giffords is a household most people remember that awful day in Arizona in 2011 when she was a victim of an act of violence that left six dead and thirteen wounded. What many people don’t know is that it was Dr. Peter Rhee who played a vital role in her survival.
Born in South Korea, Rhee moved with his family to Uganda where he watched his public health surgeon father remove a spear from a man’s belly—and began his lifelong interest in medicine. What came next is this compelling portrait of how one becomes a world class trauma the specialized training, the mindset to make critical decisions, and the practiced ability to operate on the human body. Dr. Rhee is so eminent that when President Clinton traveled to China, he was selected to accompany the president as his personal physician. In Trauma Red we learn how Rhee’s experiences were born from the love and sacrifices of determined parents, and of Rhee’s own quest to become as excellent a surgeon as possible.
Trauma Red chronicles the patient cases Dr. Rhee has handled over two decades on two distinct battle In Iraq and Afghanistan, where he served as a frontline US Navy surgeon trying to save young American soldiers, and the urban zones of Los Angeles and Washington, DC, where he has been confronted by an endless stream of bloody victims of civilian violence and accidents. Tough and outspoken, Dr. Rhee isn’t afraid to take on the politics of violence in America and a medical community that too often resists innovation. His story provides an inside look into a fascinating medical world, a place where lives are saved every day.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 2014
21 people are currently reading
236 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 24, 2022
Wow! Peter Rhee tells an outstanding story of what it means to be a military officer and a trauma surgeon in modern America. He is a true inspiration for all of those seeking a future or an understanding of military and trauma medicine. Rhee shows that with hard work anything is possible. From living in a small area in Africa to going to Georgia Tech and then to the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Rhee challenges himself to be great for the greater good. Although some readers may interpret Rhee as being somewhat selfish at times in his memoir, I believe he has every right to do so considering how much of his life he has put into becoming who he is - a leader, a naval officer, a renowned trauma surgeon, a husband, and a father. I would want my trauma surgeon to be confident in his skills, and yet Rhee manages to rein it in when he needs to and speaks from his heart and deep core. Congresswoman Gabby Giffords' survival and recovery would not have gone the way it did without UMC Trauma team and Peter Rhee nor would the thousands of lives Rhee has saved throughout his career. Rhee's book truly is an inspirational read that should not be skipped over by anybody who knows the power of the human touch.
May 30, 2022
The sound of gunfire had barely faded away when I got the text message on my phone: "Heads up. Trauma Red. We've got ten GSWs coming in."
On a Saturday morning in January 2011, Dr. Peter Rhee was notified that a mass shooting had taken place outside a Tucson supermarket and one of the wounded was a US Congresswoman. Immediately, Rhee and his team took action to save those that they could, drawing on Rhee's extensive trauma surgery experience gained in several urban hospital systems, as well as the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq. In this book, he tells the story not only of that fateful day in January 2011, but also of his career and life up to that point.
This book made a list of the best medical memoirs and since I enjoy reading about medicine I put it on my TBR. I found the book fascinating. It is part memoir, part case study, and part rallying cry for commonsense gun laws and the importance of trauma surgeons in today's world. Rhee writes about his training and experiences clearly and explains things in a way that is approachable for non-medical readers. He includes many details of cases he has been involved in, but does so in a sensitive and respectful way. Like most medical memoirs, there is a bit of ego here, but it is better than some of the others I have read. I learned quite a bit from this book, including how few trauma centers and trained trauma surgeons there are in the US. I kind of just assumed that if I ever had a major accident, that I would be able to get to a trauma surgeon quickly and easily (being close to a large metro area myself that will probably be true, but not so much for others as it turns out). So this book was quite eye-opening.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy medical memoirs, especially those looking for books about trauma surgery or medical care in the military.
CW: animal cruelty/death, death (including of children), gore, guns, medical procedures, murder, racist language, self-harm, suicide, swearing (moderate), violence, war
On a Saturday morning in January 2011, Dr. Peter Rhee was notified that a mass shooting had taken place outside a Tucson supermarket and one of the wounded was a US Congresswoman. Immediately, Rhee and his team took action to save those that they could, drawing on Rhee's extensive trauma surgery experience gained in several urban hospital systems, as well as the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq. In this book, he tells the story not only of that fateful day in January 2011, but also of his career and life up to that point.
This book made a list of the best medical memoirs and since I enjoy reading about medicine I put it on my TBR. I found the book fascinating. It is part memoir, part case study, and part rallying cry for commonsense gun laws and the importance of trauma surgeons in today's world. Rhee writes about his training and experiences clearly and explains things in a way that is approachable for non-medical readers. He includes many details of cases he has been involved in, but does so in a sensitive and respectful way. Like most medical memoirs, there is a bit of ego here, but it is better than some of the others I have read. I learned quite a bit from this book, including how few trauma centers and trained trauma surgeons there are in the US. I kind of just assumed that if I ever had a major accident, that I would be able to get to a trauma surgeon quickly and easily (being close to a large metro area myself that will probably be true, but not so much for others as it turns out). So this book was quite eye-opening.
I would recommend this book to those who enjoy medical memoirs, especially those looking for books about trauma surgery or medical care in the military.
CW: animal cruelty/death, death (including of children), gore, guns, medical procedures, murder, racist language, self-harm, suicide, swearing (moderate), violence, war
June 20, 2019
This was a very straightforward memoir centered around the shooting of Gabby Giffords in Tucson in 2011. More than that though, it was a great overview of the function and importance of Level 1 trauma centers in the US. I was a left with huge respect for Dr. Rhee and his work, and the need to support funding for trauma research and development. - K
April 5, 2014
“Trauma Red” by Peter Rhee with Gordon Dillow, published by Scribner.
Category – Medical/Biography Publication Date – June 03, 2014
Peter Rhee is a well renowned trauma surgeon at the University of Arizona Medical Center. This is the story of his early life, how he got into trauma surgery, and his fight to improve trauma centers around the world.
Rhee’s family were merchants in Korea, before there was a North and South Korea. When the country was split they, being capitalist, had to move to South Korea. Peter’s father was a doctor, and to further his career, moved the family to Uganda. When Idi Amin came into power they were forced to move to the United States.
Peter had no desire to be a doctor, but found out after trying several different professions found that this was his calling. It was during his residency that he found his true calling in being a trauma surgeon. After several tours of duty in the Navy, where he not only saw shipboard duty but also tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, that he saw the urgent need for more trauma surgeons and trauma centers.
It is one thing to put a trauma center together but quite another to staff it with qualified personnel. A doctor must commit to additional studies to qualify to be a trauma surgeon, and his dedication must be so great that he almost has to give up his entire life in this pursuit. He must be available at all times and under all circumstances. He must also take on the most difficult cases in medicine and must make decisions that border on godlike decisions.
The book brings together some of his more historic cases, the most historic one being the case of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.
Category – Medical/Biography Publication Date – June 03, 2014
Peter Rhee is a well renowned trauma surgeon at the University of Arizona Medical Center. This is the story of his early life, how he got into trauma surgery, and his fight to improve trauma centers around the world.
Rhee’s family were merchants in Korea, before there was a North and South Korea. When the country was split they, being capitalist, had to move to South Korea. Peter’s father was a doctor, and to further his career, moved the family to Uganda. When Idi Amin came into power they were forced to move to the United States.
Peter had no desire to be a doctor, but found out after trying several different professions found that this was his calling. It was during his residency that he found his true calling in being a trauma surgeon. After several tours of duty in the Navy, where he not only saw shipboard duty but also tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, that he saw the urgent need for more trauma surgeons and trauma centers.
It is one thing to put a trauma center together but quite another to staff it with qualified personnel. A doctor must commit to additional studies to qualify to be a trauma surgeon, and his dedication must be so great that he almost has to give up his entire life in this pursuit. He must be available at all times and under all circumstances. He must also take on the most difficult cases in medicine and must make decisions that border on godlike decisions.
The book brings together some of his more historic cases, the most historic one being the case of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.
January 11, 2015
Not too technical so as a non-medical person I understood what he described. Interesting enough but as I progressed I became a bit irritated by his ego (which he acknowledges early enough)...it almost seemed as if he were TRYING to sound on the humble side but kept on with "look at me, look at what a did...aren't I great and didn't I do this fantastically and oh yes, some other people were helping and a part of it too..." I don't know maybe I'm just jealous that I'm not head of trauma team. Overall, I'm glad I read it.
March 1, 2015
More like 3.5. He has an interesting story and I like a medical story.
September 25, 2022
Trauma Red by Dr. Peter Rhee is a deep, truthful look into the experience of immigrating to the United States, facing and surviving prejudice, and training to become a world-class surgeon. He describes his youth, which was spent watching his father, a trauma surgeon from South Korea, save lives and moving around the world with his family, ending in their immigration to the United States. From there, he proceeds with his journey attempting to find his purpose in life and the best career to fulfill it. From applying to medical programs across the country to joining the Navy, readers are able to gain a full scope of the work it took to become the surgeon that Dr. Rhee is today. The rest of his life and career are depicted from that point on, including stories of his deployments, surgical cases, and family.
Historically speaking, biographies have failed to interest me. Usually they are about random people who I couldn't care less about, but I am forced to read them by teachers who think I will gain so much from them. Trauma Red stood out though; Peter Rhee doesn't approach his autobiography as though he automatically deserves the reader's respect. His personality and values, which shine through his words in this book, naturally form that feeling about him for readers. I appreciate the way that Rhee speaks about himself in such a relatable manner, though I often found myself grasping to create a timeline. He frequently switches between stories of his childhood, his training to become a surgeon, and the present, creating an often overwhelming transition between each.
It may seem out-of-reach to read about surgeries and surgical techniques, but I was surprised by how well every situation and detail was explained. To be fair, my extensive experience watching medical T.V. shows may have helped, but it truly formed part of my interest in the story while reading this book. I often found myself almost too comfortable while reading this book; though Rhee would be depicting gunshot wounds or gory surgeries, it felt almost as though he was right in front of me just relaying his life. Whether or not that is preferred is up to you, but I couldn't help but feel that it made the experience of reading this book far beyond most that I have read. Often I find that biographies about people like surgeons depict them as almost larger than life, but not this one.
Surgeons always feel larger-than-life, opening people up and saving lives, but whenever Dr. Rhee mentioned the treatment of Congresswoman Giffords, it felt as though he was just like anyone else. After he reveals that he expects her to survive and is hopeful that she will make a full recovery, he concludes that it was just "Another day at the office". This was one of the most important sentences in this book, for me, as it provided evidence that no matter how many lives and surgeon saved or lost, life went on. Of course this is an obvious truth, but after reading about the difficulty of that specific situation, the idea that the world would simply continue seemed impossible. As I read it, I realized that it was the moment that so many people talk about where one feels at peace; anything could happen and life would go on.
Historically speaking, biographies have failed to interest me. Usually they are about random people who I couldn't care less about, but I am forced to read them by teachers who think I will gain so much from them. Trauma Red stood out though; Peter Rhee doesn't approach his autobiography as though he automatically deserves the reader's respect. His personality and values, which shine through his words in this book, naturally form that feeling about him for readers. I appreciate the way that Rhee speaks about himself in such a relatable manner, though I often found myself grasping to create a timeline. He frequently switches between stories of his childhood, his training to become a surgeon, and the present, creating an often overwhelming transition between each.
It may seem out-of-reach to read about surgeries and surgical techniques, but I was surprised by how well every situation and detail was explained. To be fair, my extensive experience watching medical T.V. shows may have helped, but it truly formed part of my interest in the story while reading this book. I often found myself almost too comfortable while reading this book; though Rhee would be depicting gunshot wounds or gory surgeries, it felt almost as though he was right in front of me just relaying his life. Whether or not that is preferred is up to you, but I couldn't help but feel that it made the experience of reading this book far beyond most that I have read. Often I find that biographies about people like surgeons depict them as almost larger than life, but not this one.
Surgeons always feel larger-than-life, opening people up and saving lives, but whenever Dr. Rhee mentioned the treatment of Congresswoman Giffords, it felt as though he was just like anyone else. After he reveals that he expects her to survive and is hopeful that she will make a full recovery, he concludes that it was just "Another day at the office". This was one of the most important sentences in this book, for me, as it provided evidence that no matter how many lives and surgeon saved or lost, life went on. Of course this is an obvious truth, but after reading about the difficulty of that specific situation, the idea that the world would simply continue seemed impossible. As I read it, I realized that it was the moment that so many people talk about where one feels at peace; anything could happen and life would go on.
March 3, 2019
Very well-written book with a gripping story. Yes, Dr. Rhee has a big ego, but he also has big accomplishments, and he needed that ego to push for them. And he also sounds compassionate. Maybe too much of the book was about the Tucson mass shooting where Congresswoman Gabby Giffords incurred a serious brain injury, but that was a big news story at the time, and it provides a framework for the book. And there are plenty of other stories, about hospital cases, combat zone trauma surgery, and research. Dr. Rhee is a very credible advocate of gun control, given both his military background and his trauma experience.
October 10, 2018
I've read many memoirs of doctors, but this has to be my favorite. I'm definitely a big fan of Dr. Rhee, and hearing his story was totally fascinating.
I'd definitely recommend this book if you're interested in the subject matter!
I'd definitely recommend this book if you're interested in the subject matter!
August 7, 2024
dr. peter rhee is a remarkable individual. this book really painted the picture of what it means to love what you do and do it for the right reasons. a candid glimpse into war, trauma medicine, and personal sacrifice.
November 30, 2024
in the shoes of bravado of trauma surgeon
The author captures snippets of his life and few moments where the author had remarkable exchange with patients.
Personally, the author’s upbringing and journey into trauma surgeon pathway was informative.
The author captures snippets of his life and few moments where the author had remarkable exchange with patients.
Personally, the author’s upbringing and journey into trauma surgeon pathway was informative.
December 7, 2025
This is a very good book. It follows the life of Dr. Peter Rhee - his journey into trauma surgery and the stories of that demanding career. It read well as a nonfiction book but, for me, nonfiction does not have the same riveting rhythm of fiction.
August 22, 2019
An eye-opening and enjoyable memoir.
January 31, 2022
I really loved this book. I started it a while before finishing it, but only because I stopped reading entirely for the rest of the year. I picked up this book while I worked at the bookstore, mainly because they were selling signed copies and I wanted one. I went to the University of Arizona and was planning on going to medical school there until I made some poor choices that dropped my grades, and this book filled the void that losing out on my dream created a little bit. I wish that this book had gotten more attention than it did because it was really well written and included some fascinating stories. As someone who is still extremely interested in medicine several years after losing out on my dream of going into trauma surgery, I absolutely loved this book and still do. I love the way the story was told and how medicine was portrayed. It's accurate, not at all like the medical dramas that are on TV. This book is just wonderful, and I highly recommend it to anyone who is considering going into medicine. It's a massive inspiration.
September 4, 2014
I had the opportunity to witness Dr. Rhee on one of his laps between the trauma bay, the OR, and the ICU when I was doing my critical care rotation for nursing school at UAMC. The nurse I was with that day said that he believed Dr. Rhee was one of the smartest doctors in the hospital, that he knew a tremendous amount about gunshot wounds. While I had no doubt then, I certainly have no doubt now. This book also did a great job of enticing me over to trauma. I love that adrenaline rush.
This book was well written. He did a wonderful job of weaving together the medical jargon and the layman's terms. Everything was quick and concise, which I wouldn't expect anything less of a trauma surgeon. I would definitely recommend this book to those not in health care and those in health care equally. It's a great read.
This book was well written. He did a wonderful job of weaving together the medical jargon and the layman's terms. Everything was quick and concise, which I wouldn't expect anything less of a trauma surgeon. I would definitely recommend this book to those not in health care and those in health care equally. It's a great read.
April 25, 2015
Fairly interesting stories, but the writing was a little dry for my taste. Rhee admits that he has a dry sense of humor, but I found his writing lacking in affect - he used the same language and tone whether he was talking about young victims of gunshot wounds or detonating unused mortar bombs. This neutrality, and his reliance on jargon in lieu of description, made the book much less compelling than the stories themselves would indicate. However, I could imagine that somebody particularly interested in military or medical non-fiction fans, meaning there's certainly an audience, it's just not me.
July 25, 2014
Fascinating, informative, insightful!
I simply couldn't put this book down and read it covet-to-cover in one sitting. It takes the reader alongside Dr. Rhee, from the military surgical units in Irak to the ORs of a trauma center in the United States. I loved that the book is informative, although not full of obscure medical lingo. Being that I am a first responder, it also helped me see what happens after I deliver my GSW patients to the ER. Great book! Great job, Dr. Rhee!
I simply couldn't put this book down and read it covet-to-cover in one sitting. It takes the reader alongside Dr. Rhee, from the military surgical units in Irak to the ORs of a trauma center in the United States. I loved that the book is informative, although not full of obscure medical lingo. Being that I am a first responder, it also helped me see what happens after I deliver my GSW patients to the ER. Great book! Great job, Dr. Rhee!
August 17, 2014
This answered so many of my questions about what it takes to become a trauma surgeon. Since I am only 15, it gave me a firsthand look into the world of medicine that I could not get before. I recommend this book to anyone looking into the medical field.
January 16, 2015
Excellent and gripping
This is a fantastic true to life tale about Trauma Surgery in a major metropolitan Emergency Room, on the seas in an U.S.Navy warship, and on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.
This is a fantastic true to life tale about Trauma Surgery in a major metropolitan Emergency Room, on the seas in an U.S.Navy warship, and on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.
June 27, 2014
Very interesting read. Quick one too.
February 3, 2015
What a great book - I couldn't put it down. Dr Peter Rhee is a real inspiration to all. I don't know how he has managed to do all he has achieved in his life already. Definitely a must read
February 27, 2015
I used to work in Trauma and with this man for a little while~great read.
May 30, 2015
A great read. You can clearly see the authors passion for his profession. I came away knowing a lot more about trauma surgery and American Trauma Care. Also his anecdotes are fantastic
Want to read
February 8, 2019I want to read this amazing book
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews