See One, Do One, Teach One: The Art of Becoming a Doctor: A Graphic Memoir

by Grace Farris

In 2004 Grace Farris began medical school with visions of ER and Scrubs. Across cadaver labs, operating rooms and lecture halls, she embarked on the road to becoming a doctor. In her graphic memoir debut, Grace looks back on her journey through medical school and residency. Through candid comics, readers experience the box of bones Grace takes home to study, the smell of formaldehyde that emanates from the cadaver she dissects, the endless mnemonics and “-ologies” she must learn and the racism and sexism that confront her in the healthcare system. As she works gruelling, thirty-hour shifts and meets with patients from all walks of life, she discovers moments of joy, too: making her first correct diagnosis and, when she least expects it, falling in love.

See One, Do One, Teach One is a vivid portrait of the human side of healthcare and what binds patient and doctor together.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Memoir, Nonfiction, Comics, Health, Medicine

304 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication March 1, 2026

About the author

Grace Farris is a mom, doctor, and illustrator. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, Vogue, NPR, BuzzFeed, and she writes a weekly comic for the lifestyle blog Cup of Jo. Her comics and illustrations have appeared in exhibitions in the UK, Ireland, Austria and across the US. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her family. She is the author of Mom Milestones: The TRUE Story of the First Seven Years. Visit Grace at farrisgrace.com and on Instagram at @coupdegracefarris

Reviews

[Bin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect experience of training to be a doctor without all of the effort of actually doing it

[Julesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grace Farris chronicles her journey to becoming a practicing doctor starting right before her first year of med school all the way through to being a practicing physician. She mentions how med school is absolutely nothing like what is shown on TV shows. The author matter-of-factly tells the story of the various things her professors said during her clinical rotations which remained stuck in her mind, particularly the saying “see one, do one, teach one” during an emergency splenectomy on her surgical rotation. The author details certain patients and situations on her rotations and residency.

Farris is also an artist and illustrated this graphic novel. During an interview with a hospitalist group, the interviewer suggested she do a comic in graphic medicine since she wrote a comic strip in college. Apparently, she thought about his suggestion and wrote this graphic novel. Where she found the time to do so with her career, husband and children is beyond me!

The only flaw was that it ended rather abruptly. I would have liked to see some of her experiences post-residency graduation. The timeline jumps from her residency graduation in 2011 to present day 2025. What happened in the gaps between post-residency and fellowship and fellowship to practicing doctor? I’m sure there were some memorable stories to share particularly during the COVID period.

As a mother of a son who traveled down a similar path to becoming a doctor, it provided me with more information than what I was able to drill out from my son, lol. Any student who is remotely interested in becoming a doctor or a parent of potential medical student should read this graphic novel to provide them with general expectations. It was extremely informative, outlining the years in med school, residency, and fellowship. The illustrations were lovely, simple and lightly sketched with muted colors.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.

Rated 4.5 stars.

[Lourdes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoy books about professions I thought about when I was younger, but knew nothing about. This graphic novel is informative with some humor and a good sense of connection. The story and experience is easy to follow.

Reading "See One, Do One, Teach One" helped me understand the show "The Pitt" a lot more. It provided lots of clarity of what the difference between residents and attendings, all the experience doctors get through their years of schooling, and see all the opportunities students have to find their specialty.

Highly recommend this graphic novel!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Laura Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

See One, Do One, Teach One really brought home just how long and demanding the path to becoming a doctor is, and how deeply imposter syndrome can linger along the way. The story felt honest and grounded, especially in how it shows self-doubt not as something that disappears, but as something the protagonist learns to live with.
I think this would be an excellent read for students who are curious about or considering a career in medicine. I particularly loved the self-reflection around the push and pull between her interest in medicine and her love of art, and the way both identities coexist rather than cancel each other out.
I enjoyed the drawing style. I’m always drawn to graphic novels that tell contemporary, authentic stories like this one.
ARC via NetGalley

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Graphic Non Fiction
I received an electronic ARC from W. W. Norton & Company through NetGalley.
Farris takes readers through her first thoughts about medical school through the whole experience. From year 1 through graduation and on, we see a realistic picture of what life was like for her. I appreciated the humorous touch and the reality of dealing with so many concerns and illnesses. The realistic way she portrayed losing patients was heartbreaking along with the joy of healing and sending them home.
Well thought out and definitely worth the read.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a fantastic read. I loved reading about Grace's journey through medical school and residency while also navigating her personal life. The comics were great and paired well with her words. It was interesting to see the steps involved in becoming a doctor. There were some heartbreaking parts, as the book mentioned deaths, but it was also powerful and beautiful the way Farris discussed this sensitive topic.

*Thank you, NetGalley, for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.*

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does such a good job humanizing what feels like an inhumane or intangible process, something that non-doctors look at with only a vague understanding without any nuance. This provides the nuances of becoming a doctor and the depths of humanity that need to be stifled and embraced to survive.

Thanks for the ARC

[Bozhena Levine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you W. W. Norton & Company and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this book. This is a behind-the-scene look at what it takes to become a doctor while trying to have some personal life as well as other interests (art) and the way Grace managed to balance it all. A very insightful and quick read.

[Sophie Hoem · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this from a giveaway and LOVED IT- really felt like it gave me a glimpse into the workings of becoming a doctor

[Sherry Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have never seen a book like this that is a real life story in a cartoon style. I loved it!!! It was interesting , informative, and a fantastic read! I happily give it five stars!