Somewhere in Between

by Sean C. Pirkle MD

Hidden worlds often exist in plain the galaxies above, the buried bodies beneath the Easter Island heads … and medical school.

Somewhere in Between holds a magnifying glass over medical training’s idiosyncrasies, from the cadaver lab and board exams to inadvertently broken sterile fields on clerkship rotations. But this is more than just a story about becoming a doctor. Dr. Sean Pirkle reflects on life through the lens of medicine—navigating the uncertainty of receiving an incurable diagnosis while studying it in class, discovering love on the wards, and standing on the front lines during a global pandemic. He grapples with the strange reality of a computer algorithm determining his future and confronts the ethical complexities that arise when theory meets practice.

Through honest reflection and quiet humor, Dr. Pirkle invites readers to witness the triumphs and missteps that shaped him, offering an unfiltered glimpse into the human side of medicine.

Genres: Medical

238 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 22, 2025

Reviews

[maggie zeng · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just like…incredible! first read of 2026 and couldn’t have started the year on a better note. Sean seems like the most genuine, witty person to be around and i’m glad that there are people like him who go into medicine. Everything about this book spoke to me — the chronic illness, the premed life, the humor…everything :)

I just really, really love physician-authors 🫂

[malavika k · Rating 5 out of 5]

I usually read fiction but as someone who’s starting medical school soon, I decided to give this one a try to get a glimpse into what medical school life actually is like and I loved it so much! your honesty, the way you described all your experiences and all the quotes given in the book were so beautiful :’)

[Anya Offenbacher-Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

Glad I read this, there's so much about the med school process that you don't realize exists. The patient anecdotes were really interesting and his story was just really accessible. The description about studying all day really hits different though. Gotta love being in the library for all hours of the day!

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written review of author’s experience in medical school. He made me laugh out loud and cry multiple times…tears of joy and heartache. Looking forward to his next book.

[Britt Baldridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Read

My daughter is applying to medical school right now. Your book has helped me understand the process. You shared lots of funny and heartwarming moments. I will definitely share it with others!