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Steep Turn: A Physician's Journey from Clinic to Cockpit
Be prepared for laughter and tears in this behind-the-scenes peek into this doctor’s life, with a twist that takes his career from the clinic to the cockpit as he embarks on a second profession as a commercial airline pilot.
This fascinating memoir offers a glimpse into the extraordinary life of a young physician. Walk through the halls of the hospital with the author as a medical intern. Dash along on his calls as he rushes to attend dramatic scenes involving life and death. Watch as he saves a life by applying a theory he learned in medical school and performing a procedure he has studied from a book – if he’s lucky, he has actually seen one done once. “See one, do one, teach one” is the refrain among all of his equally-inexperienced young colleagues. If he is nervous or unsure, he is nevertheless intrepid. He does what he believes must be done.
This true-life narrative takes you through a thirteen-year segment of the author’s life. It begins with a detailed description of life as a medical intern followed by a brief stint practicing rural medicine in the tiny town of Grand Coulee, Washington, as a fresh new physician. The story continues with an account of his duties as a naval flight surgeon during the Vietnam War years and, finally, his experience in private practice in a small resort town in North Idaho. Throughout the period, he questions his choice of a career in medicine and struggles with the decision to leave it all behind to pursue a lifetime dream.
You’ll enjoy it all in this well-written memoir that is factual, informative, honest, and, at times, cleverly humorous.
This fascinating memoir offers a glimpse into the extraordinary life of a young physician. Walk through the halls of the hospital with the author as a medical intern. Dash along on his calls as he rushes to attend dramatic scenes involving life and death. Watch as he saves a life by applying a theory he learned in medical school and performing a procedure he has studied from a book – if he’s lucky, he has actually seen one done once. “See one, do one, teach one” is the refrain among all of his equally-inexperienced young colleagues. If he is nervous or unsure, he is nevertheless intrepid. He does what he believes must be done.
This true-life narrative takes you through a thirteen-year segment of the author’s life. It begins with a detailed description of life as a medical intern followed by a brief stint practicing rural medicine in the tiny town of Grand Coulee, Washington, as a fresh new physician. The story continues with an account of his duties as a naval flight surgeon during the Vietnam War years and, finally, his experience in private practice in a small resort town in North Idaho. Throughout the period, he questions his choice of a career in medicine and struggles with the decision to leave it all behind to pursue a lifetime dream.
You’ll enjoy it all in this well-written memoir that is factual, informative, honest, and, at times, cleverly humorous.
- GenresNonfiction
406 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
283 people are currently reading
2791 people want to read
About the author
David B. Crawley
2 books28 followersDavid Crawley is a retired physician and commercial airline pilot. He was born and raised in the heart of the Midwest - Kansas City. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Doctor of Medicine Degree from the University of Kansas, and he is a graduate of the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute where he earned the wings of a naval flight surgeon. He and his wife Martha currently live in Spokane, Washington, but spend summers at their log home in the Madison River Valley of Southwestern Montana.
Dr. Crawley enjoys writing non-fiction. He has published a memoir about growing up in the 1950's in and around Kansas City titled "A Mile of String: A Boy's Recollection of His Midwest Childhood." In 2015, he completed "Steep Turn," a second memoir, which is full of interesting, vividly detailed and sometimes shocking stories that take you from his early days as an intern, through the twists and turns of his years as a Navy flight surgeon, his adrenaline-pumping work as an ER doctor and then his challenging transition to becoming a commercial airline pilot. It's an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at two very different career paths and the struggles in achieving both.
The author’s current project is his first work of fiction—a historical novel set in the late 1800s in rural Indiana. No completion date has been set.
Dr. Crawley enjoys writing non-fiction. He has published a memoir about growing up in the 1950's in and around Kansas City titled "A Mile of String: A Boy's Recollection of His Midwest Childhood." In 2015, he completed "Steep Turn," a second memoir, which is full of interesting, vividly detailed and sometimes shocking stories that take you from his early days as an intern, through the twists and turns of his years as a Navy flight surgeon, his adrenaline-pumping work as an ER doctor and then his challenging transition to becoming a commercial airline pilot. It's an intriguing behind-the-scenes look at two very different career paths and the struggles in achieving both.
The author’s current project is his first work of fiction—a historical novel set in the late 1800s in rural Indiana. No completion date has been set.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 7, 2016
An enjoyable and interesting read. I'm looking forward to David's next book.
March 2, 2019
A very engaging book
Loved to read about his journey from internship to airline pilot. It makes you realize that you have to follow your own path to be happy. My one thought throughout the book: what a wonderful and supportive wife he has.
Loved to read about his journey from internship to airline pilot. It makes you realize that you have to follow your own path to be happy. My one thought throughout the book: what a wonderful and supportive wife he has.
September 4, 2019
An outstanding memoir of David Crawley's career twists and turns. This is a page-turner that I couldn't put down. Highly recommended.
November 30, 2019
A super read!
Great story telling! As a retired naval aviator I ate this book up. The navy flight training sequence is accurate and brings up fond memories. Thanks!
Great story telling! As a retired naval aviator I ate this book up. The navy flight training sequence is accurate and brings up fond memories. Thanks!
August 12, 2018
An interesting read!
As an old P3 pilot and later a pharmaceutical rep, I found this book highly entertaining and informative!
His description of medical procedures kept me enthralled.
As an old P3 pilot and later a pharmaceutical rep, I found this book highly entertaining and informative!
His description of medical procedures kept me enthralled.
July 6, 2021
Inspiring and honest
I recommend this book to: people who have changed careers and wonder if they made the right choice; people who are thinking about changing careers;anybody interested in aviation or medicine. His familiar, straightforward narrative style works, it is a quick easy read. It is. Not really fitted to an arc or overly dramatic, what drama is there is contained in vignettes. One frustrating aspect, and this might arise from someone who is instilled in very locked down disciplines, is there is almost no emotion or self in the writing. Is everybody good and true and selfless? Didn't he ever murder anyone, or at least want to? Just an observation, not a detraction. Great read.
I recommend this book to: people who have changed careers and wonder if they made the right choice; people who are thinking about changing careers;anybody interested in aviation or medicine. His familiar, straightforward narrative style works, it is a quick easy read. It is. Not really fitted to an arc or overly dramatic, what drama is there is contained in vignettes. One frustrating aspect, and this might arise from someone who is instilled in very locked down disciplines, is there is almost no emotion or self in the writing. Is everybody good and true and selfless? Didn't he ever murder anyone, or at least want to? Just an observation, not a detraction. Great read.
July 29, 2023
This was an enjoyable read. I never was bored with it. I read it in about 2.5 days. I really had a hard time putting it down so I could get some sleep. I recommended it to a relative who is in the medical field and they downloaded the audiobook. I don't normally recommend books so when I did they immediately bought it. David Crawley had a very fascinating life. I will continue to recommend this book because I think it is a good read for all. You can change your career anytime in your life you just have to have perseverance.
February 9, 2020
Doctor to Pilot
This is David Bradley's interesting story of how he changed careers. After medical school, David joined the Navy. While training, he got the opportunity to fly solo. This stored something within him. Although he established a medical practice, he was never content. He continued to take flying lessons. Eventually he left all his medical training behind and followed his strong desire to fly.
This is David Bradley's interesting story of how he changed careers. After medical school, David joined the Navy. While training, he got the opportunity to fly solo. This stored something within him. Although he established a medical practice, he was never content. He continued to take flying lessons. Eventually he left all his medical training behind and followed his strong desire to fly.
July 23, 2020
This autobiography started out slow and somewhat dry, but I'm happy I stuck with it. I found the experiences and details of Dr. Crawley to be interesting, especially since he's about 10 years older than me and lived in Idaho, Washington, and California--all places I've personally been. Took a lot of courage for David to make the "Steep Turn" and I found that to be inspirational.
July 8, 2019
Change in flight plans
Quite an interesting book. Full of details and well written. As one who too has made career changes in life, I found easy to relate (too).
Quite an interesting book. Full of details and well written. As one who too has made career changes in life, I found easy to relate (too).
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews