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House of Doctors: The Inside Story of a Medical School
What goes into making a doctor?
Beyond draconian examinations and endless studies, it entails long duty hours with little reprieve, the pressure on the psyche to be always right, the mettle to survive in an unforgiving environment full of patients, anxious caregivers, and a whole world full of hope and anxiety. All the while being painfully aware that they cannot always live up to expectations.
House of Doctors traces the arduous yet exciting journey of medical students, as they move on from practising on cadavers to dealing with real people and diseases, from unrealistic pressures and conflicting situations that test their grit to putting aside their own emotions and make tough decisions. And, above all, the tenacity to revel in their profession.
Candid and emotional, this book reveals a side of the profession that few can ever comprehend, as the medical students take upon unforeseen challenges and push new boundaries in their quest to be known as lifesavers!
Beyond draconian examinations and endless studies, it entails long duty hours with little reprieve, the pressure on the psyche to be always right, the mettle to survive in an unforgiving environment full of patients, anxious caregivers, and a whole world full of hope and anxiety. All the while being painfully aware that they cannot always live up to expectations.
House of Doctors traces the arduous yet exciting journey of medical students, as they move on from practising on cadavers to dealing with real people and diseases, from unrealistic pressures and conflicting situations that test their grit to putting aside their own emotions and make tough decisions. And, above all, the tenacity to revel in their profession.
Candid and emotional, this book reveals a side of the profession that few can ever comprehend, as the medical students take upon unforeseen challenges and push new boundaries in their quest to be known as lifesavers!
288 pages, Paperback
Published November 1, 2018
15 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
August 23, 2020
The book documents the journey of a doctor from her third year MBBS to her post-graduation as an Obs/Gyn Specialist. The details are rather mundane for a doctor but may be of vicarious interest to a lay person.
Her experiences in a govt hospital are par for the course – the hectic schedules, paucity of equipment and medicines, surly and lecherous ward-boys, slothful ayahs, colleagues that shirk duties, colleagues that suck up to the HOD. Vindictive seniors, love affairs, heartbreaks, arranged marriages, divorce, domestic strife are all part of the package. Despite animal roaming in corridors, bed-bug infestation in the duty room, combative attendants of patients, patients who conceal the truth, lousy canteen food, dirty toilets, poor security for the staff, unhelpful administrative staff, government hospitals across the country offer invaluable services to the economically underprivileged. The backbone of these hospitals are the hard working and dedicated nurses and doctors – specifically the resident doctors.
The book could have been better edited – I fastened my footsteps is cringe worthy.
Her experiences in a govt hospital are par for the course – the hectic schedules, paucity of equipment and medicines, surly and lecherous ward-boys, slothful ayahs, colleagues that shirk duties, colleagues that suck up to the HOD. Vindictive seniors, love affairs, heartbreaks, arranged marriages, divorce, domestic strife are all part of the package. Despite animal roaming in corridors, bed-bug infestation in the duty room, combative attendants of patients, patients who conceal the truth, lousy canteen food, dirty toilets, poor security for the staff, unhelpful administrative staff, government hospitals across the country offer invaluable services to the economically underprivileged. The backbone of these hospitals are the hard working and dedicated nurses and doctors – specifically the resident doctors.
The book could have been better edited – I fastened my footsteps is cringe worthy.
December 28, 2018
The book is largely anecdotal and based on the real-life experiences of the author and her fellow doctors. The anecdotes are sometimes hilarious, sometimes heartbreaking, and sometimes awe-inspiring, but all manage to offer a peek into the making of a doctor. Each incident instils in the reader a sense of respect for the medical profession.
At some places, I did feel as if some of the medical parlance could have been better explained. The context for some of the jokes or medical complications were lost on me. Yet, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book because, except for those one or two instances, the author has taken care to explain the details for a non-medico reader.
The book is relevant if you’re a doctor or ever have been a patient. To someone who has actually travelled this journey for themselves, it would offer many chances for reminiscing their own medical college days. For others, it offers valuable and interesting insights into the makings of a doctor.
A must read for everyone-doctor or not!
Detailed review here - https://incrediblewomenofindia.wordpr...
At some places, I did feel as if some of the medical parlance could have been better explained. The context for some of the jokes or medical complications were lost on me. Yet, I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book because, except for those one or two instances, the author has taken care to explain the details for a non-medico reader.
The book is relevant if you’re a doctor or ever have been a patient. To someone who has actually travelled this journey for themselves, it would offer many chances for reminiscing their own medical college days. For others, it offers valuable and interesting insights into the makings of a doctor.
A must read for everyone-doctor or not!
Detailed review here - https://incrediblewomenofindia.wordpr...
April 24, 2019
4/35, Goodreads book reading challenge 2019. #goodreadschallenge2019
A journey of a medical student, portraying their trials, emotions, and every day struggle. It reminded me of grey’s anatomy. So in a way was easy for me to go with the flow.
When the author describes the hospital especially the gynecology ward, you can visualize it, if you have been to a government hospital in India.
My mom gave birth to me in a government hospital and her doctor was a male, and as usual like many other women of those days, when she heard it is a girl, she let out a mild disappointment “ponnaaa”(meaning ohh girl). The doctor immediately came and asked her “ if you don’t want her, give her to me, I will raise her my own”, I still tease her you should have given me away.
But nevertheless I m still the princess of my parents and they gave me all the love which I share today!
There are certain incidents where you can literally feel the pain, the lack of medical services in our rural hospitals and loss of lives makes you crib!
Reading such stories bursts you out of the denial bubble we live in! Many of us are lucky enough to enjoy all the necessary amenities, able to afford to healthcare services, we never realize there are many people out in this world, who can not afford even basic facilities.
These stories also make you appreciate the doctors who work in such tight situations, saving precious lives.
We crib and complaint for the extra 10 minutes we wait in the clinic/hospital but never understand that, the doctor sitting inside, is also a fellow human and is subjected to all the emotions we undergo.
Definitely a good read, doesn’t have sudden twists or turns, no villains, no heroes, just a regular story happening in a hospital from the eyes of a medical student.
It is like reading a journal of a medical student. Pick it up if you are to ready for a sober read.
October 21, 2019
This is a story of a medical student working at Kamla Raja Hospital in Gwalior. It takes you through the tedious journey of a student at medical school. The author herself is a doctor, and the book is reflective of her journey.
The story flows with ease as you move from patient to patient and incident to incident. The book focuses more on the challenges faced by junior doctors in dealing with patients and the running of the hospital, rather than the personal lives of doctors.
The book gives a peek into various patient’s anecdotes, and also highlights how religion and social taboos get in the way of medical procedures. Another fact highlighted is gender bias – and how women struggle to hold forte in a competitive market.
The book is based on the real-life experiences of the author and her fellow colleagues. The snippets are sometimes hilarious, but at times sometimes saddening.
Whether you are a doctor or not, you should read it. It will give you an idea of what a medical student endures to become a full-fledged practicing doctor.
Easy-to-read and well-paced, it is like reading a journal of a medical student.
The story flows with ease as you move from patient to patient and incident to incident. The book focuses more on the challenges faced by junior doctors in dealing with patients and the running of the hospital, rather than the personal lives of doctors.
The book gives a peek into various patient’s anecdotes, and also highlights how religion and social taboos get in the way of medical procedures. Another fact highlighted is gender bias – and how women struggle to hold forte in a competitive market.
The book is based on the real-life experiences of the author and her fellow colleagues. The snippets are sometimes hilarious, but at times sometimes saddening.
Whether you are a doctor or not, you should read it. It will give you an idea of what a medical student endures to become a full-fledged practicing doctor.
Easy-to-read and well-paced, it is like reading a journal of a medical student.
March 22, 2019
A tale about an OB/GYN in the making, House of Doctors touches upon everything, from casual sexism to domestic violence. I am a Grey's Anatomy fan through and through. (No points for guessing why I pulled it off the shelf!) Yet somehow, this one kept me on the edge. Probably because it hits much, much closer home. Set in the late 90s Gwalior, it gives us a glimpse into a resource-starved government hospital and the apathy of its helpless staff. The most heartbreaking parts were the many women who lost their lives in the course of the narrative, due to things that could have been easily avoided. It wasn't even about finances in most cases, just a sheer lack of concern for the well-being a woman. I find it rather ironic - for a group of persons who place such great value on a woman's vagina, lack of interest in maternal health is pure curelty, if not hypocrisy. If you add violence to the mix, well, God help you. It's a difficult read, to be honest, I closed it shut for way more times than I can remember. Yet, it's one I would definitely recommend as a must-read.
July 22, 2020
"𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲 𝗮 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁-𝗼𝗳-𝘁𝗵𝗲-𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱, 𝗱𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲? 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝘆 '𝗵𝗶𝗴𝗵' 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀?"
One time or another, we all have our experiences in a hospital. Some good or some bad. Reading House of Doctors by Tripti Sharan is a wake-up call for those who think that whenever something goes horribly wrong medically, it is all doctor's fault.
"𝗗𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘆, 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘆, 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗼."
The book is about the author's own journey of becoming a gynecologist. The challenges of working in a government hospital. The prejudices attached to women's bodies. The lack of knowledge in women's healthcare. The guilt of losing a patient sometimes to circumstances and sometimes to sheer misfortune.
"𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴."
This book is recommended to all those who think that our healthcare is a lost cause. This book will help you understand what crucial role society plays in the overdue burden there is on the healthcare system. From multiple pregnancies to reaching out to doctors when there is absolutely no scope left, this book will tell you what the life of a doctor is like.
For me, it was a bit technical and a bit of a heavy read but I am glad I gave this book a shot as it taught me a lot of things and I now respect doctors, even more than I used to do.
𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 - 𝟰/𝟱
One time or another, we all have our experiences in a hospital. Some good or some bad. Reading House of Doctors by Tripti Sharan is a wake-up call for those who think that whenever something goes horribly wrong medically, it is all doctor's fault.
"𝗗𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘆, 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝘆, 𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂, 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗿𝗱 𝘁𝗼𝗼."
The book is about the author's own journey of becoming a gynecologist. The challenges of working in a government hospital. The prejudices attached to women's bodies. The lack of knowledge in women's healthcare. The guilt of losing a patient sometimes to circumstances and sometimes to sheer misfortune.
"𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗲𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴."
This book is recommended to all those who think that our healthcare is a lost cause. This book will help you understand what crucial role society plays in the overdue burden there is on the healthcare system. From multiple pregnancies to reaching out to doctors when there is absolutely no scope left, this book will tell you what the life of a doctor is like.
For me, it was a bit technical and a bit of a heavy read but I am glad I gave this book a shot as it taught me a lot of things and I now respect doctors, even more than I used to do.
𝗠𝘆 𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 - 𝟰/𝟱
February 7, 2020
The book is an account of journey of life of a medical student and is based on real life incidences. The author herself is a gynecologist and the book is based on her own experiences. A must read of everybody. All those who are doctors, will feel nostalgic and for all others it shows the average state of affair in a resource crunched big govt hospital. The background is Kamla raja hospital in gwalior and pre mobile era. There are many instances where we can feel the pain of females who are treated so badly and how indifferent the society is for their well being. The lack of resources and the subsequent loss of valuable lives is something that every doctor from a govt institution can relate too and the book gives an opportunity to others to see that perspective.
A must read for everyone.
A must read for everyone.
September 11, 2024
The book is narrated from the first person perspective of a Gynecologist. It takes us through the journey of Medical students as they move on from practising on cadavers to real life patients. Each chapter tells the story of different patients.
It sheds light on the conflict between traditional beliefs and Modern medicine, lack of knowledge about women's health issues, prejudices surrounding women's bodies. The Author has put so much efforts to narrate the medical conditions in simple words which makes it easy to understand for the Non medical people.
It felt like an emotional as well as informative roller coaster. This book will help us understand the day to day struggles, unforeseen challenges and conflicting situations faced by the Medical professionals and will definitely deepen our respect towards them
It sheds light on the conflict between traditional beliefs and Modern medicine, lack of knowledge about women's health issues, prejudices surrounding women's bodies. The Author has put so much efforts to narrate the medical conditions in simple words which makes it easy to understand for the Non medical people.
It felt like an emotional as well as informative roller coaster. This book will help us understand the day to day struggles, unforeseen challenges and conflicting situations faced by the Medical professionals and will definitely deepen our respect towards them
March 2, 2025
House of Doctors takes readers through the rigorous and emotional journey of a medical student, from MBBS to post-graduation in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Set in Gwalior, the book resonated with me even more due to my personal connection with the city.
Written in a simple, engaging style, the book documents real-life experiences with a mix of humor, heartbreak, and inspiration. While the details may seem routine to doctors, they offer a fascinating peek into the making of a doctor for lay readers. It sheds light on the challenges, sacrifices, and resilience of medical students—something we rarely consider as patients.
An easy, anecdotal read, this book is perfect for those curious about the medical world beyond hospital visits. Whether you’re a doctor or not, it’s a compelling and insightful journey worth exploring.
Written in a simple, engaging style, the book documents real-life experiences with a mix of humor, heartbreak, and inspiration. While the details may seem routine to doctors, they offer a fascinating peek into the making of a doctor for lay readers. It sheds light on the challenges, sacrifices, and resilience of medical students—something we rarely consider as patients.
An easy, anecdotal read, this book is perfect for those curious about the medical world beyond hospital visits. Whether you’re a doctor or not, it’s a compelling and insightful journey worth exploring.
August 14, 2019
A riveting account of life of medical students. The challenges faced while becoming a doctor The life’s learning that every single minute spent in hospitals bring and the closest encounters with birth & death.
A must read for everyone.
Doctors will enjoy the nostalgia of walking down the memory lane. And others may get a glimpse of the inside of this animal called a doctor.
A must read for everyone.
Doctors will enjoy the nostalgia of walking down the memory lane. And others may get a glimpse of the inside of this animal called a doctor.
June 1, 2020
Those who are not Doctors would never realize the difficulties they have to face to be called one.Seeing blood,diseases, birth, death at close quarters every day of their life after they enter the medical college is not easy.By contrast,my engineering degree seems like kindergarten!!! Ode to all the Doctors i know!!!
August 25, 2020
Easy to read. Full of stories and insights. Both medical and human nature. Liked the pace of the narrative and the content.
July 2, 2020
This book opened me up to the joys of being a doctor as well the pain and suffering that all doctors must see everyday, especially in underfunded government hospitals. It showed me the realities of being a doctor and truly solidified my ambition even more. It has made me more sure than ever that I want to save lives everyday–and get paid for it.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews