What do you think?
Rate this book
Courage to Heal
Who was the most influential physician of the twentieth century? Jonas Salk? Christian Barnard? Benjamin Spock? Set in a world of iron lungs and the Great Depression, when women and babies are dying in poorly run charity hospitals, Courage to Heal is based on the true story of a young surgeon, Sidney Garfield, who along with the twentieth century's boldest industrialist, Henry Kaiser, changes the face of American medicine. Garfield is brought to life in this story of an intransigent physician, his fight to provide health care to all, and his smoldering love affair with a beautiful nurse who marries the man determined to defeat him. The New York Times and NBC Nightly News call Garfield's legacy the "future of American Health Care." Courage to Heal won first place fiction at the Asilomar Writers' Conference in Northern California, a group that includes NY Times bestselling authors Fannie Flag and Susan Vreeland. All proceeds from the sale of this novel will be donated to the Sidney Garfield Memorial Fund and to the Permanente Federation to continue Dr. Garfield's legacy by encouraging innovation that will improve health care for all. VISIT ONLINE AT WWW.COURAGETOHEAL.ORG
- GenresHistory
277 pages, Paperback
First published December 7, 2006
7 people are currently reading
32 people want to read
About the author
Paul Bernstein
5 books4 followersThe author, Paul Bernstein, MD, has treated patients who were intentionally exposed by the government to atomic bomb radiation, and subsequently developed malignant cancers. He understands their suffering and has dedicated this book to them. Dr. Bernstein, a Head and Neck Surgeon, is the Medical Director of the largest medical group in California, the former Chairman of the American Cancer Society’s Head and Neck Division, and has appeared as a medical expert on radio and television.
For more information please contact the author at paulbernstein@flashblindnovel.com or www.zovabooks.com.
For more information please contact the author at paulbernstein@flashblindnovel.com or www.zovabooks.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 2, 2017
Downloaded this book thinking it was a different book by a similar name. It was so good I couldn't put it down. I am not usually a fan of non-fiction, or biographies, but this book was an amazing read. Loved it!!!
June 19, 2023
Courage to Heal by Paul Bernstein
"I tapped on a vein and said, "Fill the syringe with my blood..." an excerpt from page 3.
Set in the time of the Great Depression and World War II, Paul Bernstein conveys the story of Sidney Garfield in an enthralling, pulling, imaginative, and resounding manner. Being my first time discovering who Sidney Garfield was, I was taken aback by his virtues, perseverance, passion, tenacity, and traits. There is something bond here, that would inspire every driven one.
Starting with the compelling prologue that detailed the death of Sidney's mother over an unaffordable medical bill, this set in pain, and eventually turns into a motivating factor for Sidney to pursue his dream of becoming a medical doctor. Years later, Sidney Garfield was suspended from Keating Hospital because he wouldn't follow medical procedures. He had passion for patient's life that makes him do things outside the norms, he had transfused blood from his body to a dying patient and saved his life. This in turn made his Dean, Keating mad at him because he wouldn't follow medical procedures. Sidney was later suspended and the aftermath leads to his vision of building a hospital somewhere in the desert.
Sidney's hospital project came with a lot of challenges, he had no money, but after consulting his father for help, he was able to get a loan to build the hospital, however, the aftermath was unpalatable when the bank threatens to take over Sidney father's business because he couldn't pay back his loan. This part aroused a lot of emotion, as I could feel his father's pain. Also, reading about his eventual death was quite sad. Sidney in the process does not want to compromise his stands by going into business with the likes of Chandler. This keeps ongoing until Sidney overcame his obstacles and was able to move on, even in the presence of some minute challenges yet to be conquered.
I love the introduction of Henry Kaiser, the building of the Los Angeles Aqueduct, and the opportunity that extends to Sidney in the process. Sidney was able to speak to Henry about the problem at hand after Henry expressed his surprise at how he managed to run an Air Conditioned hospital in the middle of a desert with no patients. This in turn leads to seasons of conversation that I like to consider the start of Sidney's career. He had used the Aqueduct opportunity to treat sick and injured workers. But when the war was over, Sidney faced another obstacle. His medical plan and ideas for treating the sick were seen as a threat by his contemporaries. The AMA tried to eradicate his medical group, the state filed a charge against him. Yet in all, Sidney was relentless. How so much I admire his traits. One that every passionate being should possess.
I love the introduction of characters like Judy. A nurse that worked with Sidney for many years but eventually married Chandler. The twist of events that happened between Sidney and Judy was quite emotional. Sidney loved Judy to the core but was late at revealing his love for her. Judy, in turn, because of some silly reasons eventually settled with Chandler. More reason why I consider the story of Sidney Garfield as one full of love, perseverance, grief, and heartbrokenness. I love the role Judy played while Sidney was charged, and when narcissistic Dr. Foster present himself as an agent to have Sidney's medical license revoked. This part among many others reads quite scenically and it marks my most admirable chapter in the novel.
I will restrict from revealing further in an attempt to keep this review spoiler free. But I would love to say that I am taken aback by Paul Bernstein's writing style and use of words. To have someone convey the story of Sidney in this poetic, imaginative, and brilliant manner. The technique with which he describes every surgery scene is quite rare, one that reminds me of my 5-months stay at the Kidney Care Center when my dad was hospitalized. The writing style, characterization, plot twist, and the conversation that exists between the doctors remind me of the movie, Greg's Anatomy. I need to mention that the novel is immensely educative, it will be a helpful resource to medical students, lovers of biography, and literature at large. Thoughtful, sad, wise, and inspiring, Paul Bernstein's Courage to Heal rekindles my passion to pursue anything I set my mind to achieve.
"I tapped on a vein and said, "Fill the syringe with my blood..." an excerpt from page 3.
Set in the time of the Great Depression and World War II, Paul Bernstein conveys the story of Sidney Garfield in an enthralling, pulling, imaginative, and resounding manner. Being my first time discovering who Sidney Garfield was, I was taken aback by his virtues, perseverance, passion, tenacity, and traits. There is something bond here, that would inspire every driven one.
Starting with the compelling prologue that detailed the death of Sidney's mother over an unaffordable medical bill, this set in pain, and eventually turns into a motivating factor for Sidney to pursue his dream of becoming a medical doctor. Years later, Sidney Garfield was suspended from Keating Hospital because he wouldn't follow medical procedures. He had passion for patient's life that makes him do things outside the norms, he had transfused blood from his body to a dying patient and saved his life. This in turn made his Dean, Keating mad at him because he wouldn't follow medical procedures. Sidney was later suspended and the aftermath leads to his vision of building a hospital somewhere in the desert.
Sidney's hospital project came with a lot of challenges, he had no money, but after consulting his father for help, he was able to get a loan to build the hospital, however, the aftermath was unpalatable when the bank threatens to take over Sidney father's business because he couldn't pay back his loan. This part aroused a lot of emotion, as I could feel his father's pain. Also, reading about his eventual death was quite sad. Sidney in the process does not want to compromise his stands by going into business with the likes of Chandler. This keeps ongoing until Sidney overcame his obstacles and was able to move on, even in the presence of some minute challenges yet to be conquered.
I love the introduction of Henry Kaiser, the building of the Los Angeles Aqueduct, and the opportunity that extends to Sidney in the process. Sidney was able to speak to Henry about the problem at hand after Henry expressed his surprise at how he managed to run an Air Conditioned hospital in the middle of a desert with no patients. This in turn leads to seasons of conversation that I like to consider the start of Sidney's career. He had used the Aqueduct opportunity to treat sick and injured workers. But when the war was over, Sidney faced another obstacle. His medical plan and ideas for treating the sick were seen as a threat by his contemporaries. The AMA tried to eradicate his medical group, the state filed a charge against him. Yet in all, Sidney was relentless. How so much I admire his traits. One that every passionate being should possess.
I love the introduction of characters like Judy. A nurse that worked with Sidney for many years but eventually married Chandler. The twist of events that happened between Sidney and Judy was quite emotional. Sidney loved Judy to the core but was late at revealing his love for her. Judy, in turn, because of some silly reasons eventually settled with Chandler. More reason why I consider the story of Sidney Garfield as one full of love, perseverance, grief, and heartbrokenness. I love the role Judy played while Sidney was charged, and when narcissistic Dr. Foster present himself as an agent to have Sidney's medical license revoked. This part among many others reads quite scenically and it marks my most admirable chapter in the novel.
I will restrict from revealing further in an attempt to keep this review spoiler free. But I would love to say that I am taken aback by Paul Bernstein's writing style and use of words. To have someone convey the story of Sidney in this poetic, imaginative, and brilliant manner. The technique with which he describes every surgery scene is quite rare, one that reminds me of my 5-months stay at the Kidney Care Center when my dad was hospitalized. The writing style, characterization, plot twist, and the conversation that exists between the doctors remind me of the movie, Greg's Anatomy. I need to mention that the novel is immensely educative, it will be a helpful resource to medical students, lovers of biography, and literature at large. Thoughtful, sad, wise, and inspiring, Paul Bernstein's Courage to Heal rekindles my passion to pursue anything I set my mind to achieve.
April 13, 2025
This was an entertaining and interesting vision of Kaiser Medical's history and its impact on American health care. I enjoyed how the story of Sid Garfield's vision and passion was written, once he and Henry Kaiser connected the story became riveting and exciting. The addition of the other characters (the Kaiser MD's, AMA, Judy) just provided such a full story. In the end, Kaiser still stands strong and it's simply amazing.
I have worked for Kaiser Medical for over 20 years and still enjoy providing service with that kind of energy, after reading this book I feel pride that the founding fathers of this system were as enthusiastic as I am.
I have worked for Kaiser Medical for over 20 years and still enjoy providing service with that kind of energy, after reading this book I feel pride that the founding fathers of this system were as enthusiastic as I am.
February 13, 2016
Historical novel with good plot line, interpersonal drama, medical thrills, (and a little bit unrealistic dialog, but not bad). It's inspiring to read what one person's compassionate vision and personal sacrifice in the 1940s (Dr. Sidney Garfield), and another person's powerful support (Henry Kaiser), could do when focused on inequities in health care. They created a whole new approach (the non-profit HMO) that benefits me and so many people today. I didn't know its backstory (and personal drama) before this book, but I do now -- at least to the extent that a novel tells history accurately -- and I'm glad, because it makes me appreciate what we have and what those who came before us did to get us here.
May 4, 2011
Paul is an excellent author, physician and overall human being.
August 6, 2015
Great, short, easy read that introduces readers to HMO's, the political influence of the AMA, and how Kaiser got it's start.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews