Customer Reviews

What's Past is Prologue: The Personal Stories of Women in Science at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

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"What's Past is Prologue" is a collection of brief autobiographical essays of several women physicians and scientists at Vanderbilt University's School of Medicine. The writers range from assistant faculty members to chairs of departments. It's a terrific and inspirational read for aspiring physicians and scientists, whether male or female. The authors' main themes are varied. Most discuss in depth the passion they have for science and medicine and what sparked that early in their careers. The authors that are also mothers recount how they have managed their time in order to be productive physicians and scientists while raising and connecting with their children.

I'm an MD/PhD student in the middle of grad school, and reading these essays has been a great source of enjoyment. It's like being privy to conversations with 27 of your heroes who are answering questions you'd like to ask but might feel to shy to actually do so. What drives you - what's your passion? What is your schedule like? How and when did you have children and what resources do you draw upon to maintain a family life? What do you look forward to in the future?

Overall, I highly recommend this book to young people who are considering, or are already embarked upon, careers in medicine.

In this era of our hunger for all things "reality", this book truly stands out as an inspiration of the real lives of women scientists. As written in their own words, these women really come from a variety of backgrounds and experiences. Their stories are riveting and unique. Every woman thinking about a career in science and medicine should be able to identify with at least some of the women in the book and find in them the inspiration to pursue their career dreams. These autobiographies humanize these intelligent and creative women, and demonstrate that women in science are multi-faceted and can have a career, family, and outside interests. Dr. Neilson has done an excellent job of assembling these life stories and of uniting them all together. I highly recomment the book for all women thinking of, or already immersed in, a career in scientific research.

It has been wonderful to read "What's Past is Prologue: The Personal Stories of Women in Science at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine" by Dr Neilson. As a woman planning to enter academic medicine currently at the end of my MD/PhD training and also a mother of 2 young children, this book was not only highly inspirational but also provided a window into the personal lives of outstanding female scientists. It makes me realize that my struggles and joys are quite universal and our paths albeit different lead to common dreams. Overall, I highly recommend this book to both women and men alike interested in academic medicine.

What's Past is Prologue is one of the most inspirational books I have read. I am a female physician in training in internal medicine and found these personal stories by my female collegues very unique and admirable. I strive to also become a female physician scientist.It was very rewarding to hear how they juggle family and their successful careers. I highly recommend this book.