The Heart of Caring

“From decades in his clinic serving the front line of care of children and their families, Dr. Vonnegut has written a deeply real, wise, and hilarious book. It is an instant classic in medical literature. His clear-eyed struggle to keep his practice healthy under a sick, ‘money comes first' giant healthcare-for-profit makes his job almost impossible. Yet his riveting journey is a beacon of caring for patients in an American system that could care less—and he suggests how to fix it.”

– Samuel Shem, M.D., Professor of Medical Humanities at NYU Medical School, author of The House of God and Man’s 4th Best Hospital

“The Heart of Caring is a manifesto for our times. Vonnegut offers a trenchant diagnosis and prognosis of our healthcare system, with prose as bracing as his observations. With years of experience as a physician—and a few as a patient—Vonnegut is ably positioned to cut through the flotsam and jetsam that passes for medical care these days. A refreshing read!”

– Danielle Ofri, MD, PhD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, NYU/Bellevue, and author of When We Do Harm: A Doctor Confronts Medical Error

“Dr. Mark Vonnegut's "The Heart of Caring" is not only rich with the wisdom of a beloved pediatrician, it is an honest look at the mess that insurance companies have made of our current medical care.”

– Dan Wakefield, author of "New York in the Fifties"

“The Heart of Caring is a collection of stories from the heart of a caring physician reflecting on his forty years as a pediatrician. I too lived those forty years in medicine and this book touched a nerve and made me cry and laugh. It is a must-read for all new parents, old parents, medical students, physicians, patients, insurance companies, scientists, everyone.”

– Nancy E. Oriol, Associate Professor of Anesthesia Harvard Medical School