Journal Articles by Lori Arviso Alvord, M.D. Cancer Journey for American Indians and Alaska Natives in the Pacific Northwest . Haozous EA, Doorenbos A, Alvord LA, Flum DR, Morris AM. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2016 Sep 1;43(5):625-35. doi: 10.1188/16.ONF.625-635. PMID: 27541555 Shared decision-making for cancer care among racial and ethnic minorities: a systematic review. Mead EL, Doorenbos AZ, Javid SH, Haozous EA, Alvord LA, Flum DR, Morris AM. Am J Public Health. 2013 Dec;103(12):e15-29. doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301631. Epub 2013 Oct 17. Review. PMID: 24134353 Medical school accommodations for religious and cultural practices. Alvord LA. Virtual Mentor. 2013 Mar 1;15(3):198-201. doi: 10.1001/virtualmentor.2013.15.3.ecas3-1303. PMID: 23472807 Surgical outcomes in American Indian veterans: a closer look. Alvord LA, Henderson WG, Benton K, Buchwald D. J Am Coll Surg. 2009 Jun;208(6):1085-92.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2009.02.058. PMID: 19476896 Surgical morbidity and mortality among American Indian and Alaska Native veterans: a comparative analysis. Alvord LA, Rhoades D, Henderson WG, Goldberg JH, Hur K, Khuri SF, Buchwald D. J Am Coll Surg. 2005 Jun;200(6):837-44. PMID: 15922193 Navajo surgeon combines approaches. Interview by Judy Cassidy. Alvord LA. Health Prog. 1999 Jan-Feb;80(1):42-3, 48. PMID: 10345108 Routine intraoperative laparoscopic cholangiography. Stuart SA, Simpson TI, Alvord LA, Williams MD. Am J Surg. 1998 Dec;176(6):632-7. PMID: 9926804
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Mar 25, 2016 Sabrina rated it it was amazing Loved this concept: "Navajo people have a concept called
[Walking in Beauty], but it isn't the beauty that most people think of. Beauty to Navajos means living in balance and harmony with yourself and the world. It means caring for yourself--mind, body, and spirit--and having the right relationships with your family, community, the animal world, the environment--earth, air, and water--our planet and universe. If a person respects and honors all these relationships, then they will be Walking in B Loved
this concept: "Navajo people have a concept called [Walking in Beauty], but it isn't the beauty that most people think of. Beauty to Navajos means living in balance and harmony with yourself and the world. It means caring for yourself--mind, body, and spirit--and having the right relationships with your family, community, the animal world, the environment--earth, air, and water--our planet and universe. If a person respects and honors all these relationships, then they will be Walking in
Beauty." Highly recommend this book for medical professionals; great insights into giving compassionate, culturally competent care.
Dec 25, 2008 Stephanie rated it really liked it It is always fun to read a book in which you find the names of people you have known in the past. In this book appear Alan Waxman MD an OB-GYN with whom I worked at the Alaska Native Medical Center in 1979, and Brooke Medicine Eagle with whom I did a vision quest in Montana. They each only get a sentence , but it was a pleasant surprise. The Beauty Way is the pathway Navajos seek to walk in life. This is a life in harmony with family, community, and nature. If a person disrupts this harmony then It is always fun to read a book in which you find the names of people you have known in the past. In this book appear Alan Waxman MD an OB-GYN with whom I worked at the Alaska Native Medical Center in 1979, and Brooke Medicine Eagle with whom I did a vision quest in Montana. They each only get a sentence , but it was a pleasant surprise. The Beauty Way is the pathway Navajos seek to walk in life. This is a life in harmony with family, community, and nature. If a person disrupts this harmony then he/she becomes ill. The traditional Navajo healer sings to the patient to try to restore this harmony. We would do well to try to learn to walk on the path of beauty. ...more
I have read quite a few memoirs in the past few weeks, and all of them, including this one, have given me insight into the lives of different people in America. It has been interesting to see how where you grew up, and the community you grew up in can have an effect on your life. I was extremely intrigued by Alvord’s thought that certain aspects of native culture could be beneficial if implemented in modern medicine. I like the idea that belief and comfort can have an actual effect on how peopl I have read quite a few memoirs in the past few weeks, and all of them, including this one, have given me insight into the lives of different people in America. It has been interesting to see how where you grew up, and the community you grew up in can have an effect on your life. I was extremely intrigued by Alvord’s thought that certain aspects of native culture could be beneficial if implemented in modern medicine. I like the idea that belief and comfort can have an actual effect on how people recover from disease or injury. To me, it speaks to the power of community, and how important that is for people. Alvord’s story is inspiring and insightful which is why I would give this book 4 stars. ...more
Sep 24, 2012 Kristin rated it it was amazing
There are many rituals performed by the Navajo but my favourite is the celebration of a baby’s first laugh in which the person who made the baby laugh must host a party and give the guests candy
and rock salt on behalf of the baby and it’s family. It is believed that by doing this the baby will grow up to be generous and giving. It is also believed that the soul (also called “the wind”) enters the body soon after birth and that a baby’s laugh is a sign that the soul has become attached to the bo There are many rituals performed by the Navajo but my favourite is the celebration of a baby’s first laugh in which the person who made the baby
laugh must host a party and give the guests candy and rock salt on behalf of the baby and it’s family. It is believed that by doing this the baby will grow up to be generous and giving. It is also believed that the soul (also called “the wind”) enters the body soon after birth and that a baby’s laugh is a sign that the soul has become attached to the body. What a beautiful thing to celebrate.
Sep 25, 2009 Jenn rated it liked it This book was an assigned reading in my medical anthropology class, a subject in which I have a great deal of personal interest. Combine that with having lived in the American Southwest, particularly in New Mexico, and I found this book an interesting read. The author does an excellent job at weaving stories of the traditional medical practices of her Navajo culture in with her profession as a biomedical physician and demonstrates how important cultural context is in the framework of disease, il This book was an assigned reading in my medical anthropology class, a subject in which I have a great deal of personal interest. Combine that with having lived in the American Southwest, particularly in New Mexico, and I found this book an interesting read. The author does an excellent job at weaving stories of the traditional medical practices of her Navajo culture in with her profession as a biomedical physician and demonstrates how important cultural context is in the framework of disease, illness, sickness and healing. She voices some important lessons for biomedicine in incorporating culture into practices; however, she falls short at fully convincing a skeptical reader to see her stories as anything more than anecdotal references to her own experiences. Granted, her intent in writing the book was not to provide an academically-based argument, but rather an opportunity to show the reader a glimpse into how a pluralistic approach to medicine can be beneficial to both traditional and "modern" medicinal practices, particularly when the cultural beliefs of the patient are considered as important to overall well-being as his biological health. For that reason alone, I found the book a very worthwhile read and what I believe should be mandatory for any student of medical anthropology, medicine or public health. ...more
Oct 06, 2008 Julie rated it it was amazing This was a really good book! I started reading it because it was on a reading list published by my Career Tech Student Organization for a competition. This is a very fast reading book about a young
Navajo woman named Lori who becomes a surgeon. This was a pretty big deal because typically the medical field does not recognize the cultures, customs, and ceremonies of the Navajo. Add to that, Lori is female. She overcomes many obstacles, becoming accepted at Dartmouth, and then becoming a respected This is a very fast reading book about a young Navajo woman named Lori who becomes a surgeon. This was a pretty big deal because typically the medical field does not recognize the cultures, customs, and ceremonies of the Navajo. Add to that, Lori is female. She overcomes many obstacles, becoming accepted at Dartmouth, and then becoming a respected surgeon in her field. Lori's goal was to mix modern medicine with Navajo medicine to reach the members of her tribe and
surrounding areas. She manages to do this by becoming a patient herself (not by choice!) and aligning herself with other Navajo medical professionals. It's not until she feels she needs a medicine man that this need becomes ever more clear to her. I found this book to be very inspiring. I hope I can take something from this book to add to my own nursing practice. I also feel that I have learned more of my heritage in terms of Native American practices. I am not Navajo but of Cherokee
descent.
When I first encountered this book, I wondered how she overcame the Navajo prohibition against contact with the spirits of the dead referred to as chindi in so many Tony Hillerman novels. This barrier, and my curiosity
about how traditional Navajo healing became part of her medical practice, were what drove my interest in reading this memoir. I thought that Alvord's experiences were fascinating, and that she had a number of valuable insights to share with readers. I also felt that The Scalpel and I thought that Alvord's experiences were fascinating, and that she had a number of valuable insights to share with readers. I also felt that The Scalpel and the Silver Bear was moving--particularly in the section that dealt with her difficult pregnancy. I would recommend this memoir to anyone who is interested in
Native Americans or in alternative approaches to medicine. For my complete review see https://shomeretmasked.blogspot.com/2...
Feb 07, 2022 Quirky Shauna rated it really liked it Dr. Lori Arviso Alvord is the first
Navajo woman to be board certified in surgery. I enjoyed learning more about the Navajo culture and specifically about this amazing woman! I remember the mystery illness in 1993 around the Four Corners area when young, healthy adults were quickly dying with a complete failure of the lungs, ARDS. Even at Primary Children's Hospital we were preparing to be able to care for any pediatric patients though we didn't ever need to. It was identified as hantevirus which I remember the mystery illness in 1993 around the Four Corners area when young, healthy adults were quickly dying with a complete failure of the lungs, ARDS. Even at Primary Children's Hospital we were preparing to be able to care for any pediatric patients though we didn't ever need
to. It was identified as hantevirus which was contracted from deer mice droppings. Dr. Arviso discusses this contrasting the Navajo healer's view, focusing on a macro cause, as compared to epidemiologists, with a micro focus. She was nominated to serve as the U.S. Surgeon General in 2013. She was born on a reservation in New Mexico, went to college at Dartmouth, attended Stanford for medical school, and was a surgeon in Gallup, New Mexico with the Indian Health Service for several years.
Then she was asked to be an associate dean at Dartmouth Medical Center. Her focus is on holistic medicine, joining Navajo healing and balance with Western technical medical knowledge. Quotes: "Navajo people have a concept called [Walking in Beauty], but it isn't the beauty that most people think of. Beauty to Navajos means living in balance and harmony with yourself and the world. It means caring for yourself--mind, body, and spirit--and having the right relationships with your family, community, the animal world, the environment--earth, air,
and water--our planet and universe. If a person respects and honors all these relationships, then they will be Walking in Beauty." Mountain Chantway The voice that beautifies the land! Night Chant House made of
dawn "It is very hard to heal a person who does not believe they will get well, or a person who does not want to. Most doctors will agree that such patients fare very poorly. A sing by a hauaalii [healer] gives Navajo patients a dimension to their cure that is often crucial to their survival. These patients prepared themselves mentally and spiritually to fight their disease, a very Navajo concept." Native American
writer and healer, Brooke Medicine Eagle, points out that the word HEAL comes from the same root as WHOLE and HOLINESS. For Navajos, wholeness and holiness are the same thing. The system of life is one interconnected whole. Everything is related, according to Navajo beliefs – it is an organic and integrated way of looking at the world. The causes and cures for illness are woven into everything else. "What works for me, whether I have five or fifty-five minutes, is to give myself completely to my patient for that time. I listen carefully to them and let them know that my attention is completely focused on them and that this is their time." Utah mention The Navajo
Plague - 1993 "The mystery disease was believed to be a hantavirus, contracted from the droppings or urine of infected deer mice. The deer mouse population had surged that fall, biologists said, in response to a huge windfall crop of pinon nuts." "The rainfall had caused the pinon crop to be larger than usual. The pinon crop in turn, had fed the mice, whose droppings had spread the disease. The world had indeed fallen out of balance."
Jul 24, 2009 Kathy rated it really liked it I appreciated this book and admire Lori Alvord for the work that she continues to do. I believe that her wisdom .....the Native American ways....apply to all of us. We need to treat our body, mind, and spirit to be well.
Sep 14, 2017 Gail rated it really liked it
3.5* Dr. Alvord is a fascinating
character whose story seems in many ways miraculous. She was ed Dr. Alvord is a fascinating character whose story seems in many ways miraculous. She was educated in a reservation school that was not up to the standards of white schools but despite that, her intellect and determination took her to Dartmouth and eventually to medical school at Stanford. She became one of the few women Navajo surgeons; it was a herculean accomplishment. Her achievement should be celebrated by women as well as those who strive for more equality
within the health care system. This book was written in 1999 so some of her commentary on the state of health care now feels more historical than pertinent to today (though there are other considerable challenges that have arisen). This book should be read as a discussion of a unique way of framing the mind-body-spirit connection that was a fashionable area to explore in the 90s but seems to have become less important to people in the secular 21st century. That does not diminish its
value. In fact, her holistic perspective has value to environmentalists given the connection being discovered between planetary health and human health. As a Native American, there were unique challenges to her becoming a physician, or even getting a basic education. And having a Native American father and a Caucasian mother brought it's own struggles as she tried to bridge two entirely different worlds. The author wasn't raised in traditional Navajo ways; she adopted much of that as she
aged and began her practice in an Indian Health Service hospital on her reservation in New Mexico. Her discovery of certain Navajo healing practices that have since been validated in research was intriguing. Her effort to reduce the stress of her patients as they approached surgery and encountered a foreign culture (the medical system) was admirable and has been demonstrated to improve outcomes (stress is detrimental to human health in a variety of ways). There is now a term for teaching
practitioners how to work with people who are not western European in heritage: cultural competency. Her discussion of the importance of harmony (Walking in Beauty) was especially engaging and important. She links health/healing to the harmony of the world beyond the individual: animals, ecosystem, the land, human social relationships. Again, we are learning more and more about the importance of health as a set of interrelated factors far beyond humans. Using Navajo beliefs to explain
this view was pretty terrific. This memoir doesn't cover very much of her life and focuses more on her discovery of the value of her people's own indigenous practices to caring for people in a more integrated way when they are ill. Her philosophy uses the best of modern medicine along with the wisdom of traditional Native healers to achieve better outcomes in a more compassionate and enlightened way. My one criticism is that she sometimes suspends critical thinking and embraces any
healing practice she encounters as valid for its supposed healing effects. She doesn't distinguish between things that make people feel spiritually comfortable ("beliefs") but that have no evidence to support their reputation for healing, from those things that do in fact have an actual scientific basis for healing. This is especially evident when she searches for ways to manage her pre-eclampsia during her first pregnancy, visiting a medicine man for a prayer ceremony that requires a long trip
alone across New Mexico and Arizona. Given her health at the time, this was risky, something she doesn't emphasize enough, and the ceremony had no impact on her condition, which required an urgent C-section. In other words, there were times when her judgment was clouded as she attempted to embrace and honor her culture. Despite some reservations with the book (the writing is pretty pedestrian; she uses far too many medical terms that aren't explained; it's impossible to read some sections
easily because there is no guide to pronouncing Navajo words - it would have been better to translate them with the Native word in parentheses), I recommend the book for people who are interested in Native American culture (as I am) and in Integrative Medicine concepts. Most Integrative Medicine is founded on incorporating either herbalism or Asian health care practices. I haven't seen anything that bridges Native American culture and Western medicine. This book successfully does that and the
unique piece here is including the whole environment in the quest for health through harmony. Dr. Alvord has made an important contribution to the literature.
I went into this book knowing practically nothing about the Navajo community, their traditions, and their views on medicine and healing, but found that Alvord, who became the first Navajo female surgeon, covered all 3
topics well in 'The Scalpel and the Silver Bear'. Although she does discuss her childhood and upbringing, the focus of the book in on her medical career and how she used her 'western' (non-Navajo) education back to her community while also gaining the trust of her patients, many of I went into this book knowing practically nothing about the Navajo community, their traditions, and their views on medicine and healing, but found that Alvord, who became
the first Navajo female surgeon, covered all 3 topics well in 'The Scalpel and the Silver Bear'. Although she does discuss her childhood and upbringing, the focus of the book in on her medical career and how she used her 'western' (non-Navajo) education back to her community while also gaining the trust of her patients, many of whom abide by the rule that the body is sacred and should not be touched by others, much less have a stranger view the inside of it. She also provides anecdotes of some
of the ways working in a hospital whose patient population is entirely Native American (primarily Navajo but anyone who identifies as Native may receive care as part of a deal with the U.S. government) is different than in a Western hospital, from unusual injuries, to the sad fact that alcohol plays a part in almost every adult patient's injury or illness, to the word 'cancer' being an unfathomable concept to the Navajo. At the same time as Alvord is trying to get her people to accept Western
thinking when it comes to treatment, she realizes that their long-held beliefs and customs touch on ideas that have served them well for many generations and are never taught in medical schools. She sees with her own eyes that even when she's treating a patient by-the-book for something simple, if the concepts of traditional Native healing are ignored, the outcome turns unfavorable.
Dec 15, 2020 Richard Rhodes rated it really liked it This is a fantastic book. I
finished it quickly and enjoyed the short time I spent reading it. The author does a great job describing her upbringing as a Navajo, her experience with going to college in another state and the feeling of being alone and not fitting in. What I especially appreciated about this part was that she explained the cultural differences that separated her from her peers. She did not sacrifice her values and customs in order to "fit in", rather she found a group of fellow Na
This is a fantastic book. I finished it quickly and enjoyed the short time I spent reading it. The author does a great job describing her upbringing as a Navajo, her experience with going to college in another state and the feeling of being alone and not fitting in. What I especially appreciated about this part was that she explained the cultural differences that separated her from her peers. She did not sacrifice her values and customs in order to "fit
in", rather she found a group of fellow Native Americans to spend time with and bring back some of the rituals from their respective tribes. Once she became a surgeon I found her efforts to bring western medicine to her tribe, while blending it with accepted cultural practices to be splendid. One can read between the lines and imagine what she brought to her tribe in particular and Native Americans in general. There is a part in the book in which she talks about her experience as a
patient and what it felt like to be the one lying on the bed with fellow healthcare around her making decisions and executing plans of care. This really resonated with me as I also read "In Shock" by Dr. Rana Awdish this summer, her experience was much akin to the things that Dr. Awdish spoke of. Dr. Alvord is an incredible role model. She does not dwell on the difficulties that she faced in her surgical training but, it is widely known that surgery is one of the more difficult
specialties to pursue, coupled with being a time when females were not widely accepted in MD/DO programs and you can imagine the troubles she faced. Moreover, she persevered and not only became a surgeon but she later accepted a prominent position at Dartmouth University. I will be sharing this book with my two nieces to read and enjoy.
Nov 22, 2020 Jamie Cha rated it really liked it I give this book 4.5 stars. I got this book at a free
library. I forgot about the book. Recently, found it and truly enjoyed it. The writing is really good. The chapters are fairly short. The book really holds your attention. Even though the book is twenty years old, it is so relevant today. The changes that are needed in health care are still talked about today. We are finally starting to see that if we want our body to heal, we, also, need to heal our mind and spirit. The book talks about the cha The writing is really good. The chapters are fairly short. The book really holds your attention. Even though the book is twenty years old, it is so relevant today. The changes that are needed in health care are still talked about today. We are finally starting to see that if we want our body to heal, we, also, need to heal
our mind and spirit. The book talks about the challenges about being both American and Navajo Indian. The challenges about being a doctor and still being a Navajo Indian. The most fascinating thing about reading this book in 2020 was when she wrote about the hantavirus and the Spanish flu. Who would think reading an old book, about the first Navajo female surgeon, would talk about a pandemic, that effected the native American community? That they believed the virus came from an animal (rat). The book is good on so many levels. I would definitely want to read more from tbe author. ...more
This book is a worthwhile read for any individual in the medical profession. Dr. Alvord reminds us how important it is to view patients within the context of each of their cultures, beliefs, and socioeconomic situations. The Scalpel and the Silver Bear particularly highlights the experience of what it is like to be a Native American (specifically Navajo) patient and a Native American physician; however, many of the messages can be adapted across cultures and borders. The importance of community This book is a worthwhile read for any individual in the medical profession. Dr. Alvord reminds us how important it is to view patients within the context of each of their cultures, beliefs, and socioeconomic situations. The Scalpel and the Silver Bear particularly highlights the experience of what it is like to be a Native American (specifically Navajo) patient and a Native American physician; however, many of the messages can be adapted across cultures and borders. The importance of community and balance in the life of an individual and how it effects personal health is pinpointed and shown through powerful anecdotes. In some places, the book can be a bit redundant and makes some points that aren’t particularly novel, but it was written two decades ago and there is still plenty to take away from it today. ...more
Feb 08, 2021 Anna rated it really liked it This month, I read The Scalpel and the Silver Bear: The First Navajo Woman Surgeon Combines Western Medicine and Traditional Healing by Lori Arviso Alvord, M.D. and Elizabeth Cohen Van Pelt. I really enjoyed it. It's an older book, originally published in 1999, but it is still extremely relevant today. The book is a personal narrative, but it also addresses more universal issues surrounding the culture of medical care in the United States. It is a easy read that manages to share a lot of serious This month, I read The Scalpel and the Silver Bear: The First Navajo Woman Surgeon Combines Western Medicine and Traditional Healing by Lori Arviso Alvord, M.D. and Elizabeth Cohen Van Pelt. I really enjoyed it. It's an older book, originally published in 1999, but it is still extremely relevant today. The book is a personal narrative, but it also addresses more universal issues surrounding the culture of medical care in the United States. It is a easy read that manages to share a lot of serious information in a way that isn't overwhelming and yet it doesn't pull any punches. Racial disparity in medical care is a tragic problem. The author shows just how difficult it can be for for those affected by these disparities to get past them and receive the kind of quality care they need. At the same time, she models how greater inclusivity and cultural sensitivity can lead to fantastically better outcomes for patients and doctors alike. Not only is this book bound to raise the reader's awareness, it is an interesting and enjoyable autobiography. ...more
Feb 12, 2020 Doug rated it it was amazing Really enjoyed the book; liked the author/doctor and her theory. Must admit that I'm biased to the mind-body connection and respecting all sentient beings, which fits nicely with the Native American belief-system.
Alvord provided a fascinating glimpse into the traditional Navajo culture, and describes how the impersonal, assembly-line practice of modern medicine negatively impact her patients' health. She details her own youth and medical training, her growth as a physician ad exposure to the medicine man, and the incorporation of mystical elements into holistic treatment for the whole mind and body. She'd be a fascinating dinner companion. Alvord provided a fascinating glimpse into the traditional Navajo culture, and describes how the impersonal, assembly-line practice of modern medicine negatively impact her patients' health. She details her own youth and medical training, her growth as a physician ad exposure to the medicine man, and the incorporation of mystical elements into holistic treatment for the whole mind and body. She'd be a fascinating dinner companion. ...more
May 02, 2019 Anne rated it it was amazing Loved this read. We tend to forget people’s histories and how it impacts many generations later. The concept of this book is something to consider as we live our lives. Also we should embrace the fact that so many cultures share very similar approaches to life, health, and medicine. We all can benefit from these cultures in our daily lives. Thank you Dr. Alvord for a wonderful read as well as the journey you took to get where you are. You are an inspiration to all women, young and old.
Nov 06, 2019 Thobe rated it really liked it This book was so cool. It's my favorite of my required readings so far. I loved learning about Navajo culture as well as reading about Alvord's journey through medicine. This was another example (along with The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down) of how western medicine needs a more holistic view and cultural sensitivity when it comes to treating patients. Navajo culture is fascinating. It's just so cool, and learning about it was my favorite part of reading this book. This book was so cool. It's my favorite of my required readings so far. I loved learning about Navajo culture as well as reading about Alvord's journey through medicine. This was another example (along with The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down) of how western medicine needs a more holistic view and cultural sensitivity when it comes to treating patients. Navajo culture is fascinating. It's just so cool, and learning about it was my favorite part of reading this book. ...more
Jul 12, 2020 Sucre rated it really liked it this was a great memoir and, aside from a few instances of fatphobia, was very informative. as a disabled person who has seen many, many doctors, it was refreshing to read about one who is so thoughtful of her patients and their cultures. the lack of cynicism was comforting, and it helped me put into words a lot of my own beliefs when it comes to doctor-patient relationships, hospitals and other medical institutions. highly recommend this for anyone with an interest in the medical field
Apr 05, 2022 Cliff rated it it was amazing A must-read for anyone in the medical profession! This book has great
insights on how healthcare can be improved--something that's definitely needed. This book is also very informative on Native American culture, with a focus on the Navajo so if you'd like to learn more on that topic this is a recommended read for you too! (In which case, I can also recommend "Light of the Feather" by Mick Fedullo.) This book is also very informative on Native American culture, with a focus on the Navajo so if you'd like to learn more on that topic this is a recommended read for you too! (In which case, I can also recommend "Light of the Feather" by Mick Fedullo.)
Oct 08, 2017 Sheryl rated it really liked it While it's no surprise that Native Americans continue to struggle, the focus on women specifically was eye-opening. While Alvord may (not quite sure on that) have been given an opening into higher education due to her demographic, she certainly deserved it. Her approach to medicine is contrary to our current culture, and very refreshing. Great choice for book club discussions. While it's no surprise that Native Americans continue to struggle, the focus on women specifically was eye-opening. While Alvord may (not quite sure on that) have been given an opening into higher education due to her demographic, she certainly deserved it. Her approach to medicine is contrary to our current culture, and very refreshing. Great choice for book club discussions. ...more
Apr 08, 2018 Dhartridge rated it really liked it I am rating this 4 rather than 3 stars because the combination of three interesting (to me) topics: medicine, a woman's success in a male dominated profession, and Native American experience. It is a quick and interesting read.The author is now a Dean at Dartmouth, the college I associate with Louise Erdrich and Michael Dorris. I am rating this 4 rather than 3 stars because the combination of three interesting (to me) topics: medicine, a woman's success in a male dominated profession, and Native American experience. It is a quick and interesting read.The author is now a Dean at Dartmouth, the college I associate with Louise Erdrich and Michael Dorris. ...more
You know, I don't know why I bother teaching a class on religion and medicine. I should just assign my students this book and The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down and call it a day. Except I know they would
never read either book because I DO assign them (as part of their final assignment) and none of them read either one. Except I know they would never read either book because I DO assign them (as part of their final assignment) and none of them read either
one.
Jan 14, 2022 rida ☻ rated it liked it 3.5****I really did enjoy this book as it was incredibly insightful!! I can't say I have much to say about the contents of this book as it isn't like I am commenting on a fictional story, this is someone's real life. Nevertheless, Alvord greatly encapsulates the story of her life beautifully within this book. Her writing was so effortless and filled with meaning, I thoroughly enjoyed it! 3.5****I really did enjoy this book as it was incredibly insightful!! I can't say I have much to say about the contents of this book as it isn't like I am commenting on a fictional story, this is someone's real life. Nevertheless, Alvord greatly encapsulates the story of her life beautifully within this book. Her writing was so effortless and filled with meaning, I thoroughly enjoyed it! ...more
A very thought provoking autobiography of a female Navajo surgeon. The explanations of Navajo beliefs and merging those with western medicine was fascinating. The belief in the connection between mind, body, spirit and the surrounding world we live in makes you rethink the healing process and view it in an entirely different way.
Memoir of a Navajo woman who, in order to realize her dream of becoming a doctor, has to come to terms with the cold, technology-driven Western medicine that is at odds with her culture, which emphasizes living a balanced and harmonious life. This book was written over 20 years ago and the message is still relevant.
Jan 08, 2018 Laura rated it it was amazing Excellent read. Fascinating to see how Alvord was successful in making a career in western medicine whilst still keeping her Native American cultural beliefs. Awesome to see her take advantage of minority opportunity and truly succeed.
Interesting and a fairly fast read. I admit to skimming through some of the pages about Navajo culture and spiritual beliefs...but since I feel there was quite a bit of repetition I don't think I missed too much. Interesting and a fairly fast read. I admit to skimming through some of the pages about Navajo culture and spiritual beliefs...but since I feel there was quite a bit of repetition I don't think I missed too much. ...more Related ArticlesAugust has arrived with plenty of interesting destinations for the discerning summer reader—from spooky offshore islands to an... “The best surgeons didn't operate on gallbladders or spleens or hearts, they operated on the people who owned them. People with children, jobs, interests, and beliefs. They operated on lives.” — 0 likes “New technologies, like biofeedback, were helping us understand that the mind can indeed control the body. New research has even shown that the mind is able to positively or negatively influence the immune system, and our body’s ability to fight against cancers and infections. Medicine men were capable of working through channels that we in Western medicine did not yet understand.” — 0 likes More quotes…Welcome back. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. |
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