This book is a must read for anyone interested in the radical evolution of medicine in the United States...
Dr. Eric Kandel, 2000 Nobel Laureate
in Physiology or Medicine
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Alfalfa to Ivy: Memoir of a Harvard Medical School Dean traces author Joseph B. Martin’s journey from Mennonite farm boy to the highest levels of academic achievement and leadership. A compelling narrative for non-specialists as well as academics and professionals, the memoir provides an intimate perspective on academic politics and health care in Canada and the United States, which Martin is perfectly poised to critique. “I can’t imagine there will ever be a time when there’s such enormous change and a groundswell in what is possible. It was a wonderful time to be part of that extraordinary saga,” says the author.
"Joe Martin's career confronted all the major issues of medicine and health care. He experienced the glories of research, the complexities of institutional relationships, the unsustainable healthcare system, and the strain of political pressures. His memoir is highly recommended for those who seek an inside view on what makes great medical institutions tick, and what it takes to make one truly successful."
John Dirks, President and Scientific Director, The Gairdner Foundation
".…In all of his many leadership roles his currency was warmth, honesty and collaboration—allowing him to make partners of old rivals and to set an impeccable standard for those who followed."
Nancy C. Andrews, M.D., Ph.D., Dean and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Duke University School of Medicine
"...The memoir is remarkable for its detail and precision... This is not a chatty memoir interlaced with cheap shots. It is a work of scholarship and leadership. I note with appreciation Joe’s continuing regard for his home base and his Mennonite affiliation." Read more
J. Daniel Hess, Ph.D., Writer and Educator
