Symptoms of Unknown Origin: A Medical Odyssey - Softcover

"Clif Meador does it again -- a new book for physicians about patients who suffer in bewilderment with strange illnesses they do not understand. His stories and approach to ‘symptoms of unknown origin’ are compelling and thoughtful. Medicine is rarely cookie-cutter nor simply linear from the structure and process of molecular knowlege. The lost art of being a detective and talking productively to ‘odd’ patients is a special craft in much need of resurrection. The approach in this book makes a superb dent in the problem. Meador’s accumulated wisdom from practicing endocrinology for over fifty years is a great read that doesn’t disappoint." - Eric G. Neilson, M.D., Chairman, Dept. of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, author of _Immunologic Renal Diseases_

"Clifton Meador is a master clinician. This book adds to his legacy. He does not allow preconceived notions to interfere with his need to listen to his patients. He elicits their narrative of distress so that he can minister to the illness they are experiencing. SYMPTOMS OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN offers lessons for all who feel compelled to seek medical care, and for all who assume responsibility for providing such. Meador makes his points by relating clinical anecdotes in prose that is lucid and engaging." - Nortin M. Hadler, M.D. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

"The 50-year span of Dr. Meador's career has seen almost unimaginable changes in how physicians are educated, what practice is like, and what academic environments are like. Through this, Dr. Meador illustrates the importance of being a true physician with knowledge of the scientific but also the ability to communicate with patients and understand their illness from their point of view. This book would make a wonderful graduation present for a medical student - a way to help them understand that they have to think of their own career as an odyssey for them to control, as well as to help them understand that while in school teachers were appointed faculty, but once in practice their patients will be their most influential teachers. What Dr. Meador offers is an example of how to be a continuously learning physician, to keep an open and inquisitive mind, strive to listen, and not prematurely judge. This message might be equally important for experienced physicians, to remind us in these increasingly cynical times of the source of joy in practicing medicine." - Stuart C. Gilman, MD, MPH, University of California, Irvine

"A beautiful and wise book by a caring doctor. If I’d had Clif Meador as my teacher, I’d never have had to write _The House of God_. Every doctor should read this." - Samuel Shem, M.D.