Making the Rounds: Defying Norms in Love and Medicine

What was it like to survive an illegal abortion, come out as a lesbian, and train to become a doctor in the late 1960s and early '70s—before Roe v. Wade, before Title IX, and in a largely homophobic nation?

“Inspiring, heartfelt, and brutally honest at times, this is a book that will give women and those who care about them the strength and motivation to persevere . . .”—Seattle Book Review

In 1960s America, being different wasn't just difficult—it was dangerous. When teenage Patricia Grayhall realizes she's a lesbian, she faces an impossible choice: embrace her authentic self or conform to society's crushing expectations. Desperate to fit in, she attempts heterosexuality with devastating consequences.

But acknowledging her truth becomes Patricia’s salvation. Coming out gives her unexpected courage to shatter another barrier: defying the male-dominated medical establishment to pursue her dream of becoming a doctor. In lecture halls and hospital wards at a time when women medical students are rare and barely tolerated, Patricia fights for both her education and her right to exist as herself.

The 1970s brought second-wave feminism and promises of liberation, yet the reality remains treacherous. Being openly gay still means risking everything—career, reputation, safety. Love offers no easy refuge; each relationship carries its own lessons about trust, power, and vulnerability in a world that refuses to fully recognize her love life as legitimate.

Making the Rounds is a story of one woman's refusal to disappear, her choice of authenticity over acceptance, and her discovery that the courage to be yourself can transform not just your own life but pave the way for those who follow.