This is a story of a 50-year-long surgical life, across four continents, and numerous hospitals — academic, community, and rural — in a few countries. Unlike the typical memoirs of surgeons, glorifying their accomplishments and paying tribute to our noble profession, this memoir is different: it's not written by a surgical ‘giant’ or a famous scientific innovator; it doesn’t tell the story of a surgical Paganini but rather of a surgical workhorse. It portrays a surgical career in the trenches, as it is, in stark colors, warts and all — topics that others prefer not to write or speak about — complications, malpractice, medical politics, and intrigue. Although ‘surgical’ is its claim to fame, this memoir is aimed not only at surgeons or medical practitioners. Whenever possible, the author portrays events and persons against a background and perspective of the various times and places. The General Surgeon pays tribute to the author's brothers in the trenches — the humble, run-of-the-mill general surgeons worldwide.
Moshe Schein is a general surgeon who has made a name for himself far beyond Rusk County where he has practiced medicine with Marshfield Clinic since 2006. Schein is an accomplished author whose surgical books he penned have become international best sellers and read by surgeons around the world.