On this edition of StudioTulsa, we speak with the former medical director of the oldest (and one of the busiest) public hospitals in America, Dr. Eric Manheimer, who worked for many years at Bellevue Hospital in New York City. While internationally known for its psychiatric and criminal units, Bellevue is a full service public hospital that delivers babies, fights cancer, and is a major trauma center for the city. His book, "Twelve Patients," documents how intertwined public health is with all types of political issues, from immigration and criminal justice to social services and mental health policies, as well as health care reform. In his book, Dr. Manheimer shares the stories of eleven typical Bellevue patients that demonstrate this intersection; the 12th patient, interestingly, is the doctor himself, who makes the transition from physician to patient in his own fight against lymphoma.
"Twelve Patients: Life and Death at Bellevue Hospital"
