The Only Life You Could Save

Description

Orders now open! This book is scheduled for release on September 8, 2026. Orders placed before then will ship on or before release date. 

The Only Life You Could Save: Becoming a Doctor. Staying Human.

By Cassie C. Ferguson, MD

ABOUT THE BOOK

IN THE ONLY LIFE YOU COULD SAVE, Dr. Cassie Ferguson argues that while we have become remarkably good at recognizing burnout, depression, and anxiety in healthcare students and professionals, we have devoted far less attention to enabling them to thrive. Through compelling stories, Dr. Ferguson explores the emotional realities of medical training and practice, from impostor syndrome and high-stakes learning environments to grief, stress, and vicarious trauma. Drawing on contemplative traditions, psychology, neuroscience, and philosophy, she offers practical strategies for cultivating self-compassion, belonging, interdependence, and joy. The result is an innovative guide for anyone navigating the emotional complexities of caring for others.

AUTHOR CASSIE C. FERGUSON, MD, is a pediatric emergency medicine physician, educator, and health systems scientist at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where she created the REACH Medical Student Well-Being curriculum. An award-winning educator, clinician, and writer, she lives in Milwaukee with her husband and three sons. This is her first book.