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No Crying in the Operating Room: My Life as an International Relief Doctor, from Haiti, to South Sudan, to the Syrian Civil War

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"A compelling story of a life transformed by the experience of medical mission work." -Kirkus Reviews

Cecily Wang wanted to become a doctor to help people in the most fundamental ways possible, only to become disillusioned with the profession during medical school and residency. It wasn’t until she went on an international relief mission to Haiti in 2006 that she found herself practicing medicine as she had originally envisioned. She was able to help a sick person in great need, unencumbered by red tape and regulations. The patient’s health was all that mattered.

Cecily has continued to do demanding and extraordinarily challenging international work with Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) and other aid groups, addressing health challenges faced by communities affected by earthquakes, cholera, famine, and civil war in diverse regions, including Haiti, Myanmar, Samoa, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Syria. In the process, she has been stretched to her emotional limits, witnessed the worst and the best in human nature, and learned more about herself than she once could have imagined, all while performing life-saving surgeries and providing critical care to those in need.

198 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 19, 2023

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4883 people want to read

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Cecily Wang

2 books20 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews
Profile Image for Feather Chelle.
Author 25 books49 followers
December 4, 2023
Illuminating

The voice of the author was clear and candid, bringing to life so many facets of our society and our medical system. Her experiences in places around the globe made me look at my life in a new and meaningful way. I think that anyone could benefit from reading these anecdotes in order to gain new perspective. Though the author shows her vulnerability and fallibility, she is quite an admirable figure with strength, grace, and a deep understanding of the world in which she operates.
Profile Image for Laura.
196 reviews1 follower
September 28, 2023
Wang makes her nonfiction debut in this impactful memoir. Dr. Cecily Wang, a US based surgeon and intensive care physician, finds herself disillusioned with medicine after years of medical school and residency, tired of how bureaucratic and over-regulated the medical system had become. Wang's memoir recounts how she gains a renewed satisfaction in practicing medicine by working as an international relief doctor with organizations such as The Salvation Army and Medecins Sans Frontiers. Her relief work takes her to third world countries like Haiti, Myanmar, and Syria. It's an eye opening experience to read Wang's descriptions of the stark differences in medicine between the US and other countries. Between stories of her relief work, Wang scatters vignettes from her childhood and training, allowing readers to have a more personal connection with the author. This memoir is an insightful and inspiring read that is sure to be enjoyed by readers both inside and outside of the medical field.
Profile Image for Kimberly.
65 reviews3 followers
March 21, 2024
I was excited to win this book through the giveaway. I enjoyed the book. My favorite parts were when she compared the missionary places she went to her experiences in the US. We know we are spoiled in the US, but you don't realize how much until you see firsthand how other people in other nations live. It is very eye opening to her and to the readers. All these good and bad experiences in her life have made her an excellent, caring Dr.
This book is definitely worth a read.
Profile Image for Jeanne.
1,487 reviews
July 10, 2024
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and I am so glad that I did. The story is compelling and passionate. Thank you Dr.Wang for sharing your story.
705 reviews7 followers
March 24, 2024
As a veteran of an international medical missionary, I was hoping to read more about her actual experiences. This is her passion and wish more people could participate in similar settings.
Profile Image for Ciprian Bujor.
Author 7 books26 followers
February 3, 2024
A nice book to read

I liked this book, it is full of stories of travels around the globe in difficult situations as a doctors. I liked how the doctor presented most of the problems she faced during her deployments outside US. Some stories could have been more developed.
Profile Image for Julius Codrington.
Author 4 books6 followers
August 4, 2024
"No Crying in the Operating Room: My Life as an International Relief Doctor," authored by Dr. Cecily Wang, is a compelling memoir that transcends standard medical narratives. It takes readers on an emotional and inspiring journey across various crisis zones, showcasing the resilience and humanity required in the face of overwhelming adversity. The book chronicles Dr. Wang's experiences from the earthquake-ravaged landscape of Haiti to the war-torn regions of South Sudan and the Syrian Civil War, emphasizing not just the physical healing process but also the psychological and moral challenges that come with it.

Dr. Wang paints a vivid picture of the harsh realities of disaster and conflict zones. She shares her encounters with patients, local health care workers, and fellow volunteers. The memoir effectively captures the chaos and urgency of emergency medical situations, providing readers with a nuanced understanding of the complexities faced by international relief doctors. Through her personal anecdotes, Dr. Wang brings to light the harrowing conditions and the incredible resilience of the human spirit, offering a humbling perspective on the importance of compassion in medicine.

The narrative goes beyond just clinical descriptions, exploring into the moral and ethical dilemmas that frequently arise in such settings. Dr. Wang reflects on the ethical quandaries posed by limited resources and the heart-wrenching decisions that often have to be made. Her introspective approach provides valuable insights into the mental and emotional resilience required to operate under such pressures. The memoir serves as a testament to the enduring strength of those committed to saving lives in situations where hope seems elusive.

The pacing of the book keeps readers engaged from start to finish. Dr. Wang's expressive writing style and ability to convey emotions make the narrative accessible to a broad audience. The detailed yet compassionate portrayal of her journey ensures that readers are not only informed but also emotionally invested in her story. Her vivid storytelling immerses the audience in the reality of her experiences, making it a poignant and thought-provoking read.

This memoir merits a 5 out of 5-star rating due to its exceptional blend of medical insight, personal reflection, and compelling storytelling. Dr. Wang's ability to humanize the often impersonal field of emergency medicine is truly remarkable. By sharing her journey with such honesty and depth, she inspires readers to consider the broader implications of global health crises and the profound impact of empathy in the practice of medicine.
Profile Image for Martha.
392 reviews63 followers
May 6, 2024
The opportunity to read this inspiring book was a gift from the author herself. I am so grateful that this ended up on my list to read. It was surprisingly human even though the author has accomplished such amazing things as a doctor.

I often read medically based memoirs and books about cures, maladies, and medical situations. Since I am a 2 time breast cancer survivor, have a daughter who survived polyarteristus, and another daughter living with fibromyalgia, I have come to have a great admiration for those who dedicate their lives to healing.

Cecily Wang’s book was a pleasure to read. Her feelings are so honest, raw, and open.

She brings to light the many flaws in our hospitals, such as understaffing, which results in medical personnel working unfathomable hours, and government regulations that result as a detraction from the actual work of healing. The Pandemic has increased the staffing issues expeditiously.

We’d never allow pilots, truck driver, and machine operators to work even a portion of these grueling hours! Yet doctors are expected to be super humans and provide excellent care in the operating room and office on very little rest.

Dr. Wang seems to have used her unusual childhood of being misunderstood by her mother-resulting in physical abuse, and the racially abuse environment in school, to seek out and immersing herself in ways that are hardest to achieve. She shows no animosity from these abuses.

The book was well worth my time reading. I felt connected and engaged through every page. Also, from an artist I’d love to see Dr. Wang’s art!
Profile Image for AnnieM.
476 reviews25 followers
December 21, 2023
Dr. Wang's book gives us an inside view of being a doctor on the front-lines -- both in the US during Covid-19 crisis in 2020 as well as administering health care in Haiti and Southern Sudan. Her book describes harrowing conditions in the field as well as choices health care teams need to make with limited supplies and inadequate water and pain medication. This book is also part memoir about her and her family coming to America as immigrants from Taiwan and facing racism. Her mom was physically abusive to her and so in the end this is book about overcoming trauma and obstacles to serve others. I have great admiration for the work healthcare workers like her do to heal and save lives.

Thank you to Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for an ARC and I voluntarily left this review.
Profile Image for Liam Mullen.
157 reviews3 followers
March 19, 2024
Past the administration.

There can be little doubt that Medecins Sans Frontieres does some sterling work and I’m impressed already with the author’s association with them.
Haiti was a real eye opener. The need to move from patient to patient is paramount. Surprising that our thresholds for pain are so different. And that American doctors are so hampered by insurance companies who often have the last stay on whether a procedure is carried out.
The anecdotes throughout the book are good; how she lived in Taiwan before her entry to the US, her interactions with other kids, her encounters with obstinate people like Tommy, Oliver and the prayer-medicine solution, other NGO’s, diseases like cholera, malaria, amputations, surgery for this and that, a famous actor on location, her mother’s violent side, whack, her Catholicism, the moving testament to her mother, ‘fake’ resuscitation attempts, Sudanese wildlife, infection worries, Yahya. Kids with gunshot wounds, baby deliveries, COVID restrictions and night shifts, and an incredible ending.
Profile Image for Lori Colwell.
Author 2 books7 followers
May 7, 2024
Totally relatable

As a healthcare provider myself, “No Crying in the Operating Room” was totally relatable. I don’t think that people realize the impact healthcare has on its staff, both mentally and physically. I appreciated how the author described dwelling over events, trying to figure out what could have been done differently after every less than perfect outcome. I also think that the unfavorable personalities mentioned in healthcare are sometimes just coping mechanisms- the carefree, the super-ego, and especially the ones that appear emotionless. We find a way to continue to perform our best with the circumstances we are given and the author did an excellent job at conveying that.
Recommended read!
Profile Image for Bill Conrad.
Author 4 books10 followers
May 8, 2024
My friend recommended No Crying in the Operating Room by Cecily Wang, and I downloaded it. The memoir is a gripping portrayal of her experiences as an international relief doctor, taking readers to Haiti, South Sudan, and Syria. Through poignant storytelling, Cecily reveals the challenges and triumphs of providing medical aid in crisis zones, contrasting the restrictive US healthcare system with the freedom of humanitarian work. Her narrative, intertwined with personal trauma, showcases the resilience and compassion of medical professionals amidst adversity. Cecily’s candid account sheds light on the flaws of healthcare systems and the need for change.
Profile Image for Candi.
79 reviews1 follower
April 7, 2024
I liked this book and recommend it. Don't worry, even though the author is a trauma surgeon it is not gory or bloody. There are several aspects of interest. In addition to the relief doctor experiences, there is the author's relationship with her mother and her experience with the US healthcare system. Another reason to recommend it is that it is a quick read at 198 pages; worked well with my commute.

Structurally, it reminded me of Wild Heart: A True Story of Hippies, Healers, and Harleys. There are sections following the author's relief doctor work with earlier parts of her life interspersed; two chronologies running in parallel. The story itself is very different.

The contrast of the relief work with work in the US is enlightening. The cultural views of pain and death; the differences in administration; and the needs of the people themselves all add to the interest of the story.

Disclaimer - I received this book in a Goodreads Giveaway #goodreadsgiveaway
Profile Image for Muskan Lamba.
65 reviews9 followers
October 12, 2023
A powerful blend of vulnerability and critique, offering readers a resonant connection to the realities faced by international relief doctors. "No Crying in the Operating Room" by Cecily Wang is a captivating memoir that showcases the tireless dedication of a physician committed to humanitarian service. Through vivid narratives of her global medical missions, Wang goes beyond conventional memoirs, providing a raw look into the challenges of healthcare on a global scale, and in doing so, balances personal reflection with a critique of healthcare practices, exploring issues from bureaucratic challenges in the US to first-hand experiences in disaster zones.

Beyond the medical realm, the book addresses societal issues, ethical dilemmas, and the complexities of healthcare in resource-limited settings, challenging assumptions about health, privilege, and global interconnectedness.
Profile Image for Kelly.
763 reviews38 followers
October 31, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is a fascinating look at internation aid groups, such as Doctors Without Borders. The comparison between the US healthcare system and how aid is provided in third world countries really shows how red tape and administrative policies hurt the ability to care for patients. Also, the third world country's patients are so much more grateful.
Profile Image for Emily.
81 reviews4 followers
January 5, 2024
I agree with Dr. Wang how the medical system before covid-19 was already broken to begin with. Also, her conversations surrounding end of life - how families in the US prolong suffering when the end outcome will be the same - how this ultimately harms the patient and is stressful for doctors to witness. I commend her dedication. I always wonder if my short-term international medical trips are really making a difference or not.
Author 0 books1 follower
March 18, 2024
Intriguing, emotionally engaging, fascinating. A must read.

There are so many great stories in this book that it’s hard to know where to start. Interwoven with stories of the author’s own familial challenges are stories of her multiple forays into the world of medicine in parts of the world that aren’t as spoiled and litigation-prone as the US. The author lays bare the difficulty of practicing in the challenges of the US’s litigious, artificial KPI environment contrasted against the freedom to just do the right thing and the best you can in places where her skills and knowledge are highly prized. From Haiti, to Sudan to Syria, the stories tell a tale of a true medical professional, one who has the best interests of her patients truly at heart. Someone whose stories I could listen to all night, alternately laughing, crying, smiling, shuddering and sighing. Read this book. You won’t regret a single minute spent.
132 reviews4 followers
October 12, 2023
Beyond borders: Healing through hardship

No Crying in the Operating Room is a memoir by Cecily Wang M.D. that offers a profound and insightful exploration of the author's experiences as an international relief doctor. Through a series of compelling narratives, Wang shares her journey, taking readers to various humanitarian crises and war zones, where she provided critical medical care. Her memoir is not only a personal account of her tireless dedication but also a powerful reflection on the complexities of global healthcare, the impact of war on civilian populations, and the challenges faced by those on the frontlines of humanitarian efforts.

One of the remarkable aspects of this memoir is Wang's ability to blend personal anecdotes with a broader socio-political context. Her stories are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Wang's vivid descriptions transport readers to the heart of conflict zones, where she and her medical teams navigate danger, limited resources, and emotional turmoil to provide life-saving assistance. Through her writing, Wang raises critical questions about the ethics and practicalities of delivering healthcare in these challenging environments.

Furthermore, No Crying in the Operating Room offers a poignant examination of the toll that such work takes on the mental and emotional well-being of relief doctors. Wang reflects on her own experiences, discussing the emotional challenges she faced and the psychological impacts of witnessing suffering on a massive scale. Her memoir serves as a call to action, emphasizing the importance of both medical and psychological support for those who dedicate their lives to international relief work. Amazing read.
37 reviews1 follower
March 23, 2024
The inside story

A frank and direct presentation of the personal and the professional issues in the life of a surgeon who recognised as a young child that she would follow a very purposeful role in life. Her reflections on the limits and inefficiencies in both the US hospital system and NGO aid missions are enlightening and well informed.
Profile Image for J.L. Lycette.
Author 4 books97 followers
March 29, 2024
fascinating and eye-opening

Part personal memoir of a surgeon reconciling her difficult childhood relationship with her mother, another part fascinating and heartbreaking experiences of humanitarian medical aid, and a third part reflecting on the problems of our U.S. healthcare system, all expertly intertwined. Well-written and much to think on, I read it in one sitting
Profile Image for Tanner Nygaard.
9 reviews
March 29, 2024
Solid discussions on international differences in medicine, levels of care and why they’re different (in the U.S. and more), and the impacts of Covid on our medical system.

Much more could be said, especially how our parents shape us into who we are, whether they mean to or not, and this shows us a glimpse of that.
27 reviews2 followers
February 1, 2024
Thought provoking and inspiring

As a Uk health worker I love to read about different countries perspective to health. This book was great and really was inspiring cecily wang is a true inspiration and should be admired for her tremendous work and dedication.
Profile Image for Anna L.
204 reviews1 follower
March 27, 2024
I have over 20 years of experience in the US healthcare system (as a pharmacist) and a little bit with healthcare in Europe. This was an interesting read, mainly the parts about medical missions (I have considered going on one, though there is less need for pharmacists and few accept them) and it was interesting to see that Dr. Wang's assessment of US vs. third world generally aligned with mine... It was a quick and enjoyable read. I wouldn't call it a must-read, but for anyone who is in healthcare or is interested in healthcare, it's a good book to pick up when you are in the mood for something like this.

Disclosure: I got this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
Profile Image for Catherine.
1,061 reviews2 followers
February 11, 2025
I would love to read even more about Dr. Wang’s experience treating patients. Her book also briefly touches on growing up as an immigrant in the USA, abuse she experienced from her mother as a child, and the bureaucracy of health care in America.
Profile Image for Viga Boland.
Author 18 books47 followers
October 24, 2023
This memoir is brilliant. It’s raw and honest, but most importantly, it’s enlightening. There were times I was almost ashamed to be grumbling about my aches and pains after reading about the attitudes toward pain management and/or death in places like Haiti, Myanmar, the Sudan and Syria. What wimps we North Americans are in comparison. As the author states: the US makes up 4% of the world’s population and consumes over 80% of the world’s opioids”. Ugh! And in some of the countries mentioned, patients actually refuse ibuprofen for pain after they’ve had a hand sawed off. There’s so much more I could say, but you need to read this one cover to cover to get its multitude of poignant messages. Add this one to your bucket list today. So glad I did.
233 reviews
December 11, 2023
A powerful story that you need to read

The headlines of these horrible places can feel like white noise after a while, this book will personalize their stories and is worth the time it will take to read.
287 reviews4 followers
January 29, 2024
Very insightful

I loved the book about the life of a doctor. It was very insightful and easy to read. It also gives us a better perspective on what hospitals are like in rural places like Haiti and South Sudan.
101 reviews2 followers
March 20, 2024
Well written and very fast read

I have been a nurse for about 15 years, and I have a desire to volunteer overseas. This book is a very well-written and interesting account of Dr. Wang’s humanitarian work and the driving factors that made her want to continue. I would say, if anything, this book helped me solidify the need to help out in areas of the world where healthcare is more than just a product that we sell. Well done, thank you.
Profile Image for Staci Wilson.
Author 53 books87 followers
July 8, 2024
I love a great autobiography

…and this is one of the best! Not only is it well written and gripping but there’s an excellent balance between Cecily telling her professional story and personal details about her background, upbringing, and philosophies on healthcare and life. Highly recommended!
786 reviews12 followers
January 7, 2024
This book was a mixture of interesting medical stories, some family history and some very negative repeated ranting about patients in the US. The constant put downs of US patients were a total turn off for me It sounded as if the author was angry. I would have enjoyed and appreciated the book much more if she would have simply made the distinction in a professional way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 87 reviews

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