Danielle Ofri

Danielle Ofri is an essayist, editor, and practicing internist in New York City. She is an attending physician at Bellevue Hospital, and Associate Professor of Medicine at New York University School of Medicine.^[1] She is a regular contributor to the New York Times health section.

Ofri was born in New York City. She obtained an undergraduate degree in physiology as from McGill University in 1986. She graduated from New York University School of Medicine with an MD as well as a PhD degree in pharmacology. Her doctorate was on the biochemistry of opioid receptors. She trained in internal medicine at NYU's Bellevue Hospital.^[2]

Writing and editing career

After completing medical residency, Ofri began writing the stories of her medical training at Bellevue Hospital, the oldest public hospital and one of the busiest urban hospitals in the country. These essays were published in literary journals and eventually formed the basis of her first book Singular Intimacies: Becoming a Doctor at Bellevue.

Ofri returned to Bellevue Hospital as an attending physician in 1998, where she continues to teach and practice medicine. In 2000, Ofri co-founded the Bellevue Literary Review, the first literary magazine to arise from a hospital, and considered the preeminent journal in its field. She remains Editor-in-Chief.

Ofri’s writings have been included in Best American Essays 2002 and 2005, and Best American Science Writing 2003. Her essays and reviews have appeared in New York Times, New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, the Los Angeles Times, and on National Public Radio.^[3] She is the recipient of the McGovern award^[4] from the American Medical Writers Association for her contributions to medical literature. She received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Curry College.^[2] She writes regularly for the New York Times health section about doctor-patient connection. Her writing is known for emphasizing the humanity of patients and the emotional backdrop of doctors.

Books

Ofri published her first book, Singular Intimacies: Becoming a Doctor at Bellevue, in 2001. This book traced the experiences of medical school and residency in an inner-city hospital. The essay "Merced" from this book was chosen by Stephen Jay Gould for Best American Essays 2002, and was also awarded the Editor's Prize for Nonfiction by The Missouri Review.^[5]

Her second book, Incidental Findings: Lessons from my Patients in the Art of Medicine, was published in 2005. It explores the aspects of teaching medicine to the next generation of physicians, as well as Ofri’s experiences as a “locum tenens” physician in the small towns of America. Ofri also writes about her own experience being a patient.

The essay "Living Will" from Incidental Findings was selected by Susan Orlean for Best American Essays 2005. The essay "Common Ground" from Incidental Findings was selected by Oliver Sacks for Best American Science Writing 2003 and given Honorable Mention by Anne Fadiman for Best American Essays 2004.^[6]

Ofri released her third book, Medicine in Translation: Journeys with My Patients in 2010. It discusses immigration and health care—two topics that dominated the public discourse in 2010. Ofri explores the cultural challenges in medicine and chronicles the experiences of immigrants and Americans in the U.S. health care system.

Her fourth book, "What Doctors Feel--How Emotions Affect the Practice of Medicine," was published in the spring of 2013. This book examines the emotional side of medicine–the shame, fear, anger, anxiety, empathy, and even love that impact patient care.

Other awards and recognition

• Fellow of the American College of Physicians.
• McGovern award^[4] by the American Medical Writers Association for "preeminent contributions to medical communication."
• Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Curry College^[2]
• Editor's Prize for Nonfiction by The Missouri Review.^[5]

Personal life

Ofri lives in New York City, and has three children. She studies cello.

Publications

• Ofri, Danielle (2003-04-15). Singular Intimacies: Becoming a Doctor at Bellevue. Beacon Press. ISBN 978-0-8070-7252-3. 
• Ofri, Danielle (2005-12-15). "Gifts of the Magi; For a young doctor far from home, an unexpected present from a homeless alcoholic". New York Times. Retrieved 2007-10-25. 
• Ofri, Danielle (2005-04-28). "They Sent Me Here". The New England Journal of Medicine 352 (17): 1746–1748. doi:10.1056/NEJMp038252. PMID 15858183. Retrieved 2007-10-25. 
• Ofri, Danielle (03-11-2006). "The Practice of Medicine: Neither Science nor Art". The Lancet 367 (9513): 807–808. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(06)68320-7.  Check date values in: |date= (help)
• Ofri, Danielle (20-1-14). [locum doctors "Health board spent £50m on locum doctors"]. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-1-29.  Check date values in: |date=, |accessdate= (help)
• Ofri, Danielle. Incidental Findings: Lessons from My Patients in the Art of Medicine. Beacon Press. ISBN 978-0-8070-7267-7. 
• Ofri, Danielle (2010). Medicine in Translation: Journeys with My Patients. Beacon Press. ISBN 978-0-8070-7320-9. 
• Ofri, Danielle (2005). "Living Well". Best American Essays 2005: 139–150 
• Ofri, Danielle (2002). "Merced". Best American Essays 2002: 237–252 
• Ofri, Danielle (2003). "Common Ground". Best American Science Writing 2003. HarperCollins Publisher. pp. 213–221. 

References

External links

• Danielle Ofri’s Homepage
• Bellevue Literary Review
• Beacon Press web site for Medicine in Translation.
• See a video of Danielle Ofri reading "Possessing Her Words" from Singular Intimacies
• Read Living Will from Incidental Findings, or listen to Danielle Ofri read it
• Book trailer for "Medicine in Translation"
• See Danielle Ofri read Intensive Care from Singular Intimacies
• See a video of Danielle Ofri reading "July 1st" from Singular Intimacies
• See a video of Danielle Ofri reading "Tools of the Trade" from Incidental Findings

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