As a college student, Samuel Brown, MD never believed he would work in medicine. Yet today, he is not only an accomplished intensivist at Intermountain Healthcare and a professor of medicine at the University of Utah, but also an acclaimed writer, theologian, and religious historian. For Dr. Brown, this career is truly a spiritual calling. In this heartfelt and frequently humorous episode, we meet with him to discuss his unusual journey to medicine and to understand how his personal philosophy helps him connect with the sick and dying.

In this episode, you will hear about: 

• Dr. Brown’s personal history of religiosity and his initial resistance to a career in medicine – 2:43
• How Dr. Brown’s belief in the divinity of each human informs his work as a physician – 11:16
• The changing social, cultural, and medical contexts of death and dying in America, and the development of the modern ICU, as explored in his book Through the Valley of Shadows - 15:09
• The depersonalization of patients in the ICU and how spirituality helps foster the doctor-patient relationship – 21:36
• Finding meaning in tragedy, especially one as massive and widespread as the COVID-19 pandemic – 28:33
• Dr. Brown’s advice for all students and new medical professionals on maintaining a healthy outlook in an often-harrowing world – 33:29

Dr. Brown’s most recent book is Through the Valley of Shadows: Living Wills, Intensive Care, and Making Medicine Human.

Connect with Dr. Brown on Twitter @DrSamuelBrown.

Visit our website www.TheDoctorsArt.com where you can find transcripts of all episodes.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review our show, available for free on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you know of a doctor, patient, or anyone working in health care who would love to explore meaning in medicine with us on the show, feel free to leave a suggestion in the comments or send an email to info@thedoctorsart.com.

Copyright The Doctor’s Art Podcast 2022