Atul Gawande, a renowned surgeon, public health leader, and bestselling author, shares insights from his diverse career. He emphasizes the importance of embracing opportunities, a principle that has shaped his multifaceted journey. Gawande discusses the value of having a coach even in surgery, how to combat burnout in healthcare, and supporting Afghan refugees through workplace inclusion. He also touches on using music in the operating room to enhance teamwork and the importance of long-term health initiatives in response to crises.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Saying Yes Until 40
Say yes to most opportunities until you're 40 to explore your passions and skills.
Pay attention to what energizes you and what exhausts you to avoid burnout.
insights INSIGHT
Work Cycles
Different types of work have different cycles of gratification.
Align your work with your preferred cycle to maintain motivation.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Joining USAID
Atul Gawande joined USAID during the COVID crisis to address global health challenges.
He's working on both controlling the current pandemic and preventing future ones.
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Empire of Pain is a comprehensive and damning narrative about the Sackler family, who built their pharmaceutical empire through aggressive marketing and questionable ethics. The book traces the family's history from their early success with tranquilizers like Librium and Valium to the devastating impact of OxyContin, which contributed significantly to the opioid crisis. Keefe's work is based on extensive research and exposes the family's ruthless business tactics, their influence on medical and governmental bodies, and their attempts to evade accountability for the harm caused by their products.
Being Mortal
Atul Gawande
In *Being Mortal*, Atul Gawande explores the limitations and failures of modern medicine in dealing with aging and death. Through personal stories, case studies, and research, Gawande argues that the medical profession often prioritizes prolonging life over improving its quality. He highlights the need for greater communication and planning around end-of-life care, emphasizing the importance of autonomy, dignity, and individual preferences. The book encourages readers to rethink their approach to aging and dying, focusing on what makes life meaningful and fulfilling until the very end.
Say Nothing
A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland
Ariel Font Prades
Patrick Radden Keefe
The book delves into the bitter conflict in Northern Ireland and its aftermath, focusing on the lives of key figures such as Dolours Price, Brendan Hughes, Gerry Adams, and Jean McConville's children. It explores the civil rights movement, the Provisional IRA's bombing campaign, the 1981 hunger strike, the peace process, and the post-conflict struggle to understand crimes like McConville's murder. The narrative also incorporates the Belfast Project, a secret oral history endeavor that collected stories from former IRA members. The book is a panoramic history that captures the complexities and tragic consequences of the Troubles[1][2][5].
Complications
Atul Gawande
Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science is a collection of essays that delve into the complexities and challenges of medical practice. Gawande explores themes of fallibility, mystery, and uncertainty in medicine, highlighting the human side of healthcare and the need for transparency and learning from mistakes. The book offers a nuanced view of the medical field, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and addressing its imperfections.
Atul Gawande was advised by a colleague to say yes to every opportunity until he turned 40. Since then he’s been a renowned surgeon, a public health leader and government policymaker, and a bestselling author and “New Yorker” writer. He talks with Adam about his fascinating career and how he balances his passions for different fields, why he works with a coach even in the operating room, and how he’s working in The White House to end our current pandemic–and prevent the next one. For the full text transcript, visit go.ted.com/RWAG3
Worklife with Adam Grant 
