Public Health Saved Your Life Today

Leana Wen's book about her journey into the world of public health is a moving eye-opener. We follow her as she delves into the lives of the citizens that she hopes to protect; we endure her frustrations and rejoice in her victories. This book is ultimately about transformation-- and Wen's own journey is a metaphor for the long awaited transformation of public health in America. This is a must-read from one of our finest medical writers. --Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee, author of Emperor of All Maladies and The Gene Our best doctors aren't created in medical school, they are born through remarkable life experiences with a desire and capacity to end the injustices others accept. Dr. Leana Wen is a public health superhero, destined to make profound changes in our world. This is her origin story. --Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Captivating, inspiring, and refreshingly honest, Lifelines takes you on an unforgettable journey to understand the power of public health to transform society. Dr. Wen's hopeful and wise account is a reminder of why she has quickly become one of America's most important physician leaders. --Dr. Vivek Murthy, 19th Surgeon General of the United States In this powerful book, Dr. Wen tells the compelling story of her journey to a career in medicine while giving a crash course in the nuts and bolts of policy and politics. Along the way, her writing will turn any reader into a believer in the power of public health and an advocate for getting off the benches and into the trenches. --Senator Barbara Mikulski With its brave candor and clarity, this book is for people who might not know all the ways in which public health has saved their lives, but they will once they've read Lifelines. It is also for all the people who do know the importance of investing in public health, of prevention and treating everyone with dignity, and who want to learn how Leana Wen has accomplished this throughout her career as a doctor, public servant, and writer. --Chelsea Clinton, author, advocate, and Vice Chair of the Clinton Foundation Lifelines is a truly special book. Dr. Wen takes us with her not just on her remarkable life journey but also into an exploration of the life-and-death implications of a system that too consistently leaves people behind. Here Dr. Wen shows that she is not only one of our great medical minds--she is also one of our great storytellers and changemakers. --Wes Moore, author of The Other Wes Moore and Five Days, CEO of the Robin Hood Foundation During the pandemic, I came to count on Dr. Leana Wen's calm presence, tempered advice, and explanation of the science. Now that I've read her captivating and important Lifelines, I cannot begin to express how inspired I am by her personal journey. Many people are ambitious and smart, but few among them seek to improve life for others. Leana Wen's empathy and concern for the world around her shines through with every word. --Lisa See, author of The Island of Sea Women and Shanghai Girls