Here's an interesting story in the Washington Post on surgeon-turned-writer Pauline Chen: Cutting to the Core. Her new book, Final Exam: A Surgeon's Reflections on Mortality is "a series of thoughtful, moving essays on the troubled relationship between modern medical practice and the emotional events surrounding death," and it's receiving favorable acclaim.

Here's an NPR interview with Chen: Surgeon Writes of Death, Dying in 'Final Exam'. Amazon.com is also hosting a blog by the author. Sounds like a really interesting book. It's like a serious Grey's Anatomy, without all the sleeping around and stuff.