The LWVSP Morning Book Club discussed Dr. Anthony Fauci's memoire, On Call: A Doctor's Journey in Public Service, at its December 11 meeting. Notes on the discussion are below:

On Call by Dr. Fauci was generally viewed as an interesting book although some members felt he was too full of himself. The counter argument was he had to believe in himself to accomplish what he did.
 
He exhibited tenacity to continue his work despite all the attacks on it - for his AIDS work, for example, as well as COVID.
 
He had the opportunity to take high-level administrative jobs, but he wanted to keep his connection to patients and research. He was amazingly able to do and manage research, meet with patients and manage and set up programs as well as advise the president and play a role in the situation room. As a result he didn't spend much time with his family. He felt rewarded by his work and encouraged others to do public service. Although he felt badly that he couldn't cure AIDS patients.
 
Fauci talks of his many friends in all parties and positions. He was able to build relationships and never trashed anyone. He was always respectful and didn't take the attacks on him personally. He tried to be apolitical to get results and mastered the art of managing personal relationships which is unusual for a scientist, since they are usually not good with people.
 
He had to educate the president as well as the public but he was a cautious communicator not wanting the limelight.
 
Unfortunately, the preparation the Obama administration did to prepare for the next pandemic was ignored by Trump and likely will be again. So we will not be ready when the next one hits.
 
Doctors don't seem to know their power. They need to speak out as a group about our broken health care system but they are too tied to the systems.
 
Books and movies brought to mind by this book: How to Survive A Plague, Contagion, Outbreak, The Normal Heart and the Fifth Risk
 
The next book is The Thirty-First of March: An Intimate Portrait of Lyndon Johnson by Horace Busby. We will meet at the Highland Park Library, 1st floor, January 8th at 10:00 a.m.