An engaging narrative
"North Dakota, Heal Thyself," is the rich story of the first 100 years of the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Grand Forks. What could have been a pallid listing of facts and figures is instead an engaging narrative written by John Vennes, Ph.D., and Patrick A. McGuire, in conjunction with school's centennial observation…
What makes the book so accessible is the stories of the people: how one professor lectured off the cuff in lesson plans written on the cover of a matchbook; how another professor would lapse into discussions of philosophy during cadaver lab; or how a student made it through school spending only a $1 a day on food.
Gail Gabrielson in The Fargo Forum
"I'm just thrilled with it"
"... with the help of co-author Patrick McGuire, a Baltimore journalist, [they] whittled a century of stories, trials and triumphs of UND's Medical School and Health Sciences, from its humble beginnings to its transition to a four-year degree granting institution to its emergence as a cancer and brain research hub, all into 280 pages…
[Medical School Dean H. David] Wilson is giving his commissioned author rave reviews after reading an early copy of the book. He said it's not just about the medical school. Rather, it delves into the history of health care in North Dakota and the people who live here. 'I'm just thrilled with it,' Wilson said about the book. 'It's not a dull history book; it's an intriguing story.'"
David Dodds in The Grand Forks Herald
Six months interviewing and checking facts
The book describes the hardships and triumph in creating UND’s current medical school with comical and out-of-the-box story telling…Fearing people would not believe their stories, Clifford and Eelkema wanted a third party to write the book and remain objective. They brought in former journalist-turned-freelance writer, Patrick A. McGuire to write the book. “He didn’t believe some of the stories we told him for the book,” said Clifford. McGuire spent six months interviewing and checking facts.
Kory Wallen in The Dakota Student
Inspiring, gritty
Tom Clifford, former president of the University of North Dakota has co-authored an inspiring, gritty and often hilarious story.
The Casselton (N.D.)Reporter
"We just wanted to set the record straight."
Eelkema, 73, who became good friends with Clifford on the handball court, at UND, said they wanted to writer the book to give credit for the medical school’s success to those deserve it. "We were seeing a lot of revisionist history," he said…McGuire said that aside from a few exaggerations, Clifford and Eelkema told the truth. Clifford said the book wasn’t meant to be personally aggrandizing for himself or Eelkema. "We just wanted to set the record straight." |
By Mike Nowatzki in the Fargo Forum |
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