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Distributed for University of Cincinnati Press

Leaving a Legacy

Lessons from the Writings of Daniel Drake

1st Edition

Distributed for University of Cincinnati Press

Leaving a Legacy

Lessons from the Writings of Daniel Drake

1st Edition

In the midst of a fast-paced profession, it is increasingly a challenge to pause and reflect on where a person’s life is heading. All can feel overwhelming. In these moments, when nothing seems stable, it can be instructive to pause and study individuals from previous generations who lived fully and left a lasting legacy. To find valuable lessons and perspective on the present, author Dr. Phillip Diller has often turned to man, citizen, writer, educator, and physician, Dr. Daniel Drake, who lived from 1785-1852.
 

Leaving a Legacy: Lessons from the Writings of Daniel Drake is a selective collection of excerpts from the vast writings from the nineteenth-century doctor and medical pioneer Daniel Drake. From Drake’s life, documented here in his own words from excerpts of lectures, personal journal entries, presentations, speeches, books, and letters to his children, readers learn about the scope of his accomplishments in medicine, contributions to his community, and dedication to his family. Diller goes beyond biography to contextualize Drake’s life choices and what made him a role model for today’s physicians. Diller selected one hundred and eighty thematically arranged excerpts, which he paired with original reflection questions to guide the reader through thought-provoking prompts. In doing so, Diller presents the lessons from Drake’s remarkable life and work as a guide for others who wish to build an enduring legacy.

Designed to appeal to early and mid-career professionals, particularly those in the medical field, Drake and Diller offer readers a way to enhance life with small actions that can leave a legacy in any community—professional or personal. Documented previously as a man whose life was remarkable for the breadth and depth of his professional accomplishments, Drake’s countless contributions are showcased here to demonstrate the impact he truly had in his time and for generations to come. Engaging with Drake and Diller’s thoughtful and principled voices provides a lasting perspective for those trying to find their purpose in the present.  


 

271 pages | 7 photos | 7 x 10 | © 2019

Medicine


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Reviews

"Few people provided better insight into early Cincinnati or had more influence in establishing the cultural and educational pillars of our community than Daniel Drake.  Philip Diller's creative use of Drake's writings will prompt important conversations about Cincinnati for decades to come."

 

Dan Hurley, Founder, Applied History Associates

“This is … a collection of life lessons on how to be a good physician and an exemplary citizen, that will endure over the centuries, and can be passed on from generation to generation of physicians, teachers, and historians.” 
 
“For anyone particularly interested in medical history, life, and medicine during the 1800s, or the history of Ohio, and Cincinnati specifically, the book will be of particular interest.  Despite the stark contrast of the day-to-day details of what a physician’s life looked like then compared to now, it is impressive how much of Dr Drake’s advice is still applicable today.”

Alida M. Gertz, MD, MPH, Family Medicine

“As historian Paul Conklin says, ‘History is a tool we use each generation…to help get along in the world…’  Diller’s display of the work of Daniel Drake reveals prophecy, endurance and wisdom.  In a contemporary world of achievement, he sagely forecasts medical education’s need to embody the value of learning, the importance of reflection and mindfulness, well-being, the primacy of accountability though the patient, and the blend of the art and science of medicine.
 

Amy Bunger, Ph.D, Assistant Designated Institutional Official, UCMC/College of Medicine

“These carefully chosen selections from Dr. Daniel Drake’s extensive writings illustrate the value of his insights for today’s current and future physicians on topics ranging from medical education and practice to civic involvement and personal development.  As a member of Dr. Drake’s extended family, I am pleased to see his timeless wisdom made available for future generations.”

 

Robert N. Drake, J.D., retired Managing partner, Reese, Pyle, Drake, and Meyer

"For anyone particularly interested in medical history, life, and medicine during the 1800s, or the history of Ohio, and Cincinnati specifically, the book will be of particular interest. For this family physician who also spent a significant amount of time living and working in Ohio, it was fascinating to learn about the in-credibly different path a doctor in the 1800s would have taken to arrive in the profession, compared to our current experience. Despite the stark contrast of the day-to-day details of what a physician’s life looked like then com-pared to now, it is impressive how much of Dr Drake’s advice is still applicable today."

Family Medicine

Table of Contents

Foreword - by Andrew Filak
Introduction: Creating a Legacy
Ch. 1  Man: The Formative Influences That Shaped Drake as a Person
Ch. 2  Citizen: How Drake Impacted His Community to Build and Shape and Advancing Culture
Ch 3  Writer: Finding a Voice and Style to Frame and Influence
Ch 4  Educator: Being an innovator and Setting High Standards for Education
Ch 5  Physician: A Master Physician with a Broad Understanding of the Patient and the Practice
Epilogue: Drake's Legacy Today
 

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