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Amidst the AMA (American Medical Association) report on persistent physician burnout of about 45% of doctors nationwide and increasing concerns regarding depersonalized patient care, a veteran cardiologist introduces a solution from an unlikely source: storytelling.
Dr. Aaron J. Feingold's book, "Tales of a Cardiologist," now available on Amazon, takes four decades of firsthand patient interaction and transforms them into shared stories that bridge the increasing gap between medical science and mankind.
Timing could not be more critical. In recent studies, depersonalization — the feeling of detachment that doctors experience from their patients — remains the core component of professional burnout, while narrative medicine is a low-cost intervention with potential to counteract it and improve both clinician well-being and patient outcomes.
From Pocket Notes to Published Work
"Tales of a Cardiologist" emerged from Dr. Feingold's eccentric habit of jotting down patient remarks on scraps of paper throughout his 43-year career. Those moments — capturing death anxieties, flashes of humor, and profound questions posed in examination rooms — totaled around 800 scribbled papers, and roughly 99 of them now form the heart of the book.
"I found that a lot of what occurred to patients in the exam room is applicable everywhere," explains Dr. Feingold, President of Raritan Bay Cardiology and Chairman of JFK Hackensack Meridian University Hospital's Division of Cardiology. "These tales serve other patients, help me understand them better, and help me understand myself."
The book breaks new ground by conceptualizing medical interactions as literature, rather than clinical case reports. Published under the auspices of Dr. Feingold's own Bashevis Press, named after Nobel laureate Isaac Bashevis Singer, the book demonstrates physician-narrative therapy as well as education.
Outside Clinical Protocols: Stories That Heal
Unlike traditional medical literature on procedures and protocols, "Tales of a Cardiologist" reveals the emotional side of medicine via patient anecdotes.
The book addresses mortality, hope, resiliency, and humor — suggesting that healing is much more than diagnostic accuracy but encompasses genuine human compassion.
In “The Last Barber Visit,” a seemingly routine grooming appointment becomes a quiet reflection on dignity, aging, and the unspoken rituals that mark a life’s closing chapters; one of many stories in the book that illuminate how deeply personal medicine can be.
For burned-out professionals, the book offers a template for regaining meaning in patient care. For patients, the stories give them reassurance that their anxiety and response to sickness are normal human reactions and not individual weaknesses.
"These human universals — fear, vulnerability, hope, and resilience — are present in every medical specialty," says Dr. Feingold. "The lessons apply across disciplines to healthcare providers."
A Physician's Dual Legacy
Dr. Feingold brings unique credentials to medical storytelling. Besides his role as Assistant Professor of Medicine at HMH Medical School, there is an Aaron J. Feingold Cardiac Cath Suite named in his honor in recognition of decades of cardiovascular distinction.
His writing style combines literary sensibility, honed from F. Scott Fitzgerald and Isaac Bashevis Singer, with deep clinical experience that spans cardiology's evolution from morphine-and-nitroglycerin therapy to today's sophisticated interventional procedures.
His commitment to the human side of medicine extends beyond the book. Dr. Feingold established an endowed fellowship in medical humanities at Union College, reflecting his belief that future physicians must master both scientific knowledge and narrative understanding in patient care.
Available Now: A New Genre of Modern Medicine
"Tales of a Cardiologist" comes at a time of need when medicine is seeking an answer to both patient dissatisfaction and doctor burnout.
Top New Release on Amazon in three categories, the book establishes the precedent for what Dr. Feingold envisions as a new genre of medical literature — one that is scientifically valid and honestly spoken.
The book demonstrates that the key to curing, beyond diagnostic precision, is understanding patients' emotional concerns. To readers who desire real insight into the physician-patient relationship, the book offers four decades of finely observed moments that illuminate the rich connections possible in medical practice.
With the audiobook edition set to release in September, Dr. Feingold hopes the stories will continue to reach both providers and patients in a more accessible and reflective format.
Media Contact
Theo Madden
theo.madden@bakemybook.com