A group of vivid, first-person stories of medical students who don't "fit the mold" and have had challenges completing conventional medical training Tells the tales of a different generation of medical students - students whose varied backgrounds are far from traditional - in which, a black teenage mother overcomes seemingly insurmountable odds, an observant Muslim dons the hijab during training, and an alcoholic hides her addiction. Foreword xi Joycelyn Elders Introduction xv PART ONE LIFE AND FAMILY HISTORIES 1(54) Becoming an American 9(10) Eddy V. Nguyen Melanie's Story 19(4) Melanie M. Watkins Pavement 23(8) Nick Rubashkin Whispers from the Third Generation 31(6) Paul M. Lantos Borderlands 37(10) Marcia Verenice Casas Poison in My Coffee 47(8) Heather Goff PART TWO SHIFTING IDENTITIES 55(80) Necessary Accessories 63(7) Nusheen Ameenuddin Medical School Metamorphosis 70(5) Tresa Muir McNeal Why Am I in Medical School? 75(5) Karen C. Kim My Secret Life 80(7) ``Linda Palafox'' Five Points Off for Going to Medical School 87(5) Rachel Umi Lee Parasympathizing 92(22) Kevin M. Takakuwa Sometimes, All You Can Do Is Laugh 114(7) Lainie Holman A Prayer from a Closeted Christian 121(5) Anita Ramsetty Seeing with New Eyes 126(9) Akilesh Palanisamy PART THREE CONFRONTED 135(54) Hoka Hey 143(2) Robert ``Lame Bull'' McDonald My Names 145(9) David Marcus A Case Presentation 154(7) Tista Ghosh Urology Blues 161(7) Ugo A. Ezenkwele Like Everyone Else 168(9) Kay M. Erdwinn Daring to Be a Doctor 177(5) Simone C. Eastman-Uwan A Graduation Speech 182(7) Thao Nguyen Afterword 189(6) Further Reading 195(4) Contributors 199(6) Acknowledgments 205(4) Photo Credits 209