Leonard H. Calabrese, DO , 2025-04-16 09:30:00
April 16, 2025
2 min read
I’m thrilled to share my reflections on the book Masterclass in Medicine: Lessons from the Experts, along with highlights from our insightful discussion with one of the editors, Jason Liebowitz, MD, about its goals and intent.
I just finished reading the book and I can’t stop thinking about why it moved me so deeply. After all, the field of medicine is filled with publications covering every facet of our craft, from basic and clinical science to medical humanism and beyond. So, one might reasonably ask: Does Masterclass in Medicine break new ground? And more importantly: Is it worth reading?
My answer is a resounding yes.
As the editors explain, the book is, at its core, a guide to building a career as a skilled and compassionate physician. Although much has been written on this topic, Masterclass in Medicine stands apart by gathering a group of master clinicians and educators who not only offer practical wisdom but also inspire through deeply personal reflections — on both their triumphs and their trials.
Let me briefly share with you but a few snippets of the practical wisdom that abounds in this 200-page gem.
Naturally, I was drawn first to the chapter on empathy. I found myself both impressed and moved by the reflections of master clinician James Kahn, MD, Stanford Medicine’s eminent emeritus professor, who shared his journey and the enduring influence of one of his mentors, the legendary Philip Tumulty, MD, of Johns Hopkins University. His account of attentive listening as a clinical art was especially powerful.
I then jumped ahead to the chapter on medical education, penned by one of my favorite medical writers, David Pisetsky, MD, PhD, of the Duke University School of Medicine. He reminds us that the journey to becoming a physician is long and arduous — a passage “filled with ritual, myths, and mystery.”
Finally, I leave you with a quote from Sharon Solomon, MD, of Johns Hopkins, who reminds us that we should strive to become the kind of physician “we ourselves” would want to receive care from.
I offer this book my highest praise. It now rests on my bedside table, not among the mystery novels I devour at a torrid pace, but within the small, curated stack of volumes that bring me reflection and joy. I rotate these books as my mood dictates, but for now this one sits on top.
To the editors: Thank you for this accomplishment.
To you, the reader: Please share your thoughts when you’ve read it too!
Reference:
Bolster, M.B., Liebowitz, J., & Seo, P. (Eds.). (2025). Masterclass in Medicine: Lessons from the Experts. CRC Press.
For more information:
Leonard H. Calabrese, DO, is the Chief Medical Editor, Healio Rheumatology, and Professor of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, and RJ Fasenmyer Chair of Clinical Immunology at the Cleveland Clinic.
Sources/Disclosures
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Disclosures:
Calabrese reports being a medical adviser for OpenEvidence, as well as professional relationships with AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Galvani, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Novartis, Regeneron, Sanofi and UCB.