The Scalpel and the Silver Bear

by Lori Arviso Alvord MD

  • Bantam Books
  • 2000
  • ISBN: 978-0553378009
  • 204 pages
  • WorldCat
Book cover image for the Scalpel and the Silver Bear
About the Book

The Scalpel and the Silver Bear tells of Dr. Alvord's pioneering journey to become a woman surgeon, fighting the odds presented by her own culture and the unspoken rules that made surgery the territory of a privileged class of males. Then, having accomplished her dreams, the strong-willed young woman would find herself faced with a different challenge: learning another approach to medicine amid the Hataali, the medicine men of the Diné, the people we call Navajo. Here in this moving, enlightening, and provocative volume, Dr. Alvord teaches us how she merged the latest breakthroughs of science and methodology with the ancient tribal paths to recovery and wellness. ebook icon Audio book icon
Dr Lori Arviso Alvord
About the Author

Dr. Lori Arviso Alvord is the first Navajo woman to be certified in surgery. She attended Stanford University to gain the technical and clinical skills needed to perform surgery. She also listened to the lessons of the healers of her tribe who use songs, symbols, and ceremonies with families and neighbors to provide comfort and speed recovery. She continues to perform surgery and is still seen as a role model for the Navajo community. In her practice, she bridges two worlds of medicine—traditional Navajo healing and conventional Western medicine—to treat the whole patient. She provides culturally competent care to restore balance in her patients' lives and to speed their recovery.

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