A Fullness of Uncertain Significance

"With his willingness to delve beneath the surface, Bruce Campbell has created a deftly interwoven series of lessons gleaned from poignant moments of a fulfilling surgical career. In a warm, compassionate, and honest voice, Dr. Campbell delivers to the reader not just insights on medicine, but truths about humanity."
—Dr. K. Jane Lee, author of Catastrophic Rupture: A Memoir of Healing

"Humorous and humble, serious and sublime, these lean essays offer a glimpse behind the surgical drape to show what it’s like to be a cancer surgeon over the course of a long, rewarding career. From Campbell’s first invitation into the “inner sanctorum” of the O.R. as a nurse’s aide while in college, through tender interactions with patients, to his projections about the profession when he is long gone, this smart, sensitive surgeon illustrates how doctors can listen to, care for, and learn from their patients. He courageously goes to the “hard places” as well as sharing those special moments that make it all worthwhile. Early in the collection, Campbell writes, 'Besides being a surgeon, I am also a human being.' This beautiful book is about both."
—Kim Suhr, author of Nothing to Lose and Director of Red Oak Writing

"In lucid and succinct vignettes, Dr. Campbell illuminates the myriad of emotions and sensations that accompany a life in surgery. These stories of persistence, camaraderie, shame, grief, guilt, and regret are told with a deep humility that springs from a vantage point of experience. With elegant and engaging prose, Campbell beautifully expresses the honor it is to be a physician."
—William Lydiatt, MD, Chief Medical Officer Nebraska Methodist and Women’s Hospitals and Professor of Surgery, Creighton University in Omaha Nebraska

"Captivating, heart-wrenching, inspiring—Campbell chooses his words as meticulously as he conducts his surgeries. His memoir of stories is sure to become a rite of passage for future doctors and patients alike, enjoyable little tunes that all hum together in a harmony of sound."
—Dr. Olivia Davies, poet, writer, and dermatology resident at Massachusetts General Hospital