Brain and Heart

The Triumphs and Struggles of a Pediatric Neurosurgeon

David I. Sandberg

A warm and brilliant memoir that captures the medical and emotional intensity of pediatric neurosurgery.

In this moving, unflinching, and inspiring book, Dr. David Sandberg, an internationally renowned pediatric neurosurgeon, brilliantly combines his deep scientific and medical knowledge with raw emotion and unforgettably powerful stories of courage and love. The brain is the most complicated and perplexing of our organs, and it is also the one that makes us human. When it comes to a child's brain, the hearts of those who love them become inextricably linked to that story.

In Brain and Heart, Dr. Sandberg describes the joy, heartbreak, uncertainty, and physical and emotional challenges that come with performing brain surgery on children. What makes this book different from previously published medical memoirs is Dr. Sandberg’s unique honesty about what goes through his mind when he makes the most complex choices with life-changing consequences. While most medical memoirs focus largely on the patient perspective, Dr. Sandberg allows readers access to his private thoughts when making agonizing decisions—from giving the worst news imaginable to facing very scary surgical complications.

A father himself, Dr. Sandberg understands deeply how every one of his patients is an entire world, and his devotion to his patients and his work shines through on every page. We follow him as he finds his way to neurosurgery as a young doctor through to his most heartbreaking cases and greatest triumphs. We also travel with him to underserved countries, where lifesaving surgeries that are common here are almost nonexistent, and Dr. Sandberg shares the stories of the dedicated doctors and surgeons trying to enact change. Brain and Heart is an unforgettable book that will strengthen our sense of compassion and hope.

David I. Sandberg, MD, FACS, FAAP, is a fellowship-trained pediatric neurosurgeon who is the director of pediatric neurosurgery at McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). He has a special clinical and research interest in pediatric brain tumors, and specializes in minimally invasive endoscopic approaches to brain tumors, hydrocephalus and arachnoid cysts, as well as surgical management of arteriovenous malformations of the brain, congenital spinal anomalies, spasticity and craniofacial anomalies. The recipient of numerous research grants, he has pioneered novel treatment approaches for pediatric brain tumors, and he is principal investigator of several clinical trials.  A graduate of Harvard University, Dr. Sandberg received his medical degree at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. 

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Endorsements & Reviews

"This book takes you into the operating room to see some of humanity’s most important and most difficult work up close. In the tradition of Atul Gawande and Paul Farmer, it’s about much more than healthcare—it’s a mirror on the human condition and a map toward more caring connections. It will leave you with a deeper sense of compassion and a renewed sense of hope.” Adam Grant, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Think Again and Hidden Potential

“Filled with joy and heartbreak, David Sandberg’s memoir proves why he is one of the great physician-storytellers. Brain and Heart astutely reveals the connection between our two most complex organs—the twin pillars of our humanity. Told with warmth and humility, Sandberg’s passion for his wonderous work, his unforgettable patients, and their courageous families, shines through on every page.” Brad Meltzer, bestselling author of The Lightning Rod