The Real Doctor Will See You Shortly

by Matt McCarthy

  I picked up a remote control sitting on the nightstand next to Benny’s bed, turned on the television, and started flipping through the channels until I found Judge Judy.

  Acknowledgments​

  This book exists because of one person: my editor, Kevin Doughten. Good Great guy.

  Heather, my girl, you’ve endured far too many moments when, staring into your eyes, my thoughts were a thousand miles away, reliving a cardiac arrest. You are the best person I know, and every day that I wake up next to you is a good one.

  Acknowledgments would not be complete without thanking my family: my mother, Belinda, who introduced me to Talking Heads; my father, Bernie, who really is holding out hope that I become a dermatologist; and my sister, Megan. Who loves you, baby?

  I am fortunate to be surrounded by a wildly talented group of friends—Rach, Charlie, Ben, and John—and by thoughtful people who worked so hard on this book: Claire Potter, Lauren Kuhn, Danielle Crabtree, Jessica Miele, and Sarah Kwak, to name just a few. Scott Waxman, a wonderful agent and friend, thank you for your continued support and encouragement.

  I also want to acknowledge the men and women who work at Columbia making the world a better, more dignified place. And to the patients who have trusted us, thank you.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  MATT McCARTHY is an assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College and is on staff at New York–Presbyterian Hospital. His work has appeared in Sports Illustrated, Slate, The New England Journal of Medicine, and Deadspin, where he writes the Medspin column. His first book, Odd Man Out, was a New York Times bestseller.