Genetic Rounds

Dr. Robert Marion is revered throughout the world of medicine for eloquently portraying the tumultuous life of an intern and young resident in his classic autobiographiesThe Intern BluesandLearning to Play God. Now this treasured storyteller returns to chronicle his real-life adventures in the world of pediatric genetics.InGenetic Rounds, Marion challenges our assumptions about how genetics can and should be used in pediatric medicine. He reveals his emotional side in stories of triumph and heart-break as he deals with new treatments for crushing childhood diseases and disorders. And along the way, Marion shares his personal dilemmas with ethical issues concerning genetics—should he or shouldn’t he tell friends of the family that their daughter will most likely suffer from an uncommon disorder as she gets older?Marion engages readers as he evolves during thirty years of practice as a medical geneticist. Just as the study of genetics has changed dramatically during that time, so have Marion’s beliefs and practices. He shares with readers the frustration of being able to diagnose a disease without the ability to cure it. And he conveys his joy at being able to help manage or prevent chronic conditions that just a few years ago would have been death sentences. These are the universal themes of what is sure to be Marion’s next medical classic.