Podcast Summary: All Of It with Alison Stewart
Episode: Graphic Memoir Explores How We Teach Medicine
Date: March 24, 2026
Host: Tiffany Hansen (in for Alison Stewart)
Guest: Dr. Grace Ferris, author and cartoonist
Book: See One, Do One, Teach One: The Art of Becoming a Doctor
Episode Overview
This episode explores the journey of becoming a doctor through the lens of a graphic memoir by Dr. Grace Ferris. The conversation delves into medical training, the experience of medical students and residents, and the entrenched cultural and systemic challenges within the field—including issues like misogyny, racism, and dehumanization. The episode also highlights the creative decision to use the graphic novel format to communicate the emotional and human sides of medicine, appealing to both future healthcare workers and a general audience.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Dr. Ferris’ Path to Medicine
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Early Inspiration
- Dr. Ferris shares that a formative volunteer experience at age 14 in the Austin, Texas hospital where she now works sparked her interest in medicine.
- She was drawn to the combination of heartbreak and excitement, likening the hospital to a microcosm of the world.
- “From that experience, I just caught the bug for medicine.” (03:16, Ferris)
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Surprises in Medical Training
- Expected to become a gynecologist, but discovered a love for treating a wider spectrum of patients.
- “The diversity of practicing medicine was a surprise I hadn't been prepared for.” (04:04, Ferris)
- Expected to become a gynecologist, but discovered a love for treating a wider spectrum of patients.
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Receiving Encouragement
- Ferris reveals she got helpful advice to study something outside of medicine in college, which led her to Spanish and gave her a broader perspective.
- “It wasn't discouraging...I think if you're someone who's interested in it, it's a really rewarding career.” (04:53, Ferris)
- Ferris reveals she got helpful advice to study something outside of medicine in college, which led her to Spanish and gave her a broader perspective.
Grappling with the Realities of Medical Education
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Specialization
- Ultimately, Ferris chose internal medicine—a field treating adults with a wide range of health issues, often in hospital settings.
- “I ended up in internal medicine, which is medicine for adults. And I work in the hospital...” (06:01, Ferris)
- Ultimately, Ferris chose internal medicine—a field treating adults with a wide range of health issues, often in hospital settings.
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Genesis of the Graphic Memoir
- A conversation early in her teaching career reminded her of the intense experiences of her surgical rotation—largely male-dominated—and led to a desire to share the “full story” of choosing a specialty.
- “That cascade of memories made me think, oh, I would love to share the full story about that...” (06:52, Ferris)
- A conversation early in her teaching career reminded her of the intense experiences of her surgical rotation—largely male-dominated—and led to a desire to share the “full story” of choosing a specialty.
The Power and Purpose of Graphic Medicine
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Choosing Comics Over Traditional Memoir
- Ferris’ return to cartooning was inspired by the growing “graphic medicine” movement, advocating comics as a powerful way to explore healthcare.
- “I love the accessibility of comics and how you're able to see, like, what people are thinking versus what they're saying.” (07:53, Ferris)
- Comics communicate internal experiences and allow for a portrayal of unspoken emotions—valuable in representing medical training.
- Ferris’ return to cartooning was inspired by the growing “graphic medicine” movement, advocating comics as a powerful way to explore healthcare.
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Audience and Accessibility
- The memoir is not recruitment material but aims for transparency, clarity, and connection, hoping to demystify the medical journey for lay audiences.
- “I think trying to shed some light on that trajectory was one of the goals, not just to encourage people to go into health care.” (09:20, Ferris)
- The book is designed to appeal to fans of medical TV shows and people simply curious about career paths.
- “This is definitely a book for someone who likes The Pit or Scrubs or Grey's Anatomy.” (10:27, Ferris)
- The memoir is not recruitment material but aims for transparency, clarity, and connection, hoping to demystify the medical journey for lay audiences.
Humanizing the Medical Journey
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Caller Experiences & Burnout
- James from Wayne, NJ: Shared advice to his daughter—envision yourself doing the job thousands of times to see if you’ll still enjoy it. He notes the drift from wanting to help people to a more mechanical approach in med school.
- “You sort of have to re-educate yourself...You’re dealing with people and not just with disease entities.” (12:01, James)
- James from Wayne, NJ: Shared advice to his daughter—envision yourself doing the job thousands of times to see if you’ll still enjoy it. He notes the drift from wanting to help people to a more mechanical approach in med school.
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Host/Guest Discussion – Dehumanization & Mindfulness
- Ferris agrees dehumanization is a risk, especially under stress, but shares mindfulness and finding “diastole” (periods of rest) as antidotes.
- “Surprising moments will bring you back to what a gift it is and what a privilege it is to be a physician.” (13:29, Ferris)
- Ferris agrees dehumanization is a risk, especially under stress, but shares mindfulness and finding “diastole” (periods of rest) as antidotes.
Media Depictions vs. Reality
- Influence of Medical TV Shows
- Ferris reflects that many, including herself, drew their early ideas about medicine from shows like ER or The Pit. But she sees these depictions as both dramatized and authentic in some ways.
- “I love those TV shows.” (15:26, Ferris)
- “Sometimes real life is just as dramatic—marriages in the ICU, people coming back from the brink.” (16:40, Ferris)
- Ferris reflects that many, including herself, drew their early ideas about medicine from shows like ER or The Pit. But she sees these depictions as both dramatized and authentic in some ways.
The Role of Art in Medical Memoir
- Art as Emotional Amplifier
- Visual metaphors (monsters/zombies) are discussed as a way for med students to express the horrors and stress of training.
- “The art can be used to intensify the emotions or...exaggerate situations in a way that gets at emotions that are harder to articulate.” (17:20, Ferris)
- Visual metaphors (monsters/zombies) are discussed as a way for med students to express the horrors and stress of training.
Teaching and the Patient Experience
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Teaching Hospitals Through Patient Eyes
- Christina from Houston, TX: A breast cancer surgeon who just underwent surgery herself recognizes, firsthand, the importance of trainees in patient care.
- “We as patients also serve because this is how we learn. And hopefully they become good surgeons one day as well.” (18:09, Christina)
- Christina from Houston, TX: A breast cancer surgeon who just underwent surgery herself recognizes, firsthand, the importance of trainees in patient care.
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Ferris on Teaching Moments
- Ferris wants readers to see that students are attentive, motivated, and often have the most time for patients. She expresses admiration for those choosing healthcare following the trials of the pandemic era.
- “When you’re a patient...it feels like you’re serving them, which is really gratifying.” (19:31, Ferris)
- Ferris wants readers to see that students are attentive, motivated, and often have the most time for patients. She expresses admiration for those choosing healthcare following the trials of the pandemic era.
Cadaver Labs and Lessons on Mortality
- Ritual and Reverence
- Ferris explains cadaver labs: about half of med schools still have them, but time is limited. Hands and faces are often covered to ease students into the experience and recognize the humanity of donors.
- “They kept the hands and face covered because that was the most human part of the cadaver.” (21:02, Ferris)
- There’s emphasis on maintaining professionalism and appreciating the gift of anatomical donation.
- “It was a gift that these...patients...had given us.” (22:31, Ferris)
- Ferris explains cadaver labs: about half of med schools still have them, but time is limited. Hands and faces are often covered to ease students into the experience and recognize the humanity of donors.
Confronting Systemic Problems
- Misogyny in Medicine
- Ferris highlights both subtle and overt misogyny affecting patients and physicians, particularly mothers.
- “Everyone calls you mom and it feels like...that mom needs to be corrected a lot.” (23:40, Ferris)
- Ob/gyn tools sometimes feel “medieval,” and the recurring experience of being a patient herself brings this issue full circle.
- Ferris highlights both subtle and overt misogyny affecting patients and physicians, particularly mothers.
The Title and the Learning Progression
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Meaning of “See One, Do One, Teach One”
- Ferris explains, this phrase encapsulates the relentless cycle of learning in medicine: observation, application, and teaching as demonstration of mastery.
- “It sums up the kind of unrelenting and grueling nature of medical training.” (25:03, Ferris)
- Ferris explains, this phrase encapsulates the relentless cycle of learning in medicine: observation, application, and teaching as demonstration of mastery.
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Why the Title?
- The phrase captures both the culture and pace of training, in which trainees are quickly thrust into new roles and responsibilities.
- “Before you even know it, you’ll be with a patient...then teaching your colleagues.” (25:55, Ferris)
- The phrase captures both the culture and pace of training, in which trainees are quickly thrust into new roles and responsibilities.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On the hospital as a microcosm:
“Being in the hospital is like this tiny microcosm of the world. There’s a whole community within the hospital.” — Dr. Grace Ferris (03:16) -
On choosing a specialty:
“The diversity of practicing medicine was a surprise I hadn’t been prepared for.” — Dr. Grace Ferris (04:04) -
Reader accessibility:
“I love the accessibility of comics and how you’re able to see, like, what people are thinking versus what they’re saying.” — Dr. Grace Ferris (07:53) -
On the culture of medical education:
“I think trying to shed some light on that trajectory was one of the goals, not just to encourage people to go into health care.” — Dr. Grace Ferris (09:20) -
On dehumanization and restoration:
“A lot of people in medicine feel like you need both...the systole when you’re working really hard...and diastole to reflect and try to renew your personal resources.” — Dr. Grace Ferris (13:29) -
On seeing medical training from the patient’s perspective:
“We as patients also serve because this is how we learn. And hopefully they become good surgeons one day as well.” — Christina, caller (18:09) -
On the emotional resonance of art:
“The art can be used to intensify the emotions or...exaggerate situations in a way that gets at emotions that are harder to articulate.” — Dr. Grace Ferris (17:20)
Important Timestamps
- 03:16: Dr. Ferris describes her early fascination with medicine
- 04:04: Discovering the diversity of internal medicine
- 07:53: The decision to use comics and the “graphic medicine” movement
- 10:27: On making the book approachable for lay readers, not just med students
- 13:29: Discussion of dehumanization and mindfulness for healthcare providers
- 16:40: Reflections on medical TV shows and their authenticity
- 17:20: How art amplifies emotion in telling medical stories
- 18:09: Christina’s call about the patient’s role in training doctors
- 21:02: Cadaver lab experiences and their emotional impact
- 23:40: Addressing misogyny and the patient experience in medicine
- 25:00: The meaning and importance of "See One, Do One, Teach One"
Takeaways
- Human Complexity: Medical training is not just academic rigor and technical skill; it is a deeply human experience that encompasses joy, pain, ambiguity, and growth.
- Importance of Transparency: Demystifying the healthcare system fosters trust, connection, and empathy between patients and providers.
- Art as Advocacy: Comics and graphic memoirs make medical culture accessible, relatable, and emotionally resonant, bridging the gap between insiders and outsiders.
- Ongoing Challenges: Issues of burnout, dehumanization, misogyny, and racism remain real and must be openly addressed in medical education and practice.
Guest Information:
- Dr. Grace Ferris is an internal medicine physician, cartoonist, and author of See One, Do One, Teach One: The Art of Becoming a Doctor (out now).
Contact/Feedback (as referenced in the show):
- Call or text: 212-433-9692
- Social: @allofitwnyc