Author Interview & Giveaway: "Coppola: A Pediatric Surgeon in Iraq" by Chris Coppola
Publisher’s SummaryDr. Coppola, author of Coppola: A Pediatric Surgeon in Iraq
Author Interview
What was your greatest challenge in re-establishing your private practice after your first deployment?
Dr. Coppola: Since leaving the military, I have joined Geisinger Medical Center. I work as a pediatric surgeon, an associate of Geisinger — essentially an employee. Being a military surgeon was actually excellent preparation for being part of large medical institution. It has become second nature to work together with teammates to achieve a common goal and that is just what we do. After having survived two deployments, I have a feeling that I have seen true worry and misery, and I shouldn’t get too worked up about the little frustrations that are part of hospital life. Not too many challenges, I suppose.
What non-partisan ways can people who are inspired by your book, Coppola: A Pediatric Surgeon in Iraq
Dr. Coppola:There are so many ways to show troops your appreciation. It is amazing to consider that these kids, who could be hanging out at a college or partying on spring break, have instead chosen to devote their youth to service of country. We owe them so much. I have tried to highlight a few simple ways to show troops our appreciation. It can be as simple as saying “Thank you” to a soldier you see in an airport or in your town.
Another great way, which my wife and I have chosen, is to donate to Fisher House. The Fisher Houses are a network of houses near military hospitals that function as a home away from home for the families of injured troops who are undergoing medical treatment at military hospitals. More information is available at http://www.fisherhouse.org. The most important way we can honor the sacrifices of injured troops is to exercise the freedoms that they have defended for us. This means to vote, exercise freedom of speech, and to take an active role in our communities.
What made you decide to write about your experiences?
Dr. Coppola: My usual work is caring for children who are born with birth defects or need simple elective operations to correct conditions such as hernias. While deployed to Iraq, I was asked to perform the duties of a general combat support trauma surgeon, and suddenly I was caring for severely and multiply injured patients of all ages. This stress was compounded by the fact that I was so far from my wife and children who are my usual source of strength and peace.
During the busy hours, work on patients kept me from contemplating the significance of what I was seeing. But later when the hospital was calm and I could retire to my hooch, the horrific images of torn bodies would keep me up at night. Sometimes I went without sleep for days on end. It helped me greatly to write down what I had experienced, and send home these messages to my loved ones who usually got me through stressful times. It unburdened my mind to have made sure that the events I had witnessed were recorded. These long letters later became the book Coppola: A Pediatric Surgeon in Iraq
For more information, please visit the book’s website at www.coppolathebook.com.
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