As a young pediatrician, Dr. Stan Block discovered that many of his very sick, enigmatic patients (e.g., cases of tularemia, Ehrlichiosis) were rarely ever “routine.” Perplexed, he would start a dogged, thorough evaluation loaded “with a list as long as my arm,” and he would usually uncover the elusive diagnosis. Pediatrics was so much more complex than he had ever imagined.

Vignettes of many unforgettable patients and his own prolific, inspired essays capture the spirit of Pediatrics around the Block. With wit, warmth, and refreshing honesty, Dr. Block also invites readers beyond his “office routine” to witness the landmark discoveries, major triumphs, and world-class research studies that shaped his “other” life in pediatrics. He will provide many insights and remarkable publications as to how he evolved from a “⁹country doc” to become among the nation’s most renowned pediatric researchers and opinion leaders.

This isn’t a dry collection of medical cases. It’s filled with many candid and often bittersweet cases about listening and discovering that brilliance and empathetic care are essential for pediatricians.

Inside these pages, you’ll find:

• Heartfelt stories from a pediatrician’s life career;
• Honest reflections on family, self-sacrifice, and the vaccine issues of pediatrics;
• The curtain unveiled as to what's behind this pediatric “Wizard of Oz;” and
• The blending of storytelling, humor, and detective work.

Dr. Block’s journey will resonate with physicians, nurses, students, parents, and other lucky readers.

Doubting conventional (medical) wisdom, overwhelmed with intellectual curiosity, and muddling his way through multitudinous office illness conundrums, Pediatrics around the Block portrays how a rural Kentucky pediatrician has profoundly influenced today’s pediatric standards. With persistent scientific digging and diligent outside-the-box thinking, this country doc has impacted and perhaps helped to save not only thousands of lives personally but millions of lives across the world.