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The Long Arc of Training
Six Stories of Aspiring Doctors
Dorene F. Balmer (Author)
9781487565596
Paperback / softback, published 13 January 2026
200 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.3 cm, 0.26 kg
“I am stunned by the wisdom of The Long Arc of Training. Dorene Balmer brings life to life. Like a gardener, she sees growth before it sprouts; like a poet, she senses the footsteps of meaning. Her young doctors probably told her things they had never told themselves. Filled with trust and truth and intimacy, these conversations stand as soul-searching for a whole profession, a glimpse into our own failings and biases, virtues and triumphs.” - Rita Charon, Bernard Schoenberg Professor of Social Medicine and Executive Director of Columbia Narrative Medicine, Columbia University
“The captivating and illuminating stories in this book describe how medical students are transformed into physicians and what that experience is like for them. It is exceptionally well written and a joy to read. For anyone interested in how medical education works, this is a must read.” - David M. Irby, MDiv, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco
The Long Arc of Training: Six Stories of Aspiring Doctors follows six medical trainees over twelve years, offering a view into the personal and professional transformations involved in becoming a doctor. Through a series of interviews conducted during this time, this book captures the deeply human side of medical training. It’s not just what these aspiring doctors learn, but how they become who they are. This book is for anyone curious about the process of becoming a doctor – aspiring medical students, current trainees, practicing physicians, educators, and readers drawn to stories of growth and transformation. With a focus on authentic storytelling, The Long Arc of Training challenges common assumptions about medical education and invites reflection on how to best support those in training. It provides a fresh, human-centered perspective on a process often viewed in purely academic terms.
Unlike memoirs written in hindsight or short-term studies, this book presents longitudinal narratives that unfold gradually. Readers witness how the emotional responses, sense of self, personal well-being, and career plans of doctors-in-the making transform alongside growing medical knowledge and clinical skills.
Introduction: Blake’s Story about Transformation
Chapter One: Eliza’s Story about Socialization
Chapter Two: Alan’s Story about Agency
Chapter Three: Niki’s Story about Balance
Chapter Four: Krista’s Story about Emotion
Chapter Five: Tim’s Story about Comfort
Chapter Six: The End of the Arc
A Note to Aspiring Doctors