1.      What inspired you to write this book?

I always wanted to share my life story, what triggered me to write the book was after I was diagnosed with non-curable multiple myeloma. As Part of the treatment scheme you receive monoclonal antibody chemo and high dose steroids.  The steroids keep you “wired;” .

so I started to write during the night, one chapter afar another.

2.      What exactly is it about and who is it written for?

Bio of my life and my transition form a medical provider (heart surgeon), to a caregiver after my wife’s  stroke and my transition to being a patient.

3.      What do you hope readers will get out of reading your book? Learn about resiliency, never give up, pursue your dreams.

4.      How did you decide on your book’s title and cover design?

The “wet my hands” comes from my training days in the OR our chief would tell the tech to wet his hands, it helps the suture slide to get a more stable knot.

5.      What advice or words of wisdom do you have for fellow writers – other than run!?

Sit down, concentrate, outline your book by theme,  experience etc. and build each chapter.

6.      What trends in the book world do you see — and where do you think the book publishing industry is heading? 

Concerned about a loss of creativity and reliance on Artificial Intelligence.

7.      Were there experiences in your personal life or career that came in handy when writing this book?

Absolutely, they permeate throughout the book.

8.      How would you describe your writing style? Which writers or books is your writing similar to?

Clear and concise like a surgical procedure, have not compared to other authors.

9.      What challenges did you overcome in the writing of this book?

None the process went extremely well for my first book.

10. If people can buy or read one book this week or month, why should it be yours?

                I will inspire them, they will see the love I have for my wife and my resiliency in fighting cancer.

 Albert H. O-Yurvati, DO, PhD, FACOS, FICS, FAHA, is a 1986 graduate of the University of North Texas Health Science Center, Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.  He completed his Internship and General Surgery residency at Tulsa Regional Medical Center at Tulsa, Oklahoma, and served as Chief Resident his final year.  He then completed a residency in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at the Deborah Heart and Lung Center, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Browns Mills, New Jersey, where he also served as chief resident. He is AOA board certified in Cardiothoracic-Vascular and General Surgery, and he is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons as well as the International College of Surgeons.  He completed a PhD in Education with a concentration of Organizational Leadership from Northcentral University. Other educational activities include a Graduate Certificate from the University of North Texas Toulouse School of Education in Teaching and Adult Learning. 

Currently Dr. O-Yurvati is a tenured DSWOP Professor of Surgery and Chair of the Department of Medical Education at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, and he is also Professor of Integrative Physiology in the Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease.  In addition, he is Adjunct Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of North Texas at Denton.  He is a Visiting Professor at the University of Strathclyde, in Glasgow, Scotland, in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.