Dogmeat

A Memoir of Love and Neurosurgery in San Francisco

By: Moris Senegor M.D.

Narrated by: John N Gully

Length: 7 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

Ambitious and cocky, a young neurosurgery resident left his hometown of Chicago for what became an unforgettable adventure in San Francisco, both exhilarating and disheartening, destined to irrevocably change his future. "Dogmeat" was the moniker he was given as apprentice to a famous - and famously intimidating - neurosurgeon. Moris Senegor gives a disarmingly honest account of his "Dogmeat" days in the wards and operating rooms of UCSF. He also vividly recounts how he fell in love with San Francisco and a woman he found there. His story is for both surgeons and anyone ever beguiled by San Francisco.

©2014 Moris Senegor M.D. (P)2017 Moris Senegor M.D.

A fun and interesting read! Good narration!

What did you love best about Dogmeat?

An interesting insight into neurology through the eyes of a doctor with his interesting journey. I loved this book!

Any additional comments?

This review copy audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost."

Interesting insight to a Neurosurgery

I enjoyed listening to this book. John Gully did a great job of narrating this book. I loved all the descriptions of San Francisco. San Francisco is such a lovely city and Moris Senegor did a nice job of telling about his time in this lovely place. I was gifted this book with the understanding that I would leave an honest review.

Fascinating memoir

I was dubious yet intrigued about this audiobook with "Dogmeat" and "neurosurgery" in the title. Nevertheless I was pleasantly surprised when I came to truly enjoy Dr. Moris Senegor's account of his formative years as resident under two famed (and polar opposite) neurosurgeons.

It's the early-1980s and Senegor is in Chicago, in the midst of his surgical residency. A chance encounter leads him to the opportunity of a lifetime, as "the Wilson resident" in San Francisco. He falls in love with the beauty of the city and, amongst demanding surgical responsibilities and a hectic on-call schedule, he finds his future wife. Ambition and ego will ultimately teach Senegor a difficult lesson, costing a patient her ability to live a normal life. Senegor carried much into his future from his time in San Francisco, but he also left a few things behind.

While I've had past employment experience with a neurosurgeon (as well as extensive experience as a neurosurgical patient), I believe non-medical persons will be able to understand and enjoy this book just as much as I did. Despite some necessary medical terminology the language is accessible, so there should be no need for a medical dictionary, unless you're just curious! Narrator, John Gully, gives a superb performance, telling Senegor's story with ease and enthusiasm. I'm always fascinated with behind-the-scenes real life stories, and Dogmeat certainly fed my fascination.

(I was provided a free copy of this audiobook by the narrator in exchange for my unbiased review. Many thanks to John N. Gully for this opportunity!)

Dr. Charlie Wilson aka "Chairman Wilson?

Imagine being at the end of your residency and legendary neurosurgeon Charlie Wilson screams “You are not cut out for Neurosurgery.” Dr. Wilson (UCSF) already fired the previous resident and Senegor was the next resident “Dogmeat.” San Francisco is the enchanting city where this happens (full of fog banks, redwoods and recollections).

“The bone’s trajectory crested up near the operating lights...the bone fell in a split second…periosteal under a craniotomy bone cut… All chatter came to a halt when Dr. Wilson entered...”

---Moris Senegor, MD

“Dogmeat: A Memoir of Love and Neurosurgery in San Francisco” is a fiercely candid tour of the wards and operating rooms at prestigious UCSF. “Senegor” lost a marriage and found a new one in the ordeal. Spilling over with black humor and a candid delineation of “the nether world” of residency.

Neurosurgeon Moris Senegor has achieved more than 8000 procedures in peripheral nerve, spine and brain surgery. San Francisco and its inveiglement are found within. Resident empathy dissipates with "ubi pus, ibi evacua” surgery in care bordering on “toten machen.” Buy, cringe and imagine being the “Dogmeat” of Dr. Charlie Wilson.

Too technical for my liking

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

No, I would have preferred more personal anecdotes than the technical jargon.

Would you recommend Dogmeat to your friends? Why or why not?

No, there was little personal story line.

Have you listened to any of John N Gully’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes but he saved this book for me. His cadence and syntax was excellent and I enjoyed his voice. He is very professional.

What else would you have wanted to know about Moris Senegor M.D.’s life?

More personal stories so we could learn more about him.

Any additional comments?

"I was voluntarily provided this review copy audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator."

I enjoyed it until...

I was enjoying the tales of neurosurgery residency until I got to the very end of the book. I had wanted to comment on his writing of details of his surroundings while on a walk with a friend and how it was nothing but a space filler. I would have stopped there with my criticism. Until I got to the end of the book and heard the author sing the praises of the neurosurgeon who speeds through surgeries and carries heavy amounts of malpractice cases while cutting down the neurosurgeon who takes his time and believes in doing one's best. I was so disgusted by what I heard I knew who was the dog meat then. I'll take the careful surgeon anyday over some hotshot egotistical fool who doesn't even care enough about his patients to give the bad news to them. Really? The author is serious about praising this man or did I miss some well-hidden sarcasm? And more likely than not when Dr Wilson said twice Are you staying out of trouble? he wasn't recalling the author's failings but showing signs of dementia, along with the odd desire to be called by his first name. Seems the author has grandiose feelings of himself and believes he is to be remembered in the frail doctors memory. He became just like the man who trained him. How sad. He'd never be my doctor.