From Mountains to Medicine

Scaling the Heights in Search of My Calling

De: Erica Elliott MD

Narrado por: Erica M. Elliott MD

From Mountains to Medicine is the story of Erica Elliott's magical, mind-bending, and heart-opening journey of self-discovery in search of her life's purpose.

A courageous woman with insatiable curiosity, Elliott shares her compelling story with disarming honesty. Right from the beginning, she draws the listener into her narrative as she threads her way through the turbulent early years of her life, overcoming many daunting challenges along the way. Her guiding star is her search for meaning and purpose, which leads her to some spellbinding adventures, including perilous climbs of daunting peaks, one of which was subsequently named after her.

Ultimately, Elliott's wise heart leads her home to discover what was there all along--her destiny to be a healer.

©2023 Erica Elliott, MD (P)2024 Erica M. Elliott, MD

An Inspiring Journey of Self-Discovery

From the Mountain to Medicine by Dr. Erica Elliott is an inspiring, pulse-quickening memoir that takes readers on a transformative journey around the world as Dr. Elliott discovers her true calling. This isn't merely a retelling of a life story; it's a vivid immersion into the heart-palpitating adventures of a woman who embodies resilience, courage, and an unbreakable spirit.

From her daring expeditions across rugged mountain trails to the isolated villages where she honed her medical skills, Dr. Elliott brings each experience to life in a way that feels as if we, too, are alongside her. Whether she’s backpacking through the most remote corners of the earth or sharing quiet moments of reflection, her openness to new experiences shines. She boldly embraces challenges others might shy away from, showcasing an inner strength that propels her forward even when fear threatens to stand in her way. This sense of resilience, combined with her humility, allows her to navigate situations that would daunt the average person, emerging stronger each time.

One of the most moving aspects of Dr. Elliott’s story is her honest confrontation with feelings of self-doubt. She allows us to witness her internal battles with imposter syndrome, the universal fear of not being "enough" or failing to meet expectations. Her vulnerability in sharing these struggles is profoundly impactful, as she reveals how she grappled with questions we all ponder at some point in life: Who am I, and what do I have to offer the world? Watching her journey unfold as she learns to answer these questions reminds us of our own strength and potential to grow.

Dr. Elliott’s journey unfolds across continents, in places many can only dream of visiting, each location bringing unique lessons and growth. Her experiences don’t just shape her as an individual; they become defining moments in her journey as a physician, providing insights that lead her from one “next right thing” to the next. As a reader, you can almost hear the quiet clarity in those pivotal moments when she realizes she’s exactly where she’s meant to be.

Dr. Elliott is a skilled connector who has an innate ability to bridge gaps, even when faced with language barriers. She seeks connection with every person she meets, learning from their unique perspectives and leaving each place richer for having met her. Her humility and curiosity help her uncover lessons from others’ lives, deepening her understanding of what it means to truly serve. Her interactions are a testament to her belief in the importance of learning from everyone, regardless of background or belief.

From the Mountain to Medicine is more than a memoir; it’s an invitation to embrace our own journeys with courage, curiosity, and an open heart. Dr. Elliott’s story reminds us that while we may encounter fear and self-doubt along the way, those moments can be the catalysts for personal growth. This book is perfect for those drawn to stories of resilience, cultural discovery, and the journey to find one’s purpose. Dr. Elliott’s life is proof that the path to self-discovery is often found in unexpected places, and it’s a journey worth taking.

Do not miss this book!

Erica's latest book is a profoundly moving and insightful work. Through richly detailed storytelling, she takes readers on an intimate journey into the remarkable life of a passionate healer. With her deep medical expertise and intuitive understanding, Erica recounts how she has touched and transformed countless lives. Her stories are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the incredible power of compassion. Listeners will find themselves inspired to embrace their own paths of growth and healing. Erica's narration is authentic and engaging, allowing her compassionate spirit to shine through. This book is a true gem that will leave an indelible mark on all who experience it. I highly recommend it.

A True Hero's Journey Through Mountains & Loves

It is wonderful to read this adventure tale that takes the young Erica to South America, where she hikes killer mountains, falls in love, and breaks hearts along the way. Rare it is that such a hero's journey is that of a young woman, so this tale is to be treasured!

We can see how Dr. Elliott became the empathetic, wise, and experienced physician that she is today as she learns valuable life lessons at each stage of her journey, one she tells with staunch truth, allowing us to voyage with her through the highs and lows of her young life.

It is nice to hear her voice as the narrator telling tales of her youth, so I congratulate her on doing all the reading, instead of retaining young, chirpy professional narrator because the story would not be the same. We have the feeling of a campfire story with hot toddies and snow falling all around.

You will love her first book, Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert, that features the first part of her journey to the Navajo reservation in the US!

Inspirational Memoir Set in the High Andes

The audiobook From Mountains to Medicine, narrated by the author Erica M Elliott MD, tells the story of a bold and adventurous young woman searching for her calling.

The book opens with a glimpse of Erica’s experience climbing Cotopaxi in Andes of Ecuador, one of the highest active volcanoes in the world, an accomplishment of will, overcoming exhaustion, hypoxia, and the fear of falling to an icy death. Erica asks herself the question: “Why in the world do I want to climb these mountains?” The answer emerges in her life story.

Her story leads from her experience as a student at Antioch College in the 1960s; a young marriage, a crisis of depression, soul searching through psychotherapy, and a breakthrough of being able to express her love to her mother; time spent with Uncle Ernst in Switzerland, Herr Doktor Ernst Bauer renowned for curing the incurable with fasting and lifestyle; a Peace Corps assignment living with Quechua-speaking people in the high Andes; falling in love, a broken heart, and falling in love again; becoming an accomplished mountaineer; a risky backroom abortion; publishing a book of local stories in Quechua and Spanish; witnessing brutal killings in a revolution; climbing the highest peaks in South America; teaching mountaineering with Outward Bound; and finding her true calling in medicine.

Epic storytelling! This is the second of a series of memoirs by Dr Erica Elliot. Her first memoir, Medicine and Miracles in the High Desert: My Life Among the Navajo People, tells of her life as a teacher, shepherd, and physician with the Diné (the ancestral name for the Navajo people). In her own words “The climbing helped me to become strong in mind and body to withstand what might await me on my path... I will share with you the final episode of the search for purpose in my next memoir.” I greatly appreciate hearing the story in the author’s own voice. I encourage a screenplay. The story will make a spectacular movie. Truly inspiring!

A honest view into a fascinating life

Take a trip with Erica as she takes you through a fascinating life of experiences and self discovery. There is no filter, as you listen it’s like you almost get to live through it!!