"Compelling and insightful-I urge everyone, physicians and the public alike, to read this brilliant work." -James Borgstede MD, past president and chairman of the board of the American College of Radiology
A doctor's profound tales of diagnoses and discoveries made by medical imaging; and reflections on what we can learn about ourselves and life by looking within the human body.
What would it really be like to have x-ray vision? Our bodies have endless stories and secrets to tell, and imaging is the great equalizer. When we look deep into ourselves from the vantage of this fundamental level, with exterior barriers and labels removed, we may see ourselves, other people, and our lives in a whole new light.
In Looking Within, Cullen Ruff, MD collects over 30 stories of how diagnostic imaging impacted the lives of his patients and provided insight into the many complex stories that led these people to seek answers. Ruff highlights the wonder and mystery of the human body, literally and metaphorically looking inside of others. Each story describes a patient in whom a life-changing discovery is made: tumors, stroke, domestic violence, substance abuse, sterility, unexpected pregnancy, infection, surgical complications, evidence of criminal activity, mental illness, even impending death. Dr. Ruff's words, images, and insights help us see ourselves like never before.
Cullen Ruff, MD is a radiologist in private practice and an associate professor of medical education at the University of Virginia campus in Fairfax, VA, where he has received awards teaching medical students. His best-selling book, Looking Within, explores human stories and insights from medical imaging. Short story chapters have appeared in several magazines and online forums, and in 2019, Ruff won a Washington, DC, Moth story slam narrating a chapter from Looking Within. Ruff has lectured at the Smithsonian Institute and the Cosmos Club in Washington, DC.
