The ability to
Acknowledge, Accept, and Adapt
will help anyone survive, even the unimaginable. Life offers waves of health and sickness, challenges, and achievements. I hope my story of healing will inspire you to, in my father’s words, “Never give up.”
—Michael J. Hession
THE BESTSELLING BOOK
Physician Heal Thyself
Dying was not something I thought about. In abstract terms, I knew death was inevitable for every living thing. I was young and healthy, so this was not a concept I had given much thought to other than filling out a health care proxy as part of the requirements our lawyer insisted upon when my wife and I revised our wills. Try, if you can, to place yourself in my situation on December 31, 2013, when the abstract became a reality. How could anyone recover from a near-death experience? What are the life skills needed to accomplish this? How could anyone prepare themselves for the unimaginable? There was no “go bag” ready for me. My book is a powerful, deeply personal memoir of my near-death experience and how I rebuilt my body, both physically and emotionally, as well as finding a new life’s meaning, purpose, and happiness. This book is written from the unique perspective of someone who was a patient and a physician who routinely cared for critically ill patients. My hope is that this book will resonate and help guide both survivors of near death and their loved ones through the agony of recovery and the herculean task of rebuilding your life.
MICHAEL J. HESSION, MD
Michael J. Hession, MD, is a distinguished Dartmouth Medical School alumni. His journey to becoming a physician, marked by resilience and empathy, was shaped by personal experiences, including two near-death experiences. Recognized for excellence, he's a Fellow of the American College of Medicine and Cardiology. As Chief Medical Officer at Brigham Health Harbor Medical, he impacts clinical practice and education, honored eight times in Boston Magazine's Top Doctors. Outside medicine, he enjoys adventures with his wife of 40 years, Colleen, on Cape Cod, MA.
Why Did Michael Write The Bestselling Book
Based on my firsthand experience overcoming a close call with death, I wrote my memoir to bring hope, build resilience, and share practical guidance with others. I hope that sharing my story will inspire and empower others on their own healing journeys. We all have the capacity for tremendous resilience if we dare to persist.
Inspiring Speaker
Michael’s journey with a close call to death after spending years working with the critically ill highlights the courage, appreciation for life, and hope we all need in our darkest times. As an esteemed physician for many years, death was no stranger to Michael, though his own experience completely altered how he sees life and how he believes physicians should work with their patients when they face a similarly challenging experience. An interview with Michael will offer a greater understanding of what we need most when facing great adversity, leaving any audience inspired.
