"The tools and ideas in this book are so vital for all in health care now. From the wonderful description of Dr. van Pelt’s professional journey to his role as an incredible innovator and improver to the tools and methods all can use to make care better, there is learning for all. I’d recommend that all students―whether medical, nursing, or therapists―and leaders can learn and employ the wonderful learnings for improving care."
– Maureen Bisognano
President Emerita and Senior Fellow, Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

"There's no social goal more important than rooting out the systemic errors that are killing 250,000 patients a year in America. And there's no better guide than the eloquent Dr. Rick van Pelt, who experienced up-close a near-catastrophic mishap and has devoted his career to the life-saving transformation of the health-care system."
― Larry Tye
Director, Blue Cross of MA (BCBSMA) Foundation’s Health Coverage Fellowship; New York Times Bestselling Author

"Deeply driven by purpose, values, and the power of reflection on life, the medical profession, and the delivery of healthcare, Dr. Rick van Pelt turned a most confronting experience in the clinical practice of anesthesia into a life’s work to find pathways and solutions that would help healthcare and thereby help humankind. Spanning recall on the most personal interactions that happen in the crucible of the doctor-patient relationship to the need for profound systemic change in how health systems and practitioners conduct their work, this volume connects it all and helps us make sense of the need for change. Moreover, he describes an innovative approach to implementing durable and impactful change in a large, complex healthcare setting. His work matters."
― S. Bruce Dowton MD
Vice Chancellor, MacQuarie University, Sydney, Australia

"In this courageous account, Dr. Rick van Pelt candidly explores the profound professional and personal challenges that follow a serious adverse event in the medical field. He reveals the often-hidden emotional toll of such experiences, while underscoring the critical value of compassionate peer support. His journey demonstrates how an empathetic network and the incorporation of peer support principles are essential for creating a safe, collaborative learning environment for problem solving and growth. Helen Keller wisely said, 'Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.' This book beautifully illustrates that sentiment, showing how connection and understanding turn shared challenges into collective solutions. It is a powerful testament to the enduring impact of empathy and collaboration in the medical profession, offering hope and inspiration for practitioners at every level."
― Susa...