Sunita Puri

Sunita Puri is an American physician specializing in palliative medicine and the author of "That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the Eleventh Hour," published in 2019. She serves as the Medical Director of the Palliative Medicine department at Keck Hospital and Norris Cancer Center of the University of Southern California. Her work and writing focus on end-of-life care, exploring the intersection of medicine, mortality, and the human experience. Her book "That Good Night" received critical acclaim for its honest examination of how doctors and patients navigate serious illness and death. Puri's essays and commentary have appeared in notable publications including The New York Times, Slate, The Journal of the American Medical Association, and The Los Angeles Times. Her writing often addresses medical ethics, doctor-patient relationships, and the challenges healthcare providers face when treating terminally ill patients. Beyond her clinical and literary work, Puri has contributed to medical education and public understanding of palliative care through lectures and speaking engagements at medical schools and healthcare institutions. She completed her medical training at the University of California San Francisco and her residency at Stanford University.

Readers consistently highlight Puri's ability to blend medical expertise with compassionate storytelling in "That Good Night," her only published book. Readers appreciate: - Clear explanations of complex medical situations - Personal stories that illuminate doctor-patient relationships - Honest discussion of cultural influences on end-of-life care - Balance between professional distance and emotional connection Common criticisms: - Some sections feel repetitive - Medical terminology can be dense for non-healthcare readers - Narrative occasionally jumps between timeframes Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.3/5 from 2,800+ ratings Amazon: 4.6/5 from 300+ reviews Notable reader comments: "Offers unique insight into both sides of difficult medical decisions" - Amazon reviewer "Her writing about her mother's influence adds depth to understanding cultural approaches to medicine" - Goodreads reviewer "Would have benefited from tighter editing in middle chapters" - Goodreads reviewer

That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the Eleventh Hour (2019) A physician's memoir examining the realities of palliative medicine, combining personal experiences, patient stories, and reflections on death and the medical profession's approach to end-of-life care.

Paul Kalanithi wrote about his experience as a neurosurgeon diagnosed with terminal cancer in "When Breath Becomes Air." His perspective as both doctor and patient offers insights into mortality and meaning in medicine similar to Puri's work.

Atul Gawande examines medical practice, aging, and end-of-life care in books like "Being Mortal." His focus on healthcare systems and how doctors approach death parallels Puri's exploration of palliative medicine.

Jerome Groopman writes about medical decision-making and doctor-patient relationships in works like "How Doctors Think." His examination of medical practice from a physician's perspective shares Puri's interest in the human elements of healthcare.

Danielle Ofri chronicles her experiences as a physician at Bellevue Hospital in books like "What Doctors Feel." Her writing about doctor-patient relationships and the emotional aspects of medicine aligns with Puri's approach to medical narrative.

Abraham Verghese combines medical expertise with storytelling in works like "Cutting for Stone" and "My Own Country." His writing about the practice of medicine and patient care reflects similar themes to Puri's work about the doctor-patient relationship.