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Soldiers of Science cover art

Soldiers of Science

By: Alan Alda, Kate Rope
Narrated by: Alan Alda
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  • Summary

  • It’s the height of the Vietnam War when a new generation of doctors, including a young Dr. Anthony Fauci, arrive at the National Institutes of Health as part of the doctor’s draft. 

    What happens next is a hidden history of American medicine that could not be more revelatory or prescient.

    Alan Alda reveals how one of the darkest and divisive moments in the nation’s history also paved the way the for some of the greatest medical breakthroughs our country has ever seen. This one public health program would not only launch the careers of our top physician scientists, but build the country’s medical research system and also lead to nine Nobel-prize winning discoveries. So far. 

    This is a story of faith in government and a belief in science. We meet patients who sacrifice everything, and doctors who still can’t believe their luck at being allowed to serve the country in this unique way. It reminds us of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s mission for the NIH in 1940 when he declared “to be a strong nation we must be a healthy nation.” As well as President John F. Kennedy’s hope-filled call to service.

    One can’t help but wonder how the story of the Soldiers of Science might help us shape a better and healthier future.
    ©2020 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2020 Audible Originals, LLC
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Episodes
  • You’re In the NIH Now

    You’re In the NIH Now
    Dec 17 2020

    A young mother with two desperately sick children arrives at the NIH in the winter of 1969, where she meets doctors doing a tour of duty at the public health service.
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    30 mins
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  • The Beginning of the End of Heart Disease

    The Beginning of the End of Heart Disease
    Dec 17 2020

    Dr. Joe Goldstein arrives at the bedside of young Valerie and Clark. He soon enlists his colleague, Dr. Michael Brown, to try to figure out why these kids have cholesterol levels likely to kill them before they reach adulthood.
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    32 mins
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  • In Search Of…

    In Search Of…
    Dec 17 2020

    The story of the so-called “yellow berets” is largely forgotten until the NIH’s first historian and her young intern unearth some 3x5 index cards and make a major discovery of their own.
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    45 mins
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Americas
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What listeners say about Soldiers of Science

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Profile Image for Happy Scot 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Killer in your genes.

Many family members passed away not knowing they carry genes which can kill future generations..

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Profile Image for Mrs. Alison Cross

Fascinating

Always interesting to learn about 'Hidden Histories' and especially so when the effects of this group, the NIH had had such a major impact globally. Thank you for an engrossing and informative listen

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Profile Image for Clive

An excellent history of modern medicine

Very informative but a bit repetitive , a bit too much padding..Chapters are not numbered so guessing the order of them is trial and error.

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Profile Image for Peter

The story of the yellow berets ,the forgotten

This is a fascinating revelation regarding the young medical research graduates who to avoid the draft developed an understanding and solution to AIDs , blocked hardening arteries/ colestral and hence statins a better understanding of "T' cells and their function . Of late with the same dedicated teams of young medical graduates lead by previous yellow berets, vacinnes solution to covin-19. Four Nobel prize winners from this unsung unheralded generation .Their work resides in dusty library archives but the odd research diamond's have been developed to save millions of lives . The draft Dodgers that won many medical wars unlike the millitary and political disaster that was the long drawn out Vietnam fruitless war .

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Profile Image for Anonymous User

wonderfully insightful human story .

It pays tribute to both Doctor/ researcher/ scientist and patients alike.
The human gave behind the yellow berets!

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Stunning Story

This is very well written and the narration and interviews is beautifully done and what a fantastic story surrounding everything.

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Profile Image for angela frances patterson

Fascinating

A wonderful story with so much good coming out of those who objected to the Vietnam War

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Profile Image for Charles Pooter

great podcast

a fabulous and timely podcast, talking about medicine and service. A nice sky wink to Alan Alda's famous series, as well as a great chat with Anthony Fauci. I was so happy to download this podcast, even if Audible is experiencing issues in sequencing - it would have been better if the chapters were numbered, so I could cobble the correct order together.

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Profile Image for BrianP

Brilliant untold story of medical pioneers

This is a fascinating untold story of the huge medical advances made by a group of doctors who volunteered to do medical research instead of being drafted to Vietnam, including Dr Anthony Fauci. Millions of lives were altered for the better by their work, including my own, since one of the treatments they pioneered was the treatment for high cholesterol. Alan Alda hosts the piece very enthusiastically and respectfully.

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Profile Image for sewcrazy

Fantastic! I had quite a few teary moments!

Everyone if the scientists are SO humble - true greatness. The people who trusted you to help them - THANK YOU!!!

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