“An evocative journey through meaning, virtue, and the stories we live by, this book invites us to pause and reflect on where we stand in the arc of time, the shape of place, and the depth of our surroundings.”

—Christine Ko, MD,
Professor of Dermatology and Pathology, Department of Dermatology and Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, Author
New Haven, USA

“This book offers a unique perspective on the intricate yet feasible web of relationships between health, love, and human connection. Where the Sacred Lives will resonate with all professionals who are about to or have dedicated their lives to caring for others and will inspire them to re-examine their own relationships with patients, colleagues, and themselves.”

—Federica Vagnarelli, MD, MS in MH, MS in NM,
Pediatrician and Neonatologist, Mentor of Arts for Health, Academic Lecturer for Reflective Practice in Medicine, Facilitator for Narrative Medicine Ateliers in Clinical Settings, Member of SIMEN and EUNAMES
Abu Dhabi Emirate, UAE

“An essential and illuminating meditation on purpose, Ganz masterfully explores the human quest for virtue and connection, seen through a physician’s eyes against the moving backdrop of global health realities.”

—David Hafler, MD, MS, FANA,
William S. and Lois Stiles Edgerly Professor and Chairman, Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, Neurologist-in-Chief of the Yale-New Haven Hospital
New Haven, USA

“Quid est homo?” — Who are we? “Quo vadis?” — Where are we heading in this life?
 Driven by these questions and the search for happiness, my journey to find answers began in Nairobi, continued through hospitals in Italy and the United States, and led me to write Where the Sacred Lives.

This book explores and reveals the virtues that make life whole and worth living: Character, Knowledge, Discernment, Love, and Health. Through the intimate stories of patients and colleagues I encountered in Kenya and the US, I share how medicine can evolve beyond simply a physical act of diagnosis and treatment, but an act of dignity, compassion, humility, and shared humanity.

I believe that only through embracing these virtues can we meaningfully respond to the questions posed at the beginning. We can then cultivate these same virtues that help us build our most sacred and authentic places, so we may discover a life filled with happiness—maisha ya furaha.

I want to conclude with heartfelt thanks to all those who walked by my side and supported me throughout this journey.
@ashgre.y, who followed every word and every page, editing this book with daily dedication since our days at Yale SM.
@seanaisaac , who taught me what it means to endure and remain strong even in suffering.
The community of Kikuyu and Kawangware in Kenya, whose values have left an indelible mark on my soul.
And above all, @aquarterofdiana , my love, whose faith and profound love have changed my life forever. I love you: without you, these pages would never have existed. 

Where the Sacred Lives is now available on Amazon (link in bio).

Review on Anamnesis -

"This is a tour de force of an anthology crafted by the wonderfully thoughtful student-Dr. Ganz of Italy. While there is no "wrong" time to revisit the role of humanity in medicine, he argues there is none better than now. The more technology we have developed to enrich ourselves, the sicker and the more hopeless we seem to feel. As a millennial with fond memories of being the first generation to grow up "with the Internet," here in the United States, I was aghast at how much of my pediatrics rotation was stricken with eating disorders and suicide attempts in a world dominated by Instagram models and Twitch streamers: cyberbullies abound, everyone is FaceTuned, and everyone is doing better than you.

I like to joke that med school taught me three skills: how to read fast, how to walk fast, and how to shut someone up fast. Even the kindest health workers are constantly torn between empathy (I want to listen to my patients talk about their hopes and dreams), and efficiency (I risk the needs of my more pressing cases, let alone take a hit on my grades as I rush in late for rounds). And this is the sad reality. Dr. Canz, poignantly, writes of his training: "seeing healthy people become sick almost continuously, I found that we are not taught much, perhaps nothing, about the pain, the suffering, the desperate search for hope of those lying before our scrupulous eyes." Some element of pressure and competition is necessary to build a competent physician, but we lose sight of even ourselves in the rat race of this versus that specialty, this versus that residency program. And off we go to practice, a la House of God by Samuel Shem.

Ironically, I used e-commerce to purchase Dr. Ganz's book and Al translation to recreate it from Italian to English, but this is also when I come to appreciate the universality of medicine, which is to say really the human experience. The moving essays shared by students and experts draw upon the wisdom and heartbreak of timeless writers, philosophers, even funnyman Stephen Colbert, contextualizing their own personal experiences across Europe, the US, and even Kenya. And coming from a Zen Buddhist family, I can particularly resonate with major themes; that we all are reliant on one another in ways we may not appreciate, that perhaps modern society has concealed what brings real satisfaction to our lives before sickness and death come chasing for all of our tails. So often we forget.

Dr. Ganz possesses both a gift for language and an extraordinary emotional intelligence, even for someone in the medical (and dare I clarify, surgical!) field.

His work is something to behold in this chaotic day and age, and I applaud him for challenging us to rediscover how we make humanity great again."

I’m thrilled to share that my book has been reviewed by my dear friend Kaelan Yao

“In ANAMESIS Michele has captured what it means to be human in medicine. His passion and his conviction are evident in the stories he tells and his work truly explores the emotional triumphs and burdens of practicing modern medicine today.“

"Come medico, ho sempre ritenuto che la vera eccellenza in medicina derivi non solo dalla padronanza della tecnica, ma dalla capacità di instaurare un rapporto autentico e umano con il paziente. La mia esperienza, fatta di successi e di momenti di grande sfida, mi ha insegnato quanto sia fondamentale ascoltare, comprendere e accogliere chi si affida a noi in momenti di vulnerabilità.

Leggendo Anamnesis di Michele Ganz, ho ritrovato una visione che va oltre il protocollo e l’efficienza tecnica: una riflessione profonda sull’arte dell’ascolto empatico, strumento indispensabile per fare della cura un atto di vera umanità. Le pagine del libro hanno rafforzato la mia convinzione che la medicina debba essere un connubio di scienza e cuore.

L’opera di Ganz, scritta con chiarezza ed eleganza, offre una testimonianza sincera del potere trasformativo dell’empatia. Le storie e le riflessioni in esse contenute mi hanno ricordato che ogni paziente porta con sé un vissuto pieno di emozioni, paure e speranze. Queste meritano di essere accudite nel nostro lavoro.

Raccomando vivamente Anamnesis a chiunque, nel mio campo e oltre, desideri riscoprire il valore umano della medicina. È un’opera che arricchisce sia la mente che l’anima."

Jordan Tralins, a medical student at Harvard Medical School, shared her experience with technology in medical practice today.

“When it comes to technology, especially AI, I’m optimistic. I see AI as a tool to enhance—not hinder—the patient-physician relationship. Imagine if AI could take on the more tedious aspects of our work: paperwork, data sorting, and record-keeping. That would free up time for us to be fully present with our patients, and to focus on the connection and care that matter most. Far from diminishing the human side of medicine, I think technology can strengthen it.

As technology evolves, I believe the doctor-patient relationship will only grow in importance. With AI supporting diagnostics and treatments, the human elements—empathy, trust, and effective communication—will become even more vital. Interpersonal connection is, and always will be, the crux of medicine. Technology should serve as a bridge, not a barrier, reinforcing the central role of connection in what we do.

Ultimately, I believe the virtues that guide us as physicians—connection, honesty, empathy, and partnership—stem from the unique privilege we have in caring for others. It’s a privilege to be trusted with someone’s health, and to contribute to their well-being. Those virtues come from that sense of responsibility and gratitude. For me, they’re the foundation of everything I hope to achieve in this field.”

"This doesn’t mean that after battling depression, everything else feels so much happier by comparison. There are days when I feel very sad or very anxious. But I no longer have days, weeks, or months when I don’t care about my life at all. The opposite of happiness isn’t sadness—it’s indifference. The opposite of a life with depression is a life with all its ups and downs, with pain and love, with smiles and tears, with adventures and days spent in bed, with moments of illness and moments of extraordinary health.

Imagine your laughter bubbling over when you hear a joke so silly, it’s perfect, or the warmth of a hug from someone you haven’t seen in far too long.

Think of the pride in your parents’ eyes during a graduation, and the bittersweet goodbyes as friends move away to start new chapters in their lives.

There’s the exhilaration of achieving a personal best during a morning run, and the quiet satisfaction of reading a book by the window on a rainy day.

Feel the joy of witnessing a sunset so vibrant it seems like the sky is putting on a show just for you, and the pain of saying goodbye that feels far too final, far too soon.

Think of the electrifying thrill of a first kiss with someone who makes your heart dance, and the crushing weight of a misunderstanding that drives a wedge between you and someone you love. Even worse, the feeling when you close the door behind their apartment, knowing that leaving means losing them forever, but also knowing that you have to let them go for both your sakes.

And yet, there will be those first steps on a long-dreamed-of journey, the wonder of a breathtaking view, the unexpected kindness of strangers, or the simple joy of a perfect cup of coffee on a hard day.

These experiences, joyful and painful, compose the intricate dance of life. They are a reminder that feeling everything so intensely—from the heart-pounding highs to the soul-crushing lows—is what it means to be truly alive, fully engaged in the rollercoaster that is the human experience.
So I say, let’s dance! Let’s climb aboard and appreciate this rollercoaster—a life fully lived. Let’s help one another. Let’s love one another. Let’s live with open hearts and open minds. Together. As human beings. It’s all we have, and it’s all we need."

By exploring our inner selves, we discover our purpose. This ability is inherent to each of us, woven into the very fabric of humanity. We must embrace this quest for purpose by looking inward, seeking an attitude rather than an external destination—a place to go, a meal to eat, or a workout to complete. Everything we need is within us, not outside. As Plato said, true consciousness and knowledge are found within our souls.

Happy Thanksgiving!