“American Triage deftly walks the razor’s edge between the Grand-Guignol insanity of the ambulance and ER theatres and the tragedy of burnout and breakdown. From 9-1-1 to 9/11, the terrible absence revealed by these collapses invites an uncanny return of imagination and creativity. Axler’s memoir is a wonderful tribute to madcap friendships, to weirdos, to the damaged and lost, and to the redemptive forces of art and love.”

—James Reich, author of Skinship  

“Wow, this book packs a punch. It deals with the decline of Western medicine with humor and a healthy dose of skepticism— the kind of jadedness that comes from working in a broken system. Really great stuff.”

—Rachel León, author of How We See the Gray

“American Triage pulls back the gurney cover on the healthcare profession to reveal the hardship, politics, hilarity, and tragedy involved with decades working in emergency medicine. Through witty and poignant writing —including a terrifying account of his work at Ground Zero on 9/11– Axler delivers insightful anecdotes that inform as much as entertain. This brief yet powerful memoir deserves a spot on the shelves alongside classics in the genre like Bourdain’s Kitchen Confidential. Highly recommended.”

—Greg Mollin, author, Owner of Artifact Books

“Axler demonstrates a real skill for pinpointing systemic failures and bringing them to light. These powerful stories build to a disquieting conclusion: both practitioners and patients may be reaching a collective breaking point.

A sharp, urgent critique that’s at its most powerful at the intersection of lived experience and hard science.” 

—Kirkus Reviews

“Read a truly enlightening book in honor of the 25th anniversary of 9-11. His frank and often comical recount of how he dealt with some crazy patients encounters, a broken medical system and increasingly skeptical parents who seem to believe that vaccines are no longer necessary, made me both laugh and cry. Don’t even get me started on the section including Jenny McCarthy and her anti-vax antics.”

—Amy Pisani, CEO, Vaccinate Your Family

“American Triage is raw, authentic, brutally honest, and remarkably human. The author speaks truths about medicine and healthcare that many of us who work within the system recognize, but often don’t feel comfortable saying out loud. His encounters are described so vividly that you don’t simply read the stories, you feel as though you are standing there beside him, experiencing the chaos, frustration, humor, absurdity, and humanity of medicine firsthand.

A must-read especially for anyone who has spent time on the front lines of healthcare.”

—Dr. Marilyn Suri, DMSc, MPA, PA-C, FACHE

“Adam Axler is a writer, a curator, a scientist, a frontline responder, and a PA, and it’s clear that each identity exists because of the other. American Triage is unique and gripping; it reads easily and comes to life like the manic story from a coworker who’s really seen it today. It’s a book that every single healthcare worker and American resident can identify with.”

—Jennifer Vonderau PA-C