The author of the Community Reading Project selection will visit campus to discuss her book, which takes readers through a harrowing week at a New Orleans hospital during and after Hurricane Katrina.
Sheri Fink, author of "Five Days at Memorial," will give a presentation March 24, 7 p.m., at the Herrick District Library in Holland, and March 25, 7 p.m., in the Kirkhof Center on the Allendale Campus.
Both presentations are free and open to the public. Fink will sign books after each event; doors of the Kirkhof Center will open at 6 p.m.
Fink is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who received both a doctoral degree and medical degree from Stanford University.
Published in 2013, "Five Days at Memorial" exposes the hidden dilemmas of end-of-life care while bringing the reader into a hospital fighting for its life. Fink also reveals how ill-prepared many major hospitals and medical centers are for large-scale natural disasters.
The book earned numerous accolades, including the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, and it was named to many best-selling lists such as the New York Times, NPR and Wall Street Journal.
Brian Jbara, director of Integrative Learning, said nearly 50 faculty members incorporated the book in their classes this year.
“Each year, the CRP book reaches a different group of constituents, but this year in particular, we were able to connect closely with the professional schools,” Jbara said. “More importantly, it was great to hear their perspectives on all of this.”
He added that it may have been difficult for readers to maintain empathy and perspective while reading the book, and listening to Fink’s presentation will hopefully add to their understanding.
“Sheri did some incredibly thorough research to write this book, and I hope she can humanize the experience of what it was like to hear from people directly involved,” Jbara said.
Next year’s CRP book will be announced after Fink’s March 25 lecture.
The CRP is sponsored by the Brooks College of Interdisciplinary Studies, University Libraries, Herrick District Library and the Grand Rapids Community Foundation in addition to many on-campus departments.
Visit www.gvsu.edu/read for more information.
