Soldiers of Science

The Vietnam War, Anthony Fauci & the Doctors who Revolutionized American Medicine

 Preview
Free with 30-day trial
A 30-day trial plus your first audiobook free.
1 credit/month after trial—to buy any title you like, yours to keep.
Listen all you want to a selection of thousands of Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.

Soldiers of Science

By: Alan Alda, Kate Rope
Narrated by: Alan Alda
Free with 30-day trial

$16.45/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

About this listen

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 Americas
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.
    Show More Show Less
    30 mins
    Free with 30-day trial
  • 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.
    Show More Show Less
    32 mins
    Free with 30-day trial
  • 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.
    Show More Show Less
    45 mins
    Free with 30-day trial
All stars
Most relevant  
Story I never knew and am now telling everyone about! The interviewing is spot on and its edited so well, I never found my self distracted by anything else. It's a case of all the right people in the right place at the right time.

Topical

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Interesting, a story that should be heard. to think of what the world would have been like without these breakthroughs.

Interesting

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Let us hope that the team that is working now can be as innovative and compassionate.

Should be more widely spoken of

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
really enjoyed Alan Alda interviewing here and the Yellow Berets who advanced medical knowledge! especially Dr. Anthony Fauci

excellent interviews

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
What an inspiration, thank you! I appreciate the fact I have had the chance to hear this remarkable story.
Mr Alda, you had genuine passion and respect in your voice. You gave this story more humanity than I could just reading it.

Alan Alda, a voice I could listen to any time

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Really interesting and inspiring mini series. Would recommend. Great story and unique bit of history that I would have been obvious to

Worth a listen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Very informative the right people in the right place at the right time, did wonders for medical science. I thank them for their service

good from bad

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This podcast is fascinating but there is no indication of the order of the episodes.

Great, but..

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
couldn't listen to the narrator longer than 5 minutes his voice was very irritating

had to listen to for longer than 5 minutes

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.