Book in the Making – A Story Yet to Be Told. Paul Henning, MD

“This Is Not a Drill” – A raw, unfiltered take on medicine’s most critical moments.

I have a lot to say. The question is—how do I say it?

After years in emergency medicine, global health, leadership, and the relentless study of human nature, I’ve collected stories that refuse to stay locked in my memory. Some are gripping, some are gut-wrenching, and some are so absurdly human that they teeter on the edge of comedy and tragedy. The challenge? How do I weave them into a book that captures the truth without crossing the line?

Thriller, Drama, or Dark Comedy?

Life in emergency medicine is an unpredictable mix of high-stakes decisions, raw emotion, and the kind of moments you’d swear were scripted if you didn’t live them firsthand. Should this book be a pulse-pounding thriller about life-or-death calls? A deeply introspective drama about resilience, failure, and redemption? Or should I embrace the dark, often unspoken humor that keeps doctors sane in the chaos of medicine?

The Fine Line Between Truth and Fiction

There’s another hurdle—what happens when people recognize themselves? Some stories are too powerful not to tell, but I find myself walking a tightrope between honesty and discretion, raw truth and storytelling artistry. This book will reflect the reality of medicine, leadership, and human resilience, but it won’t be a tell-all. The people, the moments, the lessons—they matter. But the way I tell them? That’s where the art comes in.

I want to hear from you. What kind of book would you want to read? A thriller? A darkly humorous dive into the absurdity of medicine? A no-holds-barred drama? What stories do you think need to be told? Let’s build this together.

Follow along as this book takes shape—I’ll be sharing insights, behind-the-scenes thoughts, and maybe even sneak peeks of what’s to come. Because some stories demand to be told. And this is just the beginning.