Jim Slotnick entered medical school in 1981 with his sights set on a career as a “country doctor,” catering to those with limited access to quality health care. Within twelve months, however, he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. What followed ?was an odyssey of dealing with the health care system and its practitioners, the increasing limitations and challenges of a fatal disease and Jim’s own mortality staring him in the face. Through it all, he wrote. Jim’s stunningly compassionate, funny and hard hitting account of life will amaze you. A Short Life provides remarkable insight into being both a doctor and a patient, and is a simple, beautiful story of a young man growing up.