People tell their doctors personal information that no one else knows- these clipboard wielding strangers know so many details about us that maybe it’s time we get to know them a little better. One could look to prime time to learn more about the secret lives of doctors- ABC’s Scrubs is hilarious, ER is a classic, and there’s about a dozen more doctor shows. These shows might be so popular because they tell the story from the other side of the stethoscope… with a little more glam. Well, a lot more glam- in my experience, I’ve never had a doctor who looks like George Clooney or else I would have broken a few more bones in my life. There’s now an alternative to prime time doctor shows- NOVA’s new documentary Doctors’ Diaries, directed by Michael Barnes takes a realistic look at the professional and personal lives of seven doctors starting when they enter Harvard Medical School in 1987 and ending at present day.

With only two hours to convey seven lives over a twenty-one year span, Doctors’ Diaries only gives a glance of the sleepless nights and rigorous classes to get through med school, the intense hands-on residencies, and the life each doctor forges out of their training. Observing the three women and four men at Harvard and beyond as they struggle with large workloads, classes that involve human corpses, attempts to have intimate relationships and interests outside the medical world, life in busy hospitals; all while coming of age. This is truly a look at an evolution and a non-linear, sometimes out of balance, path to a life they all dreamed of. And that path never seems to stop winding, as each doctor narrows down their field interests, have families, and become teachers and role models to the next generation of doctors.

The word doctor originates from a word that meant teacher, scholar, religious teacher, or someone respected because of their knowledge. Today, doctors are some of the most educated people and their knowledge of our bodies is invaluable. While their ability to teach us about living healthy is important and evident to most- Doctors’ Diaries points out another lesson we can learn from doctors that is not often appreciated. In the current economic climate where headlines only seem to tell of corporate greed and selfishness, the enormous amount of sacrifice all seven doctors go through to get to where they are today- six are practicing medicine and one is in the non-profit world- is refreshing. Besides the six plus years of medical school and residencies, the doctors of this film have accepted a life of working long hours- and their personal lives, interests and sometimes health suffer. Their sacrifices are proof that there are people who have a desire, or a calling, to help those around them by using their talents for the benefits of others. It is a nice reminder that there are still people in our country who are concerned with the quality of life for everyone.

Doctors’ Diaries will air on PBS Tuesday April 7th and Tuesday April 14th, 2009.