About Dr. Fisher

Dr. Michael Fisher received his medical degree from State Medical University of New York in Syracuse in 1968 and completed his nephrology fellowship at UCLA in 1972. As co-medical director of acute dialysis at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital since 1984, he has conducted 131 teaching lectures at the hospital on topics that include management of malignant hypertension, renal management of toxic shock syndrome, and NSAID drug-induced renal failure.

Dr. Fisher describes two events that shaped his career. As a Peace Corps volunteer to Bolivia, he learned “how much we all have in common. People want to live healthy lives and they want the same for their loved ones. Most importantly, it was clear to me that having loved ones around during surgery or sickness was powerful medicine.”

Then, in 2013, Dr. Fisher was diagnosed with lung cancer. He writes, “Walking in the slippers of my patients allowed me to more fully understand the challenges they faced and the courage they found to overcome them. I realized that I had been in the presence of heroes, my patients, and I was determined to get well and to write a book to tell their remarkable stories as way of honoring them. My hope is that such a book will inspire all who face major life challenges to find their own inner fiery spirit and to succeed in overcoming adversity.”