The Scalpel and The Silver Bear : The First Navajo Woman Surgeon Combines Western Medicine and Traditional Healing

The Scalpel and the Silver Bear is a memoir by Lori Arviso Alvord, the first Navajo woman surgeon, co-written with Elizabeth Cohen Van Pelt. It follows Alvord’s journey from her upbringing in a Navajo community to her training in Western medicine, highlighting the cultural and personal challenges she faced along the way.

The book emphasizes her effort to integrate modern surgical practice with traditional Navajo healing philosophies, focusing on balance, harmony, and the emotional well-being of patients. Through personal stories and reflections, it explores themes of identity, cultural respect, and the value of combining different approaches to healing.