2004 - The Speechless Candidate

About the Book

This is a fictional account of a Washington, DC area neurologist specializing in dementing illnesses who takes-on a new patient, the President of the United States. Introduced to the President via his lovely communications manager, Dr. Nash becomes trapped in the political limitations of treating such a patient. The background for the novel is the 2004 Presidential Campaign. Nash falls in love with the communications manager, and tries to keep the President’s illness out of the public’s awareness, until it becomes impossible. The story deals with aphasia, or the medical term for loss of speech, and how it can be confused with various causes. Also occurring within the story is the physician’s struggles with confidentiality in the patient-physician relationship.

About the Author

Gary Cohen is a neurologist who has practiced in Illinois and Wisconsin for the past 14 years. He lives near Madison with his wife and daughter. He combines his love of neurology and medicine with interests in American history and politics, and a love for wildlife. He was born and raised on the West Coast, where he earned a bachelor’s degree from UCLA, a master’s degree from California State University, Los Angeles. He received his medical degree from The George Washington University in Washington, DC, where he also did a residency in neurology.