Coming Into My Own Summary and Analysis

When Ben visits various departments as an intern, he has to cope with hospital staff at first mistaking him for an orderly. Generally, the staff member is embarrassed after learning his actual role. Years after his tenure as an intern at Johns Hopkins, Ben learns that the department head, Dr. Long, would show any patient to the door who refused to have a black doctor on his case. During this phase of his career, Ben encounters a Chief Resident who tries to bait Ben into a conflict. Ben keeps his cool knowing that such an incident could toss him out of the program. He has come too far to risk that!

Ben's intelligence, dedication and cool head pays off. In an unusual move, Johns Hopkins does not require Ben to undergo a year of general...