This isn’t advice.
It’s just a reminder that you can stop striving without falling apart if you know who you are underneath the title.
#LessonsFromChaos
It’s just a reminder that you can stop striving without falling apart if you know who you are underneath the title.
#LessonsFromChaos
October 23, 2025 at 2:31 AM
This isn’t advice.
It’s just a reminder that you can stop striving without falling apart if you know who you are underneath the title.
#LessonsFromChaos
It’s just a reminder that you can stop striving without falling apart if you know who you are underneath the title.
#LessonsFromChaos
Surgery in a war zone isn’t just about saving lives. It’s about controlling chaos long enough to make it look like order.
I learned that the hard way.
#LessonsFromChaos #WHS2025
I learned that the hard way.
#LessonsFromChaos #WHS2025
October 12, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Surgery in a war zone isn’t just about saving lives. It’s about controlling chaos long enough to make it look like order.
I learned that the hard way.
#LessonsFromChaos #WHS2025
I learned that the hard way.
#LessonsFromChaos #WHS2025
We’ve built a culture that worships progress: more money, more prestige, more everything.
No one tells you it’s okay to get off the highway once you’ve gone far enough.
#LessonsFromChaos
No one tells you it’s okay to get off the highway once you’ve gone far enough.
#LessonsFromChaos
October 19, 2025 at 3:33 PM
We’ve built a culture that worships progress: more money, more prestige, more everything.
No one tells you it’s okay to get off the highway once you’ve gone far enough.
#LessonsFromChaos
No one tells you it’s okay to get off the highway once you’ve gone far enough.
#LessonsFromChaos
The myth: humanitarian missions are heroic.
The reality: they’re messy, political, and often absurd. LESSONS FROM CHAOS is my take. Think Anthony Bourdain with a scalpel.
#LessonsFromChaos #memoir #humanitan
The reality: they’re messy, political, and often absurd. LESSONS FROM CHAOS is my take. Think Anthony Bourdain with a scalpel.
#LessonsFromChaos #memoir #humanitan
October 6, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The myth: humanitarian missions are heroic.
The reality: they’re messy, political, and often absurd. LESSONS FROM CHAOS is my take. Think Anthony Bourdain with a scalpel.
#LessonsFromChaos #memoir #humanitan
The reality: they’re messy, political, and often absurd. LESSONS FROM CHAOS is my take. Think Anthony Bourdain with a scalpel.
#LessonsFromChaos #memoir #humanitan
Hospitals without water. Operating by flashlight. Crocodile and hippo attacks. War wounds that never made the news. That’s the reality I lived as a surgeon in impossible places. #LessonsFromChaos #globalhealth #surgeon #memoir
October 5, 2025 at 3:23 PM
Hospitals without water. Operating by flashlight. Crocodile and hippo attacks. War wounds that never made the news. That’s the reality I lived as a surgeon in impossible places. #LessonsFromChaos #globalhealth #surgeon #memoir
Sometimes I feel bad about it, but honestly I’d sooner go back to a war zone than chaperone an elementary school trip or attend a PTA meeting.
Anyone else feel this way?
#LessonsFromChaos #Parenting #Alaska
Anyone else feel this way?
#LessonsFromChaos #Parenting #Alaska
October 16, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Sometimes I feel bad about it, but honestly I’d sooner go back to a war zone than chaperone an elementary school trip or attend a PTA meeting.
Anyone else feel this way?
#LessonsFromChaos #Parenting #Alaska
Anyone else feel this way?
#LessonsFromChaos #Parenting #Alaska
I’ve been a surgeon, an advocate, a burned-out academic, and a father.
Took me years to realize they’re all the same person.
Lessons from Chaos is about the slow realization, that the title doesn’t matter nearly as much as the person underneath it.
#LessonsFromChaos
Took me years to realize they’re all the same person.
Lessons from Chaos is about the slow realization, that the title doesn’t matter nearly as much as the person underneath it.
#LessonsFromChaos
October 18, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I’ve been a surgeon, an advocate, a burned-out academic, and a father.
Took me years to realize they’re all the same person.
Lessons from Chaos is about the slow realization, that the title doesn’t matter nearly as much as the person underneath it.
#LessonsFromChaos
Took me years to realize they’re all the same person.
Lessons from Chaos is about the slow realization, that the title doesn’t matter nearly as much as the person underneath it.
#LessonsFromChaos
Ever wonder what it’s really like on an @MSF mission?
It’s not just medicine. It’s chaos, survival, and the absurdity of being human. That’s what my memoir LESSONS FROM CHAOS is about. #LessonsFromChaos #MSF #memoir #WritingCommunity
It’s not just medicine. It’s chaos, survival, and the absurdity of being human. That’s what my memoir LESSONS FROM CHAOS is about. #LessonsFromChaos #MSF #memoir #WritingCommunity
October 4, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Ever wonder what it’s really like on an @MSF mission?
It’s not just medicine. It’s chaos, survival, and the absurdity of being human. That’s what my memoir LESSONS FROM CHAOS is about. #LessonsFromChaos #MSF #memoir #WritingCommunity
It’s not just medicine. It’s chaos, survival, and the absurdity of being human. That’s what my memoir LESSONS FROM CHAOS is about. #LessonsFromChaos #MSF #memoir #WritingCommunity
Working with the US military, I taught soldiers about humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, including human rights and international humanitarian law. It helped commanders accomplish their mission and saved military and civilian lives. #LessonsFromChaos #humanitarian #military #ethics
October 9, 2025 at 9:24 AM
Working with the US military, I taught soldiers about humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, including human rights and international humanitarian law. It helped commanders accomplish their mission and saved military and civilian lives. #LessonsFromChaos #humanitarian #military #ethics
I once stopped operating to help in a cholera camp. Some international staff weren’t happy. But it helped more patients survive.
Sometimes doing the right thing means changing your focus.
#LessonsFromChaos #humanitarian #cholera #globalhealth
Sometimes doing the right thing means changing your focus.
#LessonsFromChaos #humanitarian #cholera #globalhealth
October 7, 2025 at 8:06 PM
I once stopped operating to help in a cholera camp. Some international staff weren’t happy. But it helped more patients survive.
Sometimes doing the right thing means changing your focus.
#LessonsFromChaos #humanitarian #cholera #globalhealth
Sometimes doing the right thing means changing your focus.
#LessonsFromChaos #humanitarian #cholera #globalhealth
Don’t have a literary agent (yet) but spent the day working on a proposal for my memoir #LessonsFromChaos 🤞
October 10, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Don’t have a literary agent (yet) but spent the day working on a proposal for my memoir #LessonsFromChaos 🤞
After the tsunami in Indonesia, I told the team to grab lunch and then run the response without me.
They crushed it.
“You may be expat, but I’m expert.”
#LessonsFromChaos
link 👇
They crushed it.
“You may be expat, but I’m expert.”
#LessonsFromChaos
link 👇
October 29, 2025 at 12:05 PM
After the tsunami in Indonesia, I told the team to grab lunch and then run the response without me.
They crushed it.
“You may be expat, but I’m expert.”
#LessonsFromChaos
link 👇
They crushed it.
“You may be expat, but I’m expert.”
#LessonsFromChaos
link 👇
It’s a privilege to step away. I get that.
But if you’ve reached “enough” and keep chasing “more,” that’s not ambition, that’s inertia.
#LessonsFromChaos
But if you’ve reached “enough” and keep chasing “more,” that’s not ambition, that’s inertia.
#LessonsFromChaos
October 20, 2025 at 7:51 PM
It’s a privilege to step away. I get that.
But if you’ve reached “enough” and keep chasing “more,” that’s not ambition, that’s inertia.
#LessonsFromChaos
But if you’ve reached “enough” and keep chasing “more,” that’s not ambition, that’s inertia.
#LessonsFromChaos
The weirdest part of humanitarian work isn’t the danger. It’s the absurdity.
#LessonsFromChaos #WHS2025
#LessonsFromChaos #WHS2025
October 14, 2025 at 12:04 AM
The weirdest part of humanitarian work isn’t the danger. It’s the absurdity.
#LessonsFromChaos #WHS2025
#LessonsFromChaos #WHS2025
After reading a draft of my memoir, a friend decided my code name should be “gadfly,” someone who pokes at comfortable assumptions in #globalhealth and development.
He was being kind, but I’ll take it.
#LessonsFromChaos
He was being kind, but I’ll take it.
#LessonsFromChaos
October 30, 2025 at 4:20 PM
After reading a draft of my memoir, a friend decided my code name should be “gadfly,” someone who pokes at comfortable assumptions in #globalhealth and development.
He was being kind, but I’ll take it.
#LessonsFromChaos
He was being kind, but I’ll take it.
#LessonsFromChaos
I used to divide my life into chapters: the surgeon, the researcher, the dad.
Now I see it was all one story about curiosity, consequence, and connection.
You can evolve without erasing your past.
#LessonsFromChaos
Now I see it was all one story about curiosity, consequence, and connection.
You can evolve without erasing your past.
#LessonsFromChaos
October 21, 2025 at 12:44 PM
I used to divide my life into chapters: the surgeon, the researcher, the dad.
Now I see it was all one story about curiosity, consequence, and connection.
You can evolve without erasing your past.
#LessonsFromChaos
Now I see it was all one story about curiosity, consequence, and connection.
You can evolve without erasing your past.
#LessonsFromChaos
The hardest part wasn’t leaving surgery or academia.
It was letting go of the idea that I had to keep proving I mattered.
Turns out, being “just Adam” was enough all along.
#LessonsFromChaos
It was letting go of the idea that I had to keep proving I mattered.
Turns out, being “just Adam” was enough all along.
#LessonsFromChaos
October 24, 2025 at 2:37 PM
The hardest part wasn’t leaving surgery or academia.
It was letting go of the idea that I had to keep proving I mattered.
Turns out, being “just Adam” was enough all along.
#LessonsFromChaos
It was letting go of the idea that I had to keep proving I mattered.
Turns out, being “just Adam” was enough all along.
#LessonsFromChaos
After years of going into war zones and disaster areas, I now live in Alaska and am a stay at home dad for two boys.
I traded one type of Chaos for another.
#LessonsFromChaos #Parenting
I traded one type of Chaos for another.
#LessonsFromChaos #Parenting
October 16, 2025 at 4:33 AM
After years of going into war zones and disaster areas, I now live in Alaska and am a stay at home dad for two boys.
I traded one type of Chaos for another.
#LessonsFromChaos #Parenting
I traded one type of Chaos for another.
#LessonsFromChaos #Parenting
Lesson from Chaos #1: Rule number one, have fun
Thirteen hours on an overcrowded bus in Guinea. No AC. Dust, chaos, laughter.
Fun.
If you’re not having fun in the field, you’re probably not much help either.
#LessonsFromChaos
link 👇
Thirteen hours on an overcrowded bus in Guinea. No AC. Dust, chaos, laughter.
Fun.
If you’re not having fun in the field, you’re probably not much help either.
#LessonsFromChaos
link 👇
October 29, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Lesson from Chaos #1: Rule number one, have fun
Thirteen hours on an overcrowded bus in Guinea. No AC. Dust, chaos, laughter.
Fun.
If you’re not having fun in the field, you’re probably not much help either.
#LessonsFromChaos
link 👇
Thirteen hours on an overcrowded bus in Guinea. No AC. Dust, chaos, laughter.
Fun.
If you’re not having fun in the field, you’re probably not much help either.
#LessonsFromChaos
link 👇
Revised my website. Sign up if you’d like infrequent updates on LessonsFromChaos
www.alkushner.com
www.alkushner.com
Home | Kushner
www.alkushner.com
October 27, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Revised my website. Sign up if you’d like infrequent updates on LessonsFromChaos
www.alkushner.com
www.alkushner.com
In South Sudan, I once left the OR to work in a cholera camp. I helped patients survive. Some expats were furious.
Sometimes doing the right thing makes you the bad guy.
#LessonsFromChaos
Sometimes doing the right thing makes you the bad guy.
#LessonsFromChaos
October 14, 2025 at 1:41 PM
In South Sudan, I once left the OR to work in a cholera camp. I helped patients survive. Some expats were furious.
Sometimes doing the right thing makes you the bad guy.
#LessonsFromChaos
Sometimes doing the right thing makes you the bad guy.
#LessonsFromChaos
Once in Sierra Leone, surgery almost stopped for want of light bulbs.
#LessonsFromChaos #globalhealth #surgery #SierraLeone
#LessonsFromChaos #globalhealth #surgery #SierraLeone
October 8, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Once in Sierra Leone, surgery almost stopped for want of light bulbs.
#LessonsFromChaos #globalhealth #surgery #SierraLeone
#LessonsFromChaos #globalhealth #surgery #SierraLeone
Ever wonder what it’s really like on an @MSF mission or what you would do if the OR lights went out mid-surgery?
It’s not just medicine. It’s a mix of chaos, survival, and absurdity. I wrote Lessons from Chaos to try and make sense of it.
#LessonsFromChaos
It’s not just medicine. It’s a mix of chaos, survival, and absurdity. I wrote Lessons from Chaos to try and make sense of it.
#LessonsFromChaos
October 11, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Ever wonder what it’s really like on an @MSF mission or what you would do if the OR lights went out mid-surgery?
It’s not just medicine. It’s a mix of chaos, survival, and absurdity. I wrote Lessons from Chaos to try and make sense of it.
#LessonsFromChaos
It’s not just medicine. It’s a mix of chaos, survival, and absurdity. I wrote Lessons from Chaos to try and make sense of it.
#LessonsFromChaos
Everyone has an agenda. Most miss the lesson. I did at first.
Dubai next week: finding the folks who want to learn from chaos.
#LessonsFromChaos #DubaiFutureForum
Dubai next week: finding the folks who want to learn from chaos.
#LessonsFromChaos #DubaiFutureForum
November 7, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Everyone has an agenda. Most miss the lesson. I did at first.
Dubai next week: finding the folks who want to learn from chaos.
#LessonsFromChaos #DubaiFutureForum
Dubai next week: finding the folks who want to learn from chaos.
#LessonsFromChaos #DubaiFutureForum
Surgeons are supposed to be cool under pressure. But nothing prepares you for operating in a converted chicken farm with missiles flying overhead.
That’s chaos.
#LessonsFromChaos #surgery #war #memoir
That’s chaos.
#LessonsFromChaos #surgery #war #memoir
October 11, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Surgeons are supposed to be cool under pressure. But nothing prepares you for operating in a converted chicken farm with missiles flying overhead.
That’s chaos.
#LessonsFromChaos #surgery #war #memoir
That’s chaos.
#LessonsFromChaos #surgery #war #memoir