In the first half of the twentieth century, medical care in rural areas was provided by isolated family practitioners with few resources. This is the story of Frank W. Brey, MD, who worked without colleagues, a nearby hospital, or access to modern drugs. The last to benefit from new medical developments, he had to rely upon his own abilities, ingenuity, and courage. He was constantly on call and sometimes risked his life to reach his patients, but he always came when he was called. Between episodes of this country doctor's life, his daughter, Theresa Brey Haddy, MD, tells her own story. Entering medical school at a time when women were not welcomed by their colleagues, she became an urban pediatrician and paved the way for a future when half of new medical students are women. Looking back on the challenges that she and her father faced, she reflects on the demands of the medical profession and the rewards that make those challenges worthwhile.