Patient: Independence
Status: Critical
Terrain: Rising
The Making of a Cowboy Doctor
A true story of independence. A fight for freedom.
A true story of independence. A fight for freedom.
A true story of independence. A fight for freedom.
This is a true story about a doctor who, as a young man, developed a fierce independence — and a healthcare system that grew hostile to it.
“I’m that doctor who, at times, had to risk it all just to be my own boss.”
Dr. Kyle Ver Steeg, MD, is a retired general and bariatric surgeon who spent four decades practicing medicine independently. In The Making of a Cowboy Doctor, he gives an honest account of what it took to stay independent.
His commitment to that independence was strengthened by Phyllis — his best nurse, his devoted partner, and his late wife.
When he’s not writing, you’ll most likely find him working on his ranch or spending time in the mountains he loves most—the breathtaking Tetons.
Four decades as a general and bariatric surgeon — moments from the operating rooms where Kyle built his career.
His best nurse, his devoted partner — Phyllis’ support played an enduring role in his life and career.
Life beyond the OR — the ranch, the holidays, and the grandkids who carry the story forward.
The man behind the mask and the hat — surgeon and rancher, on his own.
In the Operating Room
At Work
The Other Office
Decades of Practice
Dr. Ver Steeg in Action
A Cherished Portrait
Out in the Woods
Out West
Home for the Holidays
My Beloved Wife
An Evening Out
In Memory of Phyllis
The Grandkids
A Snowy Afternoon
At Phyllis’s Memorial
At the Ranch
In the ORDr. Kyle Ver Steeg, MD
Frankfurt Book Fair 2026
New book, coming soon…