One shift I had two patients in a row who happened to have the same primary care doc. And when I mentioned her name, their faces lit up. I said, so you like her? And they both said the same thing: "I LOVE her."

So for a while every time I saw her name on the chart, I'd say, "So you have Dr. Risser. How's that going?" And without fail, the patient would grin ear to ear and say, "Oh, I love her." "She takes good care of me." "She's something special."

Finally one day I broke down and emailed that doc. I wrote, "Every single patient of yours absolutely loves you! What's your secret?"

And she answered, "It's simple. I love *them*."

It's something I keep with me, all the time. What does it mean to love our patients, to care for them like they are someone we love, so that they light up when they think of the care they received from us?

The thing about this mindset is that it transcends some of the other fixed constraints. I can't change the minimal time I have with patients, or the charting requirements, or the physical space I have for them. But I can always approach their care as someone who loves them.

Everyone at my institution knows exactly who I'm talking about and many would've guessed even if I didn't name her. Thank you Dr. Risser! You are an inspiration and a mentor, by bringing your full self and heart to work, every day.