When I think of my most meaningful patient relationship, I think of my first patient, “Jane Doe”, who had a gentle soul but powerful presence. The first time we met, I leaned in to hear her ask for my name, and after I introduced myself, she responded with a warm smile. For the remainder of the visit, we worked on a puzzle together, and although we did not speak much, the energy in the room was pleasant and calm. I never got to know “Jane Doe” well, but the moments we shared still held weight in my life, leaving me grieving after her passing. As someone who hopes to be a physician, “Jane Doe” helped me realize the importance of sharing simple moments of silence. Oftentimes, comfort comes in the form of small exchanges.
Becoming a hospice volunteer has put me in touch with the gentler side of myself. In the midst of a patient’s chaotic health journey, sometimes all they want is a companion to share a moment of peace with. “Less is more” is a mantra that has served me throughout my hospice volunteering. Watching patients experience the transition between life and death has reinforced the idea that medicine is not just about extending life but also about ensuring dignity and peace in one’s final days. Being a physician can mean healing patients of all their ailments but it also means providing them with a set of choices and holding their hand as they walk whichever path they choose.
Atul Gawande describes a doctor’s first fear as the expectation that they should be able to fix every problem. This comes with anxieties such as appearing competent and wondering if there was anything they could have done differently when a patient dies. However, Gawande emphasizes that aging and dying are the two “unfixables.” Participating in the Athena Institute Pre-Med Hospice Volunteer Program helped me recognize that good physicians are not just trained to escape death, they must be trained to greet it appropriately when it inevitably arrives.
Being Mortal discusses the importance of patient autonomy and the role of palliative care in preserving dignity at the end of life. My time in hospice has deepened my understanding of these concepts. I have seen firsthand how small acts of kindness can ease a patient’s discomfort. The documentary highlights how medicine often focuses on prolonging life at all costs, sometimes at the expense of the patient’s well-being. My hospice experience has affirmed my belief that a physician’s role should include facilitating a good death, one that aligns with a patient’s wishes and maintains their dignity.
My hospice experience was especially valuable as it deepened my understanding of patient care beyond just the clinical aspects. My time as a hospice volunteer has strengthened my commitment to becoming a compassionate physician—one who values both the science of healing and the art of presence. Being a good physician means understanding how to handle situations that do not have solutions and, in many cases, this means death. Hospice volunteering has profoundly shaped my sense of vocation by reinforcing my belief that medicine is not just about treating disease but about treating people. It is about understanding their fears, their hopes, and their need for comfort in their final moments. At the end of the day, we are humans before we are doctors. As I continue my journey toward medicine, I carry with me the lessons of hospice—the importance of presence, the power of silence, and the necessity of honoring each patient’s humanity until the very end.