Growth, patient openness and free food: What health care workers are grateful for this season

“Gratitude is my fragrance” is what I once wrote on my bathroom mirror with red lipstick after moments of despair. It was not to shy away from or dismiss the troubling emotions I was feeling at that time, but rather to help myself see the full spectrum of human emotion. While I felt burdened, there was still beauty and love. Noticing paradoxes like this has taught me openness and adaptability, and life is full of contradictions that have challenged my ability to hold multiple feelings at once.

As we enter colder seasons and darker days, there is a nostalgia that enters our living space. During this season, we often reminisce on years past. Where has life led me up to this point? Who has helped bring me here? What am I grateful for?

While pondering, I am grateful for the children I currently serve at a psychiatric residential program. This is the population group I feel most compelled to help right now. They encourage me to liberate myself so my inner child can come out and be with them as they imagine, play and share their unique perspectives. It is a daily practice to create a space that is safe enough where children can play without worry, fear and restriction.

I became curious about what other healthcare workers might be thankful for this holiday season, and I talked with a few of my peers to find out. The entirety of the health care team provides an experience for patients where healing is possible, yet thankfulness can emerge on both sides of this experience as patients teach us so much of ourselves—more than we can imagine. You can read some of their expressions of gratitude below.

What we’re thankful for

“I am grateful for the resources (wipes, briefs, personal care supplies, wheelchairs, walkers, etc.) that we have, especially in the hospital setting. I used to work at an assisted living facility where resources were limited.”—Sydney Backer, CNA

“I am grateful for my medical assistants. They’re always willing to answer questions, even if they are trivial. I’m grateful I decided to train where I currently am because of that culture. I’m especially grateful for the moments when I have interactions with nurses who are open to feedback and willing to work with residents who are learning.”—Christopher Usi, DO, family medicine resident, PGY 2

“My work provides an opportunity to help those who often don’t get the assistance they need. Working in health care in general provides you with many opportunities to grow, especially in the areas of maturity and character development.”—David Ropp, RN

“I’m grateful to be in a big catchment area where we serve people from all over. It’s good for training to work with different types of people from smaller towns who might not have great access to health facilities.”—Haley Spector, DO, general surgery resident, PGY 2

“I’m grateful that patents are limited so other people can create generic medications that are more affordable for other patients.”—Ashley Thurgood, OMS IV

“I’m grateful for the opportunity to be able to spread awareness of Hepatitis B and test clients, since it’s a disease with no symptoms and people don’t usually know they have it until it progresses to liver cancer. I get to go out to the community events, outreach and educate others.”—Courtney Nguyen, phlebotomist

“I am grateful for good health and the ability to move.”—Rebecca Huffman, pharmacist

“I’m deeply grateful for the opportunity my role gives me to support the physicians who are the backbone of our health care system. Their dedication, expertise and tireless commitment to patient care are what keep our community healthy and resilient. Being able to contribute behind the scenes to my physicians’ success and well-being is incredibly meaningful to me. It’s a privilege to help ensure they have what they need to continue doing such vital work.”—Colt Ryan, clinic acute care administrative coordinator

“I am grateful every day as a family medicine doctor that patients trust me to help them with their health and openly share things with me.”—Madeleine Brown, DO

“The thing I’m most grateful for is patients being willing to be open, honest and vulnerable during the course of the care that I am honored to provide. It is a real gift for people to have enough trust in you to let their guard down. I’m also grateful to work with residents and be able to help them learn to do this work. It’s not easy, but being open and vulnerable is where growth comes—my own personal growth, too.”—Mike May, MD, retired psychiatrist and resident supervisor

“I am grateful for free food, job opportunities, family and friends. Our supervisors are awesome. Nurses and doctors are really nice, and they are great leaders.”—Juden Cook, security guard

“I’m thankful for my husband, daughter and grandkids, as well as the clients we serve, and getting to see them change and feel happier with their lives.”—Lauren Rose, social worker for the partial hospitalization program

“I’m thankful I have a job that allows me to live on my own and out in the world.”—Ayden Hortt, food services

“I’m grateful for the privilege to share deep and difficult moments with my patients—to have their trust and help them heal. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from and teach psychiatrists in training. I’m grateful for the never-ending growth and meaningful engagement that medicine provides.”—Jesse Kipperman, DO, psychiatry

“Working with underserved populations continually shows me how much good medicine can do—I am grateful for my team, who always have my back. Together, we are helping those we serve to live healthier lives.”—Jillian Miller, PA-C, primary care 

“In the home health setting, most of our communication happens through a screen and I think that makes it easy to become somewhat mechanical in our interactions. I am grateful for team members who give the extra effort to maintain a friendly tone through their wording and voice. Their efforts make a significant difference in maintaining or improving morale and a collaborative work environment.”—Jackie Lau, PT

“My most rewarding work comes from closely working with the residents in the clinical setting, when there is an opportunity to collaborate with the patient and find the best options for treatment while using education to open up knowledge and give support to the ones in training. I am grateful for my medical knowledge and knowing how to navigate the health care system that led to advocacy and support for my family.”—Patricia White, MD, psychiatry

“I am grateful to have a job that will remind me that we matter and can make a difference. When a repeat patient (or family of said patient) recognizes me with warmth and trust, my moral injury heals a bit and the sleeping inner child who once wanted to change the world stirs a bit from their slumber.”—Andrew Huffer, RN

“I feel fortunate to be part of an organization that truly values teamwork and interprofessional collaboration. Working with residents, students and other health care learners across the Samaritan system has been a rewarding, two-way experience that continues to shape my growth both professionally and personally.”—Aaron Stringfield, PharmD

Keeping priorities in check

Gratitude as a daily practice is sacred, infusing vitality and hope in our thoughts, words and actions. Being more grateful is also linked to myriad health benefits. This Thanksgiving season asks us to slow down and remember why we’ve chosen this path in health care. And as we align with that again, maybe, just maybe, we might find that spark that once made our hearts leap for joy.

I’d love to hear from my fellow DOs and osteopathic medical students—please share what you’re grateful for in the comments below.

Related reading:

How a passionate DO became a bodybuilding champion

The NASA engineer who went to osteopathic medical school at age 58