Laura Vater: Don’t underestimate the little things

Laura Vater shared a post on X:

“Don’t underestimate the little things. Like remembering a patient was taking a special trip, or had a wedding, or was meeting a new grandchild. Make a brief note in their chart and follow up next time you see them.

This helps me hold onto the humanity of my patients, and my own.”

Source: Laura Vater/X

Dr. Laura B. Vater is a gastrointestinal oncologist at the IU Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center, specializing in colorectal, pancreatic, gastric, liver, and bile duct cancers. She developed the SMILE Scale™ in 2017, a tool used globally to help patients and clinicians prioritize health. Her research interests include narrative medicine to enhance clinician empathy and support caregivers in their work.