How much do doctors think about their patients?

Laura Vater shared on X:

“Most patients don’t realize their doctors and nurses think about them in the spaces between visits. While walking to the parking lot, driving home, brushing teeth… even before falling asleep. Our work is a part of us, and we really care about you. That’s all.”

Source: Laura Vater/X

Dr. Laura 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.