Takeaway
Appreciating “thank yous” and other signs of gratitude from patients can be restorative. These gifts can be a reminder of the privilege that we have in caring for patients.
Passion in the Medical Profession | November 25, 2025 | 1 min read
By Jennifer Janus, MD, Johns Hopkins Medicine
A few years ago, I received a small bouquet of deep red roses from a patient with depression. This young mother already had her hands full with two children, one on the autism spectrum. We had worked hard to ease her symptoms and to secure the services her children needed.
The note that accompanied the flowers read: “When I first came to see you, everything was gray. Thank you for helping me to see color again.” What she couldn’t have known was that I was struggling with burnout. Nearly two-thirds of clinicians report burnout, depression, or both, and I was among them. Administrative burden—EHR inboxes, prior authorizations, performance metrics—combined with the end of my marriage and single parenting left me dreading each appointment. I was easily frustrated by curveballs and sometimes resentful of my employers, and even of patients.
I’d attended a mindfulness workshop that discussed gratitude as a way to meet frustration and began applying it in my practice. My patient’s note was a turning point. I was grateful for the sentiment, and it reminded me of all the ways practicing medicine is a privilege.
We share a level of intimacy and trust with our patients that’s rare in the age of social media. We have the chance to improve lives in meaningful, lasting ways. We can be intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually fulfilled every day. How fortunate we are to do this work.
By focusing on the rewards of medicine, my concern and compassion for patients grow in the space where frustration used to live. This isn’t to say that I never get annoyed or don’t wish the paperwork would Just. Go. Away. But I do feel more love for my life and my patients.
Patients are more likely to receive excellent care from clinicians who are emotionally resilient and empathetic. Practicing gratitude—especially when times are tough—supports clinical excellence.
This piece expresses the views solely of the author. It does not necessarily represent the views of any organization, including Johns Hopkins Medicine.