A nurse tells you what really happens on the night shift.
A clinician shares the quiet victories no one else sees.
A patient shows you the strip of medication they keep hidden in their wallet and that backup phone charger they never leave home without.
Whenever I hear someone say, “I once met a patient who…” I stop and listen.
Because it’s usually a story you won’t get from anyone else.
They are letting you in on something real.
And these stories you discover start to follow you.
They show up into conversations with colleagues, strategy meetings, into your private moments of reflection.
Next week I’ll be on a train. As a researcher and filmmaker, I’ll be spending a few days documenting the life of a patient with a rare, chronic condition.
The value isn’t just in capturing insights and landing the message.
It’s in carrying the story forward. Letting it shift your perspective, spark new connections, and change how you and others imagine the world.
