While palliative care is deeply rewarding, it also carries an emotional weight. Clin Asst Prof Jamie believes caring for caregivers is just as important, with colleagues supporting one another through grief and loss to prevent burnout.

She also sees the humanities as an essential part of medicine. Literature, music, philosophy and visual arts help clinicians connect more deeply with patients, reminding them that healing is not limited to treating disease. Every patient carries a unique story, and taking time to listen often reveals moments of courage, love and hope.

For Clin Asst ProfJamie, every encounter offers a lesson about what it means to be human. Even when facing suffering and death, she chooses to focus on the strength of the human spirit, finding beauty in vulnerability, connection and the lives entrusted to her care.

This article was first published on 26 May 2025.