A Love Letter to My Patients: Saying Goodbye to Oncology

Last week, I hung up my white coat after eight years in medical oncology — words I never thought I’d write, even now with the sting of finality still fresh. It was, without question, one of the hardest decisions of my life.

For eight years, I had the privilege — and it was a privilege — of walking beside some of the bravest souls I’ve ever known. People who taught me that courage isn’t loud, it’s often quiet. It’s showing up for chemo with a soft blanket and a smile. It’s asking how I’m doing while you’re fighting for your life. It’s choosing hope in the face of fear, humor in the middle of heartache, and kindness no matter how much the world asks of you.

Those faces, those stories, those little in-between moments — they’re imprinted on my heart forever. The quiet hand squeezes. The hallway hugs. The tears and the laughter that lived side by side in our treatment rooms.

Stepping away was not about leaving medicine; it was about honoring what my patients taught me. They reminded me, every single day, that time is sacred — especially time with family. They reminded me that the most powerful healing happens in the presence of love. And as much as I loved being part of their stories, it’s time I turn my focus toward the ones waiting for me at home.

To my patients: thank you for trusting me. Thank you for the grace you gave me on the hard days, the humor you shared in impossible moments, and the courage you showed without even knowing you were inspiring everyone around you. You have forever shaped the way I practice medicine, and the way I see life itself.

I’ll still be in the world of healing — just in a different space, one focused on helping people feel like themselves again in new ways. But I’ll carry you with me always. You’re part of the reason I believe so deeply in the art of care — that whether we’re treating illness, aging, or simply nurturing confidence, it all comes down to the same thing: human connection.

So, here’s to you — my teachers, my inspirations, my “why.” Thank you for letting me be a small part of your story. You’ve changed me in ways words will never fully say.

With deepest gratitude,

Ali, DNP, APRN
(and forever your nurse)