Welcome to Milkweed and Monarchs. I’m Dawn Klem, and today, I reflect on the final year of my time at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego—before I was stationed overseas.

This episode is about three patients who profoundly shaped my understanding of healthcare, compassion, and dignity. Chance, a kind and soft-spoken man, taught me a painful lesson about judgment when I failed to recognize the severity of his illness. Mr. Tislow, an enlisted man who refused to speak for days, reminded me that dignity matters—that every patient deserves to be seen and respected. And Charlie, a man battling an unknown illness, showed me the weight of loneliness and the importance of human connection.

Through these stories, I explore the moments that changed me—not just as a clinician, but as a person. I also share how Commander Hicks, my mentor, guided me through one of the most difficult experiences of my early career, leading me to a deeper understanding of death, dying, and the role of empathy in medicine.

Join me as I recount these pivotal experiences and reflect on the lessons that shaped my journey in healthcare.