Healing at John Muir: Reflections on Care, Culture, and Compassion
I just returned home after a three-day hospitalization at John Muir Health in Walnut Creek, California, and I feel compelled to share something that struck me deeply during my stay—not only the quality of the care, but the humanity behind it.
John Muir Health has long had a reputation as one of the premier community hospitals in the Bay Area. Founded in 1997 through the merger of two medical centers, it now serves as a regional hub for trauma care, cardiology, oncology, and a host of specialties. But beyond the impressive technology and world-class medical facilities, what stays with me most is the way the staff carried themselves at the bedside.
In particular, I was moved by the grace, professionalism, and compassion of the Filipino-American nurses and Staff who made up a large portion of the team that cared for me. I later learned that Filipino nurses are not just a presence at John Muir, but a backbone of the workforce. While I don’t know the exact percentage—some say it’s as high as 70%—what I do know is that their contribution is unmistakable.
This is part of a broader history. Since the 1960s, waves of Filipino nurses have come to the United States, many recruited during times of staffing shortages. Today, they make up nearly one-third of the entire U.S. nursing workforce, with California as one of the largest hubs. In the Bay Area—especially at hospitals like John Muir—their presence is not only statistical but cultural. They bring with them a tradition of care rooted in respect for patients, empathy for families, and a deep sense of duty.
During my stay, I witnessed this in countless small ways. A nurse who paused to explain each procedure with patience. Another who offered not just medication, but a reassuring word in the middle of the night. The kind of bedside manner that cannot be taught in a textbook—it is lived, inherited, and practiced with humility.
Lying in a hospital bed, vulnerable, one begins to notice what truly matters. The machines and monitors keep track of vitals, but it is the people—the nurses especially—who carry you through the ordeal. And for me, those people happened to be predominantly Filipino-Americans, a community whose quiet strength has become the heartbeat of American healthcare.
As I continue to recover, I carry not only gratitude for the healing I received at John Muir, but also admiration for the nurses who embody the very best of the profession. In an era when healthcare often feels impersonal, their warmth reminded me that compassion is still at the core of medicine. The nurses and assistants with Filipino ancestry, lovingly call me Tatay, during my whole 3-day stay showing respect for the elderly.
To the staff at John Muir, and especially the Filipino-American nurses who cared for me: Maraming salamat. Thank you for your skill, your kindness, and your humanity.
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