Kindness and compassion go hand in hand, and sometimes, you come across an individual who exudes both, as if both are an integral part of their DNA — that person would be Alex.

I started my normal day, ate dinner, and proceeded to bend over in pain. I found myself driving to the hospital in so much pain, and I didn’t know what to do. My day just got worse as I was admitted to the hospital. Alejandro “Alex” Vargas welcomed me with open arms as my nurse. He is thoughtful, kind, respectful, and shows a great deal of compassion and integrity in his work, not just for me but for others as well. He went out of his day to always check on me, to make sure I had what I needed, to make sure that I understood what was happening every step of the way. He helped me to understand my labs and he explained the medication in detail of what I would be receiving. And if he didn’t know the answer, he would ask the doctor and receive an answer.

I know PRIDE values are the pillars of UCSF, and he lives by them all professionally, Respectfully, full of Integrity, and Diverse as he is respectful to all patients and staff and of Excellence. When I was in pain, he messaged the doctors. His strong work ethic and deep commitment to patient care is unparalleled. He would bring extra blankets, towels, warm packs, whatever I needed. I looked forward to seeing Alex every time as he brightened my day and helped me further my way into recovery. His laughter and smile would light up the room for all, not just me. He would also open the shades and brighten the room. He would make sure I had a fan if I was too hot. His willingness to go above and beyond the call is a testament to his tireless work ethic. Truly, a hero in my book. We talk about superheroes. How about meeting one on a daily basis? That would be Alex. I can tell all of the nurses look up to him as a mentor as they tell me “he is the best”, and I can now see why.