COLORADO SPRINGS – On this Valentine’s Day, medical students with the University of Colorado School of Medicine will be handing out handmade cards in Colorado.

Bri Hartman is a third-year medical student with the CU School of Medicine Colorado Springs branch, who says, “We are doing something called ‘Love Rounds,’ where we pass out Valentines to patients who are in the hospital over Valentine’s Day.”

Dr. Erik Wallace is the associate dean of CU School of Medicine, Colorado Springs branch. “Our medical students have put together Valentine’s Day cards that they have created by hand.”

Bri says, “Almost 25 students in the Colorado Springs branch made over 135 Valentines. It’s really about bringing a little love to patients who might be alone or having a tough time during Valentine’s Day.”

Julie Skinner is a heart patient at UCHealth Memorial Central and just one of the patients who got a nice surprise, “You just think maybe you’re forgotten on a special day like Valentine’s Day.”

Bri explains activities like this bring her perspective. “Health care is not just about a chart, or doing tests, it’s about taking care of people.”

Dr. Wallace is extremely proud of his students for going the extra mile. “Our medical students show tremendous empathy and compassion for the patients by spending a little bit of time with them. It brings the humanistic part of being a physician back into clearer focus for them.”

For patients like Julie it hits the mark. “I know I”m not forgotten, so it’s nice. I appreciate it.”

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