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Caring at the Core
Caring at the Core
Four young doctors describe the moment they found their passion in medicine
![Dr. Nathaniel Schilcher](https://www.plu.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/573/2012/03/schlicher2-640x400.jpg)
At PLU, we talk a lot about finding one’s passion. That has been at the core of the university – and those who have studied here – since its inception. With this in mind, we decided to ask a few alums from a single profession how they came to find their passion.
We asked four young physicians – those who graduated PLU in the ’90s or later – to describe how they came to the profession they love, and the moment they knew that this was their calling.
![Dr. Jennifer Aviles](https://www.plu.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/573/2012/03/aviles-200x262.jpg)
Dr. Jennifer Aviles ’97
ER Physician, Highline Medical Center, Wash.
“I realized that medicine is an opportunity to care about people different from ourselves.”
![Dr. Nathaniel Schilcher](https://www.plu.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/573/2012/03/schlicher2-200x262.jpg)
Dr. Nathaniel Schlicher ’00
ER Physician, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, Tacoma
“I didn’t want to work in a lab. I wanted to care for the whole patient.”
![Dr. Jennifer Specht](https://www.plu.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/573/2012/03/specht-200x262.jpg)
Dr. Jennifer Specht ’94
Oncologist, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
“I work with talented, brilliant, and compassionate colleagues, and the women who fight this disease are truly inspirational.”
![Dr. Greg Aune](https://www.plu.edu/news/wp-content/uploads/sites/573/2012/03/aune-200x262.jpg)
Dr. Greg Aune ’97
Pediatric Oncologist, University of Texas at San Antonio
“All the professors had this open door policy. I realized later how rare that was.”