01/25/2026
As a physician, this is devastating. The 37-year-old nurse killed in Minneapolis was known for his kindness; the quiet, steady kind that defines the best of healthcare. In a video shared just weeks ago, Alex Pretti read a final salute at a VA facility, saying:
“Freedom is not free. We have to work at it, nurture it, protect it, and even sacrifice for it… May we never forget our brothers and sisters who have served so that we may enjoy the gift of freedom.”
By all accounts, was who he was. Someone who cared deeply, honored others, and believed in service. To lose a healer like this is heartbreaking. Medicine didn’t just lose a nurse. We lost a genuinely kind human being.
May we all continue to use our voices to speak loudly.
