Patient experience spotlight: Dr. Alex Miksit

Each month, Akron Children’s recognizes an employee for providing an excellent patient experience. August’s honoree is Dr. Alex Miksit, pediatrician at Akron Children’s Pediatrics in Warren. He recently received this feedback from a grateful patient:

I didn’t get a chance to tell Dr. Alex Miksit this. But in just a few weeks, it’ll be the 4-year anniversary of me starting my recovery journey with anorexia. He’s the first adult who genuinely took me seriously and listened when I said I needed help. I don’t think I truly wanted it, but I felt comfortable enough opening up to him about it. I genuinely feel he played a huge role in saving my life 4 years ago. I’m forever thankful for him taking action. He listened to me when a lot of other adults did not. If he ever gets to see this, I’d love him to know he’s truly an amazing human and doctor. He’s doing a great job. And he’s part of the reason I’m still able to talk to him about a future today.”

How did you feel when you read this recognition?

I felt surprised and incredibly humbled. It’s not often you hear the long-term impact of a single conversation, and it really meant a lot.

Dr. Alex Miksit

The patient noted they felt comfortable opening up with you – and you listened when other adults did not. How do you build such great trust with your patients?

I start each visit by asking if the patient needs anything, and then I listen for as long as they need. I learned early on that the more I tried to steer the conversation, the less I actually heard. If I just gave my patients and families space to talk, they’d often answer all my questions before I even asked.

Have you always been a good listener – or is that a skill you’ve built over time?

It’s a skill I’m always working on improving. I find that the days I go home feeling like I did the best job I could were the days when I really focused on having a conversation instead of driving the conversation.

What does family-centered care mean to you?

To me, family-centered care means including the family as an active part of the care team and making sure everyone feels supported in the process. It’s about working together toward the best outcome for the child.

What do you like best about being a pediatrician?

The best part of being a pediatrician is being there when someone needs you – and getting to watch your patients learn, grow and find their own paths along the way.