Coworker at LDS Hospital remembers day President Russell M. Nelson was called as an apostle

SALT LAKE CITY — There are few who remember The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints’ President Russell M. Nelson as “Doctor” Nelson.

President Nelson worked at the LDS Hospital as a heart surgeon before his call to the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles in 1984.

Pamela Atkinson will always remember her first impression of Nelson while he worked as a doctor.

“When I first met him, I thought, my goodness, he’s such a gentleman,” Atkinson said.

Atkinson worked as an assistant administrator at the LDS Hospital. She knew Nelson as one who took his work seriously.

“He notices things, little things like a newspaper for one of his patients,” Atkinson said. “So many people don’t realize the importance of these little things, but the patients appreciated it.”

One day, Atkinson received a