Speaking with him, you get the feeling Dr. Schad isn't aware of all his accomplishments and how smart he is. There's no ego. You feel like you're at the local diner having a cup of coffee, kicking back in jeans and a T, hair stuffed in a favorite baseball cap (it's a bad hair day), laughing, and chatting it up like old friends.

Simply put, you feel genuinely heard and valued.

This doctor was brought up in an average, Midwest, middle class family. He lives the values taught to him.

"My dad is an electrician, and my mom is a bank teller. We were farmers before that. My parents saw to it that everybody had a turn to talk; they made sure we all listened. We were taught to focus on the person talking to us at the time--to really pay attention," says Dr. Schad.

This important skill, "listening from the heart," was honed on a daily basis while working full-time as a C.N.A. during his lengthy education in medical school. Certified nursing assistants provide extensive patient care--physical and emotional. Compassion is a main requirement.

"I really got a sense for what my patients were going through, on a different level than physicians do," Schad says. Nursing assistants typically get to hear patients' complaints about their doctors. He never forgot what they said.

His great sense of humor and a positive mindset helped keep patients' spirits up then as it does now. "I just see the glass half-full," Schad says. "When it's a miscarriage, I feel compassion for them. It's not something to be taken lightly, but I also see the hope we can have."

"We" is the operative word here. "A feeling of partnership is what I hope my patients experience. We're in this together. We each have to do our part," says Schad.

He doesn't believe in the same appointment for everyone. "Life doesn't work in 15 or 30 minute appointments. You set one for a certain amount of time, but sometimes a patient needs something different. I focus more on making sure I cover all their questions and concerns. I have to do my part," says Dr. Schad.

Schad loves his work. "I like the ability to make a difference in people's lives. It feels good to help them solve a problem. And there's nothing like bringing life into this world," says this passionate doctor. He doesn't mind the long hours with patients and the time he puts into staying current with technology and medicine.

Even Dr. Schad needs time away from this demanding work. A real family man, he loves spending time with his wife, Sherry, and two wonderful kids, Ella and Ethan. He gives them the credit for his good mental health. Running helps too.

Then there are the family pets: two dogs, two fainting goats, three sheep, one rabbit, and a tree frog. They're a lot of fun for the whole family and great stress releasers. When asked their names, Schad knew every single one, including their ages. Of course he did.

Todd Schad could be working for any hospital. He chose Sauk Prairie Memorial. It's progressive and has everything larger hospitals do, although that wasn't the deciding factor. Schad says, "This is a unique medical community. Everyone works together to meet patients' needs. If I'm out of town, my patients will be taken care of." And that's his top priority.