Are you considering a career in medicine, or more specifically Emergency Medicine? A common question EM-bound medical students ask is whether or not they can have a family in medicine, and if so, when is the right time. In this episode, Andy and Drew had a chance to sit down with EM power couple Jenn and Zach Repanshek to discuss starting a family in EM and medicine in general.
Can it be done?
Having a family should come with a black box warning as it is the most challenging that you will do far above any board exams, clinical rotation, residency applications, etc. That being said, it can also be one of the most rewarding. Deciding whether or not to have a family in medicine is actually so much more about the other aspects of your life than it is about your career. Some important questions to ask yourself include:
- Are you mature enough?
- Are you with the right person?
- Do you have the right support systems in place?
- Are you able to handle the uncertainty of having a child, knowing that your day can change in an instant?
How do you do it?
The number one piece of advice is to create a village. Find help, whether that’s close family, friends, neighbors, or paid help. Learn to be okay with asking for help early and often. The more help you have the easier it will be for scheduling and dealing with uncertainty. One of the most difficult things about raising a family in EM is figuring out how to develop and maintain a cohesive family unit on an everchanging schedule, however, it is not impossible.
When is the best time?
While there seems to not be a “best time” to start a family in medicine that is the same for everyone there are a few things to consider. If all of the above questions are answered and you have a good support system in place, medical school may be a good time to have kids, as the first 6 months can be very difficult with sleepless nights and the baby constantly needing attention. After that things get slightly easier as you are typically able to keep a fairly normal sleep schedule. Residency may be a more difficult time to have children because the schedule can be slightly more difficult to work around and sleep may become even more at a premium, however, it is certainly possible. One important thing to remember is that if you decide that residency is the best time for you, don’t hesitate because of what your program might say. Your program should support you no matter what. It is not your job to worry about the program. Having children as attendings may be slightly easier as the schedule can be a little more flexible and by then you may have a larger support system. However, one caveat to waiting until attending-hood is that age may start to become a factor. It can be harder at an older age to recover from getting your sleep schedule thrown off. Additionally, female physicians have higher rates of infertility and miscarriage, Overall, there are many factors when deciding on timing and ultimately it comes down to what is right for you. Having a family in medicine can truly be done at any stage, especially if you have the right support system in place.
Take-Home Points:
- Timing is important
- Learn to ask for help early and often
- Becoming a parent can be one of the most difficult, but also one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever do
Post by Patricia Capone, DO PGY2
About Our Guest:
Associate Professor, Clinical Emergency Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Associate Program Director, Temple University EM Residency Program
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