Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to one of my classmates. Lexie and I met when we both started the MSMS program a year before starting medical school. Lexie is a single mom of two
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Graduation Year: 2014
Future (or Current)
Specialty: Obstetrics & Gynecology
How many children do
you have and their ages: 15 and 19
Did you do any
post-undergraduate schooling or working before attending medical school?
I worked full time as a payroll manager and part time in various industries like Starbucks, bar-tending/cocktail waitress, and sales. I also participated in the MSMS program during the year before medical school.
What kind of
childcare do you employ? (i.e. live-in nanny, family help, daycare,
babysitters)
My daughter was old
to enough to stay home alone, but I did get a cat to supervise her ;)
What has been the
biggest challenge to handling medical school (and/or practicing medicine) along
with having children? How have you overcome it?
Time management and the guilt of not spending enough time with her [my daughter]. During my free time, I planned mini dates. We would have dinner and a movie, or dinner and walking around the mall. The greatest challenge for me was keeping up with my schedule and her busy school/sports/club activities. My strategy for overcoming is prayer….prayer and more prayer.
Time management and the guilt of not spending enough time with her [my daughter]. During my free time, I planned mini dates. We would have dinner and a movie, or dinner and walking around the mall. The greatest challenge for me was keeping up with my schedule and her busy school/sports/club activities. My strategy for overcoming is prayer….prayer and more prayer.
Do you feel like your
school/job is “flexible” to any family issues that may arise?
Yes!
Yes!
For the medical students: How do you find time to study in addition
to class time?
Study instead of
sleep. Study while eating meal. Study when my daughter is out or sleeping.
What is one item/strategy
that you have that helps to make life easier as a mother and medical student/physician?
(i.e. organizational method, electronic device, calendar tool, etc.
Networking with other parents who can help
transport her to games/events when I was not able to. Also, having multiple calendars around the house and
weekly “planning” meetings.
What kinds of things
do you do to “relax”?
Dance, workout, and take hot showers.
Do you feel that your
experience as a mother has made you a better doctor or future doctor? If so,
how?
It has given me life experience and patience. I have learned to pick and choose my battles. And also not take things too personally.
It has given me life experience and patience. I have learned to pick and choose my battles. And also not take things too personally.
What advice do you
have to the women who want to pursue medicine with children?
Seek help when
needed. Although we try, we cannot do everything on our own. Love yourself and
trust yourself. Love God and know
He will guide us.
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Are you a physician or medical student mom who would like to share her story? Send me an email at Mrs.Mommy.MD@gmail.com
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Are you a physician or medical student mom who would like to share her story? Send me an email at Mrs.Mommy.MD@gmail.com
