In medical school, mental fortitude and perseverance are routinely tested. It is a period characterized by growth both personally and academically. The first two years of medical school are dedicated to academics in preparation for the first board exam at the end of the second year. Students take exams, work on research, hold leadership positions, and volunteer. The third and fourth years of medical school take place in various hospitals and clinics around the country where students begin to interact with patients and apply their knowledge in the real world. Medical school presents unique challenges for every student and some adapt more quickly than others.
There is a small group of inspiring students, who balance these academic demands while raising a family. I have always admired how they manage to achieve so much in a single day. As aspiring doctors, we know that our actions will affect our patients, but for these students their actions are already making an impact on the children they are raising. This article spotlights and celebrates four WesternU podiatry fathers and gives a glimpse of how they manage to balance school and family throughout each year of medical school.
MEET THE FATHERS
First Year Student:Dy holds the officer positions of class Vice-President, Anatomy facilitator, and President-Elect for SCPMSA. He has three children ages 2, 3, & 6 and has been married for 8 years. His wife stays at home and his oldest child is in first grade.
Second Year Student:Byron holds the officer positions of President of ACFAS and President of SCPMSA. He has one 2.5-year-old son and a daughter on the way (congratulations!). He has been married for 8 years and his wife stays at home and takes care of everything around the home.
Third Year Student:Eric held the position of SGA secretary during his first and second year. He has two kids, age 9 months and 2.5 years old, and has been married for 5 ½ years. His wife stays at home with the kids.
Fourth Year Student:Trent will be graduating in May 2019. During his first/second years he was a SALT ambassador, the President/Founder of the Radiology Club as well as Vice President of ACFAS club. He has two children, ages 9 months and 3 years old, and has been married for 7 years. His wife works as a wedding photographer so she is busy on the weekends and during the weekdays she is able to work from home.
INTERVIEW
What does a typical day’s schedule look like for you?
Dy: I’m usually up by 5:30-6 am every day as my commute to school is about 30 mins. I attend every lecture so I’m on campus every day. I spend about 1-2 hours after the last class of the day or in-between classes doing independent study. I’m usually home by 6pm and spend the evening with my wife and kids (i.e. cooking, cleaning, playing with the kids, doing homework with my son). We’ll have dinner around 7pm, then bathe the kids at 8:30pm. At 9pm we pray as a family then read them bedtime stories. After, that we’d relax for an hour, just me and my wife, then study/review/read from 10pm-12am. Sleep. Repeat.
Byron: A typical day is getting up to a screaming child in the morning (a nice alarm clock though). I try to make it to the gym sometime in the day, which most days I'm pretty good about. I'm at school from about 9 to 5 and I make sure I'm home each night to have dinner and spend time with my family.
Eric: I wake up between 4 am and 6 am and head out the door to go to my rotation site between 4:30 and 7:30 depending on the rotation, kids wake up around 5:30 or 6, get home between 4 and 8 depending on the rotation. Eat dinner at 5 or 6, play with the kids for an hour or 2, bathe kids and put them down for bed around 6 or 7, study for an hour or 2, run for 20 mins, watch Netflix for 30mins - 1hr, go to bed between 9 and 11. Repeat!
Trent: Typically, I go to school from about 8-5pm. I work really hard while at school so that way I can be present when I get home. I play with my kids when I get home for about an hour or two and then have dinner with my wife and kids. I then bath my kids, read them books, and tuck them into bed. Then I talk with my wife for an hour or so before we part ways so I can study some and she edits. I don’t get a lot of sleep but I do get a lot of family time.
What is the most challenging aspect of being a parent and studying medicine?
Dy: Just spending time away my family when I want to be home with them. There’s always a small sense of guilt that I should be home helping my wife and spending time with my kids. But I know I have to get as much school-work done at school before I get home or else I’ll fall behind.
Byron: The most challenging part I'd say would be the fact that life's unpredictable; you might have a sick spouse or child and have to make sure they're taken care of first before studying, or you may not get a good night's rest every night. But all in all, it's really not that bad.
How do you divide up the household responsibilities at home?
Dy: My wife is my rock. She does most of, if not, all of the work. When I’m home I just try to help her out as much as I can. On weekends, I usually catch up with the house upkeep since we live in a single-family home but honestly, I’ve just been blessed with a wife that does it all.
Byron: My wife is the rock star of the situation, she stays at home with Troy and takes care of everything around the home so that I can focus mostly on school work, but I try to pitch in as much as I can to give her a break when I'm around. It's also nice as we've made friends in the DO and DPM class who also have kids so they get together often for play dates.
Eric: When I am home we split the responsibility 50/50 until the kids go to bed. If I have important school things to work on or crazy studying to do, I go to campus and my wife is very understanding and supportive.
Trent: My wife and I are good about dividing chores/responsibilities. I throw all the trash away, clean the toilet, and do half of the laundry. I also do backyard chores such as taking care of plants, dog poop, etc. My wife does the other indoor chores. We also both try to split cooking half the week.
According to your wife, how have you changed since you have started medical school?
Dy:In her opinion, I’ve dramatically improved my time-management. Although it hasn’t been that different, the past two years we’ve been in a similar situation as I was completing my master’s degree. Overall, I’ve been able to balance school and extracurricular really well while prioritize my family.
Bryon: My wife says that I've only gotten more good looking since the start of med school.
What was the best piece of advice you received about medical school?
Dy:Do what makes YOU happy. Medical school is what you make of it. It’s hard work, stressful, and overwhelming but life doesn’t stop. You’ll find joy if you look for it. Enjoy the little things and be thankful for everything you have in your life. Persistence is key and success is always achievable no matter the circumstance.
Byron: The best piece of advice I've received is to pace yourself and be yourself. You don't have to know it all at once. Be consistent with your studies and take time to be with your loved ones; otherwise, you'll go insane.
What is your best advice for students thinking of applying to podiatry who have families of their own?
Dy:Time waits for no one. It doesn’t matter how long it’s taken you or how long it will take it you. You can only control what’s in front of you so make the most of it. Don’t let anyone tell you it can’t be done. Family comes first. Even though it’s challenging, I don’t think I could perform as well or be as happy as I am without my family.
Byron: I would highly recommend prospective students who have families to pursue medicine. It can be challenging at times, yet there are many assistance programs you can get in touch with to help you and your family along the way. With a great support system at home, it's more than doable.
What challenges do rotations and externships present in regard to balancing work-life balance while having children?
Eric: Rotations and externships can be hard on family life. If it's a busy rotation, I won’t be able to see my kids 3 or 4 days out of the week. I usually will be up before they wake up and come home after they are asleep. During externships, my family won't be traveling with me so I will be gone for weeks or months without seeing them (not looking forward to that).
Trent: Actually, I thought that rotations and externships brought more balance to my family life. Rather than being stressed out about passing my didactic tests every week, I was able to focus even more on family when I came home.
What new challenges have rotations/externships presented as compared to the first two didactic years?
Eric: I definitely think the 1st two years of didactic learning were easier for me. If I ever needed a break from studying I could spend time with my family and then continue studying or watching lectures after they went to bed. With rotations, you have to physically be there so as I mentioned before, there will be days that I don't see them.
Trent: The main trouble is when it comes to traveling for externships. It is hard if you go out of state and your family is not able to come with you. I had a rotation in Boston and one in Seattle that were both hard. One my family came with me, and one they stayed home. Both were hard for different reasons. It was very hard to pack up our house and bring all the baby stuff when moving to a new small place for the month. When I went without my family it put a burden on my wife who had to somehow do it all. I also missed them a lot which was emotionally draining. I would recommend doing somewhat local rotations when possible or figuring out how to bring the family along for the ride. Plus, that way you can find out if your family would do well living in whatever city you are rotating through.
How do you balance traveling for rotations and family responsibilities?
Eric: It comes down to priorities. If I have emergent family responsibilities they absolutely come first. If my wife can handle things without me she does.
Trent: See above
How are you choosing your top residency locations considering the possibility of having to move?
Eric: Getting good training is more important to us than staying or being in any one location. With moving comes many challenges but we think they are challenges worth facing.
Trent: My wife is SUPER supportive. She is amazing. My nickname for her is super woman! With that said, she is VERY supportive of where we go next. She told me go wherever the training is best and where you fit in well and we will establish our family there (for at least the next 3 years). We are excited for Match Day and to find out we will be for this next phase of life.
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The Pod Fathers of WesternU are students to admire and learn from. It appears that their daily life is a balancing act more challenging than the average students’. What I have learned however, is that part of their success lends to the great support team they have at home. Dedicated wives who bring stability and support to their relationships and children who motivate them to keep grinding. Unfortunately, I was not able to spotlight all of the inspiring students who are parents in our program but there are many other students who are just as impressive. Students who you wouldn’t guess have children because they often present themselves so calm and collectedly. The success of these students is hopefully an inspiration to any parent considering applying for podiatry school. It is a challenging journey but students like these prove that it is possible!
WesternU Fathers: Miguel (DPM 2021), Jimmie (DPM 2021), Jordan (DPM 2021), Travis (DPM 2021), Anthony (DPM 2022), Byron (DPM 2021), Alex (DPM 2022), Dy (DPM 2022)
Not pictured Brody (DPM 2022)
The original Pod Fathers who inspired this article.
Miguel (DPM 2021), Byron (DPM 2021), Jimmie (DPM 2021),
Jordan (DPM 2021), Travis (DPM 2021)
Thank you so much to Dy, Byron, Eric, and Trent for your sharing your experiences!
Header photograph by Jordan (DPM 2021)
ARTICLE BY KIRA CRAMER, DPM CANDIDATE 2021