By Sarah Johnson On Easter morning, I fed my father small bites of pancake while my husband and children sat around the table and watched. This was something I hadn’t done before, and I choked back tears as Paul prompted me to make small talk. Eventually, I set the fork down and walked to the […] Continue reading →

By Erica Camp “It must be nice.” Without a doubt, this is my least favorite colloquialism in the English language. Though not explicitly stated in the phrase, I have always felt that it implied luck and/or privilege rather than plain old hard work. I have a problem with that because very few things in this […] Continue reading →

By Jim Woodring Vision statements bore me. Our Alliance statement reads the following: “The Alliance is the volunteer voice of the family of medicine.” Except for one word out of the eleven, it would bring yawns. The word that brings it to life is “volunteer.” Oh my, are we ever volunteers and volunteered. Years ago […] Continue reading →

By Jenni Murray I am a total Pollyanna. Give me a problem and I will find you the silver lining. Anyone who has been on this medical journey knows that it can be tough to remain an optimist, but I have always maintained the “at least” approach. At least it’s just one night on call […] Continue reading →

By Ashley Mast As a wife and mother, I have days that are very difficult, especially since my husband is in training. I go several days in a row where I only see him right before bedtime, and some days he is unable to see our son at all. I often feel like I have […] Continue reading →

By Donna Baver Rovito Match Day. The words can conjure joy or terror – or both! It’s an experience all medical families share and in most cases, it’s a day physicians and their families will remember always. Our personal Match Day story has an odd….twist. Peter and I were engaged during medical school, living about […] Continue reading →

By Monica Swanson Thank goodness it’s March and spring has sprung (or has it?). At least we know it’s coming soon! Whether it’s warm and sunny where you are or not, we’re all ready for sunny days ahead. If your family has had its share of hot cocoa (or warm ginger tonic!) this year, maybe it’s time […] Continue reading →

Question: My family (including two small children) and I are relocating this summer for my husband’s new job after seven years of living in the same area for residency and fellowship to a city where I know no one. I am scared about leaving our support network of friends and family nearby. Can you offer […] Continue reading →

By Robert Sewell, M.D., F.A.C.S. I’m an old school general surgeon. I graduated from med school in 1974 and after a five-year surgical residency in San Antonio, Texas, I started out on my own, ready to cure the world. Boy was I raw. Like many of my peers, I got married during medical school, and […] Continue reading →

By Sarah Helms Ask anyone who knows me, and they will tell you a few standard, upbeat responses regarding my one-year relocation to Tennessee for my husband’s orthopedic trauma fellowship. “How great to have a year to be with the kids while they’re still so young!” “Live it up! You’ll never get another chance to […] Continue reading →