Parenting and professionalism: competing and enriching commitments

The goals, format, curriculum, and faculty of a first-year medical school elective focusing on balancing commitments to a medical career and family are described in order to encourage replication at other institutions. While the course is offered to both men and women, the issues discussed have particular relevance to women physicians, the majority of whom continue to carry the major responsibilities for family and household in addition to their medical careers. Topics include: the rewards of being a parent, parent-child attachment, the dual-career family at different developmental stages, physicians' life-styles, family planning, child care and training options, specialty choice and practice alternatives. The eight sessions are presented through a combination of seminar, videotapes, readings, and interviews of physicians, their spouses and children.