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A parent and a doctor
In response to: C. Woelk We agree wholeheartedly with Cornelius Woelk that parenting is rewarding and productive work and should be recognized as such. Parenting does have costs, such as limits to career advancement1 and personal pursuits. Although ideally both parents are interested and equally involved in parenting, this is often not the case. Women bear the brunt of child-rearing responsibilities, whether by choice or by default [Research].2 Unfortunately, one cannot be everything to all people (oneself and one's children, spouse, patients, department heads, etc.). Establishing goals and setting priorities at different stages of life should be the objective. The rise in the number of female physicians has forced the importance of parenting responsibilities to surface. These issues are of equal importance to men. Flexibility in practice settings and training programs is helpful to all physicians parents or not.
Bibiana Cujec References
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