Medical Marriages Archives

Medical Marriage Help: Caring and Connecting During an Emergency

by Dr. Kim Blackham

I spent yesterday evening in the emergency room with my four-year-old son. Four kids, and I have never had to make an ER visit before.

I realized that one of the reasons we have never been to the ED is because I have had access to medical opinions and knowledge at home. Whenever something about my children’s health has concerned me in the past, I have trusted my husband’s judgment and not needed to go to the ED for reassurance. He has been a calming influence and has often helped me see that while my concerns and worries are valid, they may not be necessary.

The Power of Positive Thinking for Your Marriage

by Dr. Kim Blackham

The fear of parallel living, of growing apart and becoming mere roommates, is a sentiment that many couples can relate to. It’s a fear born out of the realization that maintaining a deep and meaningful connection in marriage requires effort and intentionality. In a world where disconnection is often seen as inevitable, it can be challenging to hold onto hope and believe in the possibility of something different.

Your relationship doesn’t have to follow the same patterns as the stories you hear around you. By shifting your mindset and daring to believe in the possibility of a different outcome, you opened the door for transformation. When you change your mindset and believe in the possibility of a happy, connected marriage, your relationship can change.

5 Reasons Why You Should Join the AMA Alliance

by Dr. Kim Blackham

Last month I had the privilege of speaking about Medical Marriages at the national 2015 AMA Alliance Annual Meeting. This was my first real experience with the alliance and I have to admit, it was different than I expected.

(Donna Rovito on the left and Briana Wessell on the right)

Let me back up a little bit. My husband just started his PGY9 year. That means he has been in medical training now for almost 13 years – four years of medical school, 5 years of residency, 2 years of research, and now finishing 2 years of fellowship. Yet, in all that time, I had never heard about the AMA Alliance until Donna Rovito reached out to me a year ago about writing for Physician Family Blog and Magazine.

Balancing My Marriage and a Scalpel: Lessons Learned as a General Surgery Resident that Kept My Medical Marriage from Exsanguinating

by Dr. Kim Blackham

All bleeding stops…eventually. So the saying goes.

Medical residency is tough–it’s physically, emotionally and intellectually exhausting. The demands of medical training consume our time and our energy. It’s the nature of the beast. Add in a marriage and maybe a few kids (we have four) and finding balance between medical training and family relationships can become a daunting challenge. Continue Reading

Balancing My Marriage and a Scalpel | Medical Marriage Tip #1

by Dr. Kim Blackham

Acknowledge Your Spouse’s Sacrifice

After a year or two of medical school, I recognized my wife’s life would have been much easier had I chosen a different career. Our college friends had graduated and within a few years had solid jobs, new cars, fancy homes and a 40 hour work week. The years of poverty, the unpredictable schedule, the long hours and stress of it all affected my spouse as much as, and often more than, it affected me. Continue Reading

Balancing My Marriage and a Scalpel | Medical Marriage Tip #2

by Dr. Kim Blackham

Work at Work, Be Home at Home

During my internship, I realized that residency is insatiable—there is never and will never be enough time to satisfy its demands. There are always patients to see, labs to check, notes to write, pages to return, articles to read, conferences to attend, presentations to prepare and research to work on. Like a gas, those demands quickly dispense into whatever space it is given. Continue Reading