From clinical rotations to diaper changes: How parents in medical school make it work

At VCU School of Medicine, students with kids cite their supportive partners, time management skills and creativity in balancing it all. (Arda Athman, VCU School of Medicine) By Anthony DePalma, Laura Ingles and Grace McOmber “Any time is a good time, because no time is a good time.” That’s what Stephan Lazar, M.D., said about having a baby in January 2024, when he was in his fourth year of medical school. Lazar wasn’t alone in navigating parenthood during medical school, but he was certainly in the minority. According to a 2021 National Institutes of Health study, more than 7% of medical students graduate with at least one non-spouse dependent, “the majority of whom are likely children.” But there are no national studies on medical students with kids, and the already isolating nature of early parenthood can make it challenging for students to build connections and find support as they progress through the rigors of medical school. Nicole Deiorio, M.D., associate dean of student affair...