What would you like to bring back into your life that you had to put on the back burner during your work and training as a medical professional?

Julie Trivedi, MD, UT Southwestern Medical Center

When I was in high school, my art teacher and friends believed I should go to art school. My teacher’s words were, “You should study art. Your artwork is better than mine and I’m the art teacher.”

Tempting, but I rationalized, “If I’m an artist, I can’t practice medicine on the side, whereas if I’m a physician, I can still do art on the side.”

Well, in theory, that sounded great. But as I embarked upon the path to learn how to be a physician, many of my interests or hobbies fell to the wayside simply as a function of time.

It wasn’t until 2016, more than a decade after graduating medical school that I picked up a paintbrush and began painting again. And it brought back a sense of peace that I had not felt in a long time.

David Kopacz, Seattle Veterans Affairs

I felt I was losing my humanity in medical school and residency.

I developed the idea of a “counter-curriculum,” to re-humanize myself – a kind of  Continuing Human Education project – poetry is one way to do that, here is a poem I wrote as a student:

“I stare out”

Mariah Robertson, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

While I was a resident and a new mom I put my own health on the back burner. I ate to fuel breastfeeding and I prioritized the hour or two I had off to be with my boys. Now, no matter what,  six days a week I do some sort of physical activity and I have been more conscious about eating a balanced diet. It has improved my mood and has made me a better mom, wife and doctor! I will never sacrifice myself like that again.

Panagis Galiatsatos, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Training resulted in postponing lots of travel and settling for quick trips. Now,  I have made traveling a priority, especially to reconnect with long lost family in Greece!

Carl Streed Jr, MD, Boston University School of Medicine

I miss actively engaging in art. I used to play saxophone and set it down to focus on my science and health career. I’ve also been dying to get back into sculptural and pottery arts.

Michael Crocetti, Johns Hopkins Community Physicians

One of my passions is playing the guitar. Over the years I’ve gone through periods of playing some and not playing at all.

During residency my singular focus was becoming the best pediatrician that I could be. That along with family commitments left me little time for anything else.

After residency life seemed to get even busier and guitar playing went to the back burner again.

Recently I have picked it up again and motivated by a group of folks at JHCP we have formed a band and I’m playing again

It’s so enjoyable and relaxing to play on a regular basis.

Scott Wright, MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Growing up in Canada, I was lucky to be able to spend the summers of my youth in forests and on lakes, and winters skiing. I love the great outdoors. During medical school, residency, and fellowship training, my contact with nature was dramatically reduced. In recent years, I have taken up paddle boarding during warmer months and I have made time to ski more each winter. Bringing the water and the mountains back into my life has been a wonderful reunion that makes me incredibly happy.