“There is tremendous pressure in the medical field to perform and to be the best.”

A cardiology fellow reflects on the struggle to balance family and career in the medical field.

I want to share this story to inspire young men and women to pursue their dreams.

My name is Dr. Sarah Rosanel, MD (@DrRosanel on Twitter & Instagram). I am board certified in Internal Medicine and a cardiology fellow in New York City.

My journey to medicine has been filled with ups and downs. Born in Casablanca, Morocco, I grew up in Paris, France and came to NYC when I was 17 ready to start college. With a Biochemistry BA in hand and research experience, I joined the prestigious research-oriented American medical school at the Technion in Haifa, Israel. I came back to NYC to do my Medicine residency, and am now pursuing my dream of becoming a cardiologist.

I am also a wife and mother of three. For years, I have also been the mother/wife to my friends (most in non-medical fields), cooking, hosting dinners, organizing birthday parties or doctor’s visits, working long hours, and making life-and-death decisions that would alter someone’s life forever. I never talked about my “job” to my friends and I barely ever mentioned my kids to my coworkers. Until recently - now, I have decided to come out of my shell and open up. 

There is tremendous pressure in the medical field to perform and to be the best. You cannot be distracted by having other “interests” outside of medicine! And a family? Who has time for that?! 

On the other end of the spectrum, being a mother/wife is a full-time job. The homework. The parent-teacher conferences. The pressure we put on ourselves to look good and stay thin. Who has time for a full-time job? Mothers should work part-time, if at all to, be present for their kids! 

So I quietly did both for years, separating the two entities as two different “lives.” Recently, I have decided to embrace both personalities. I’ve decided to share my medical world with you, and to share the joy of motherhood and family with my colleagues. Maybe this will help that one young person who wants to achieve great things in life but is held back because of society’s standards.

Dr. Sarah Rosanel MD - Cardiology Fellow Physician, NYC