Family Planning for Docs - Thriving or Surviving?

Dr. Stephanie Zhou is an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto where she created the financial literacy curriculum and is the Director of Addiction Medicine at Sunnybrook Hospital. She sits on the board of Toronto Public Health. Dr. Zhou immigrated to Canada and grew up in subsidized housing, which led to her investing in education and housing initiatives through philanthropy. She found...

Dr. Hiraki shares her journey of balancing a demanding medical career with family planning, highlighting the challenges and support systems that helped her along the way. She discusses the importance of perseverance, the role of a supportive partner, and the cultural differences in maternity leave between the US and Canada. Dr. Linda Hiraki is a Clinician-Scientist in the Division of Rheumatology...

In Episode 11, we dive into the inspiring journey of Mimosa Luigi, an MD-PhD student at McGill University. Balancing her fifth year of training with the joys and challenges of motherhood, Mimosa shares her insights on integrating family planning into a demanding medical career.  Mimosa Luigi, MSc, is an MD-PhD candidate at McGill University, currently in year 6 of the physician-scientist program....

Discover how Dr. Piggott navigated the complexities of having three children at different stages of her medical career, from residency to staff.  Dr. Piggott, MD, MSc, FRCPC, is a staff geriatrician at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto and an Assistant Professor with the Institute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation (IHPME). S...

In Episode 9, join Dr. Michael Ordon and Dr. Jamie Kroft as they share their unique journey through medical training, early career, and family planning. From meeting in medical school to welcoming their first child just six months into Jamie’s practice — while Michael was still completing his fellowship — they reflect on the challenges and rewards of growing their family alongside demanding medica...

Join us in this insightful episode as we sit down with Kat Butler, a final year anesthesia resident at the University of Toronto and incoming Pediatric Anesthesia fellow at SickKids. They are a white, non-binary trans and queer parent to a toddler, a qualitative researcher, and avid cyclist. Kat grew up in the territories of the Algonquin people and is now living and working on the traditional lan...

Ida-Maisie Famiyeh is a third-year medical student at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, and a practicing clinical pharmacist. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy (2014), completed her pharmacy residency at Women’s College Hospital (2015), and obtained her MSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences (2017). Alongside her medical training,...

In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Giovanna Sirianni and Dr. Jeremy Edwards, a physician couple navigating careers in family medicine and cardiology. Dr. Sirianni shares insights from her extensive work in palliative care, medical education, and research, while Dr. Edwards discusses his path in cardiology and his passion for supporting medical learners. We explore their journeys through medical...

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Silver, a staff psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, to discuss the realities of balancing a career in medicine with motherhood. From navigating maternity leave in residency to managing the demands of clinical work and family life, Dr. Silver shares her insights on resilience, support systems, and systemic changes needed to better accommodate parents...

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Phillips! Dr Dana Phillips is from Philadelphia and completed her undergraduate medical training at the University of Pennsylvania and her residency in Emergency Medicine at Temple University Hospital in North Philadelphia. In 2018, she relocated to Toronto with her husband. She is an emergency physician at Sunnybrook and an Assistant Professor at the University o...

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Teo, a family medicine resident at McMaster University. She completed medical school at the University of Toronto in 2024. Prior to medical school, she practiced as a pharmacist. She is a mother to 3 children – a 7-year-old and a set of 5-year-old twins. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing, woodworking and organizing / re-organizing her home (with very limited s...

“We advocated to the OMA for early supports, like a birth doula, lactation support, increased IVF support, how important this is and how infertility rates in physicians are up to 40%. We were able to get a lot of things done. I feel like the system has a long way to go to recognize that this is important work. But its upward progress” - Dr. Samira JeimyIn this episode, we chat with Dr. Jeimy, a pr...

“I was going to go to medical school, but I wasn’t going to let that dictate how I made other life choices. Starting a family was always something that was very important for me. The best thing you can give yourself is a life you will have no regrets about.” - Abby Kapsack In this episode, we chat with Abby Kapsack, a medical student at the University of Toronto. We learn about her journey with fa...

“Part of what physician wellness ends up being is your ability to balance your career with your parenting goals” - Dr. Sharon DombIn this episode, we chat with Dr. Sharon Domb, an academic family physician at Sunnybrook Hospital, with a fellowship in women’s health and obstetrics. We talk about changes in maternity leave policies, the importance of soul searching in medical school, and her relatio...

“I guess people looking at me from the outside must have thought that I had to make a decision or a compromise between a career and a family, but I always knew that I was going to do both.” - Dr. Heather ShapiroIn this episode, we chat with Dr. Heather Shapiro, an Obstetrics and Gynecologist and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) specialist. We learn about Dr. Shapiro’s leadership ro...

“The first thing I’m going to say, and this is what I encourage to all our residents, is to ensure that you do set aside prioritized time.” - Dr. Peter FergusonIn this episode, we chat with Dr. Peter Ferguson, an Orthopedic surgeon and Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Toronto. We talk about his perspectives balancing fatherhood and residency 20 years ago, the evolution of medical...

“I think it's just important to decide what you want in your career and decide what you want in your personal life, and not let one stop you from achieving your goals in the other. Because you just need to make the decision and then figure out all the details later, you can make it work.” - Dr. Andrea CopelandIn this episode, we chat with Dr. Andrea Copeland, a recent graduate of the Plastic Surge...

“We love having kids because we see them as better versions of ourselves, and we have the opportunity to try and guide them into people who are just really good people.” - Dr. Bev YoungIn this episode, we chat with Dr. Bev Young, psychiatrist and co-founder of BRIA. We talk about rebranding your career in medicine, how childrens’ perspectives on your job change over time, mental health for women a...

“I would say know yourself as a person, and understand yourself outside of your role as a doctor, outside of your career in medicine, because it's just part of who you are. It's not all of who you are.” - Dr. Shirin DasonIn this episode, we chat with Dr. Shirin Dason, a Gynecologic Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) fellow. We learn about her journey with family planning, juggling fe...

“So that recognition that you're only human and that you have to step back sometimes…but you have to, because that's what you have to do”. - Dr. Crystal ChanIn this episode, we chat with Dr. Crystal Chan, an OB/GYN and REI specialist. We talk about how she pivoted her career from academia to private practice, the unexpected challenges of parenthood and the importance of taking care of yourself. We...

“You can still have, you know, a wholesome, fulfilling and satisfying life, even if you always wanted kids and don't get them as you go through life” - Dr. Sarah PattersonIn this episode, we chat with Dr. Sarah Patterson, a Hematologist. We talk about how family plans don’t always go to plan, her journey as a married physician without children, and the importance of finding your people. We appreci...

“You have to have the mindset to just deal and keep moving. And I feel that was something that helped me through those tough years”. - Dr. Sony SierraIn this episode, we chat with Dr. Sony Sierra, an OB/GYN and REI specialist. We talk about how mentorship was integral to her journey as a medical trainee and now, as a practicing physician. We delve into what it’s been like being a single mom and a...

“I think the best part about kids is sitting back and just enjoying life and special moments”. - Dr. Liza PulcineIn this episode, we chat with Dr. Liza Pulcine, a pediatric neurologist and associate program director at SickKids Hospital. We talk about slowing down as a parent-physician, support systems that help them succeed and newborn cuddles! We appreciate your feedback - please leave a comment...

“You know, the old adage is, “It takes a village” - Dr. Elisa GrecoIn this episode, we chat with Dr. Elisa Greco, a vascular surgeon and program director for the Vascular Surgery Program at the University of Toronto. We talk about the need for ancillary support for medical trainees looking to family build, and her own journey navigating motherhood as a staff physician. We appreciate your feedback...

“As physicians, we need to live through the hard parts in order to have empathy for those we care for” - Dr. Jocelyn CharlesIn this episode, we chat with Dr. Jocelyn Charles, a family physician and associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Toronto. We learn about her experiences in leadership roles, how she started her first year of practice as a m...