WOMEN IN MEDICINE
Work-Life Balance: Does It Really Exist? By Lou Anne Wellford, MD
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SAN ANTONIO MEDICINE • November 2021
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s I look back on my career in medicine, I ponder this question and wonder how well I achieved this balance. There were times when I believed I had it all under control and could conquer the world. At other times, it seemed as if I were chasing that elusive unicorn in a fantasy world that would never merge with my daily reality. Is there such a thing as the perfect work-life balance? Probably not, especially since it is a moving target that varies with the stage of your career and family situation. Am I an expert on this topic? By no means. Have I learned all the secrets to obtaining this balance? Certainly not. But after three decades in medicine and raising three children in a dual physician household, I have learned that a suitable balance is achievable. Like everything else in life, however, it takes hard work and frequent reassessment to reach that goal. Perhaps it is easier for me to reach this conclusion now that my children have grown and left home—I actually have time to take a deep breath and sit down long enough to write an article. Ten to fifteen years ago, I was simply in survival mode, barely able to drag myself out of bed in the morning, let alone contemplate such a nebulous concept as a balanced life. Each of you
