learn balance , something Medicine was not very good at teaching .
As residency ended , Medicine started doing a better job of sharing me with my husband . And to my husband ’ s credit , he was very patient in learning my relationship with Medicine . We got married shortly after my residency was completed , and whether my husband knew it or not , he married Medicine as well .
Fast forward to the present , and both my marriages are going strong . I have found a good balance between Medicine and the rest of my life , though maintaining that balance is challenging . Medicine continues to ask for all of me , and there are days when I can give Medicine my all and days that I can ’ t .
Every relationship changes us , and my relationship with Medicine is no different . I know I am not the same starry-eyed girl from high school looking at Medicine as the exciting and perfect Prince Charming . I ’ ve developed a resiliency all because Medicine continually pushes me to my max and never settles for anything other than my best . Medicine has taught me to critically think through problems , not just graze the surface . Even now , Medicine can still expose me to my core , forcing me to connect with my patients in different ways .
In some ways , I am still that starry-eyed girl , full of optimism , but my years with Medicine have made me more cynical about health care and the world where we live . Despite my cynicism , I am a better physician , wife , parent and person because of Medicine . Although the world continues to change , Medicine remains my constant and will remain my life-long partner .
So , for better , for worse , for richer , for poorer , in sickness and in health , “ May I always act so as to preserve the finest traditions of my calling and may I long experience the joy of healing those who seek my help ,” 1 ‘ til death do us part .
Happy Valentine ’ s Day ! * Mabuhay is a Filipino greeting meaning “ long life .”
1
“ The Hippocratic Oath : Modern Version .” Louis Lasagna . 1964 .
Dr . Briones-Pryor is the Medical Director for the Hospital Medicine Service Line for UofL Health and is the Chief Medical Officer for UofL Health Shelbyville Hospital .
Richard Spear , MD , Memorial Essay Contest 2023
THEMED ESSAY CONTEST : All entries must be original , unpublished writing intended solely for publishing in Louisville Medicine . Essays must be pertinent to the following theme : “ The Best Part of My Day ”
LENGTH : 800 to 2,000 words DEADLINE : Wednesday , March 1 , 2023
PRIZE : $ 1,125 for practicing and retired ; $ 1,125 for physicians in-training
GUIDELINES
FORMAT : Do not put your name on your essay ! Judges are blinded to authors . Instead , include a separate cover letter with name , entry category , essay title and contact information .
SUBMISSION : Send via email as a Microsoft Word attachment to Kathryn Vance at kathryn . vance @ glms . org .
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