The Reality of an Obstetrics and Gynecology Doctor and My Family

I have a 4-year-old son, a 1-year-old daughter, and my beloved wife. As I mentioned in my profile, I work as a physician in obstetrics and gynecology in a rural area. From now on, I plan to write about my work and family life little by little on this blog. Of course, I will be careful about compliance given my profession.

Doctors are often perceived as high earners, but that is not the whole story. While it’s true that the income is stable, maintaining a decent lifestyle requires a fair amount of money. Especially, to maintain the quality of medical care, it is essential to keep updating knowledge through attending conferences and training, which can be costly. In fact, conference fees are often self-funded unless you are presenting your own research. This kind of self-investment is not well known outside the profession.

Also, since we work as a team, there are times when conferences are scheduled at the end of the month, which leads to a heavy on-call workload at the beginning of the following month. Personally, I have experienced several stretches of night shifts that kept me away from home during my children’s waking hours, which made me feel like I was missing out on important family moments.

One particular morning, as I was leaving for work, my son came to see me off at the entrance and said,

“Bye-bye. Come again soon!”

Hearing those words—“come again soon” in my own home—hit me deeply. Despite wanting to be a present father, I realized I had become someone who only visits occasionally in my son’s eyes.

Driven by my commitment as a doctor, I had unknowingly been neglecting my role as a father. That moment forced me to reconsider the balance between work and family. Even with limited time, I now make sure to cherish the moments I spend with my family.

Going forward, I want to continue fulfilling my responsibilities as a physician while also being the father my children need. I believe that one day my son will understand the challenges of this work, and until then, I will keep moving forward, one step at a time.