In the whirlwind of medical school and residency, where sleepless nights and endless patient charts dominate the schedule, finding time for anything beyond the hospital walls can seem impossible — let alone romance. Yet, amidst the chaos of grueling shifts and high-pressure environments, some students and residents manage to discover more than just their medical calling.
Welcome to the love life of Miles and Stephanie Scott. As dual-physicians, their journey together began as students at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Carolinas in Spartanburg. Their seats in a first-year anatomy class were close enough to give them an opportunity to get to know each other.
“We started dating at the end of our second year, we were engaged by our fourth year and got married the month after we graduated from medical school,” said Stephanie.
Following medical school graduation, they moved into residency training and are now practicing physicians. Miles is medical director of the Prisma Health Family Medicine Center and associate program director for the family medicine residency in Columbia. Stephanie is a second year pulmonary and critical care fellow at Prisma Health Midlands.
“With the intensity of our work, it’s easy to get stressed,” said Stephanie. “It helps so much that we have each other because we both ‘get it’ and understand easily what the other person is feeling.”
While all relationships take dedication and determination, there are some unique challenges that come from the long hours and intense focus that a successful medical career requires.
The Scotts have been committed to finding ways to nurture their relationship even during some of the most stressful residency years.
“Over the previous three years while Stephanie was in Internal Medicine Residency and I was in family medicine residency, we always found time at work and away from work to spend time with each other and family,” said Miles.
“Even if it was a quick cup of coffee in the cafeteria or lobby of the hospital or a quick lunch at 2 Med Park Carolina Deli, we found time for each other,” he added. “Almost every time we had a weekend off together, we had plans with family and friends.”
Stephanie and Miles agree that one key to keeping a strong relationship is careful planning to make the most of their time together.
One major success that stemmed from careful planning happened in March of their final year in school. After months of applications and interviews, it is on Match Day that med students find out where they will complete their residencies.
The Match Day jitters can be even more stressful for students who apply through a couples match, where two people try to obtain residencies in the same geographic area. Students applying through the couples match know that if they don’t match together, they might face three or four years of a long-distance relationship, adding another layer of stress.
The Scotts were overjoyed to find out that they had successfully matched as a couple into residencies at Prisma USC in Columbia. “We would not only be near each other, but we also have family nearby, so the location was perfect for us,” Stephanie explained.
Many medical professionals recognize that being part of a physician family brings challenges. The AMA Alliance is the nation’s largest organization representing the physician family.
The organization has resources available to members that address many concerns related to the opportunities and challenges of living in a household with one or both spouses as physicians.
One recent blog post provided a list of survival tips for physician families, such as incorporating the type of prudent planning shown by the Scotts. Other tips include managing expectations and finding a community.
The Scotts attribute a good portion of their successful relationship to their shared passion for advocacy which immerses them in their community.
“We’ve integrated advocacy work into our lives,” explained Stephanie. They volunteer on several initiatives through organizations such as the South Carolina Medical Association.
They both also recognize the need to get away for some quality time that doesn’t include medicine. “We also like to get out of town when we can,” said Stephanie. “Disney World has become our favorite spot. We find it’s important for all of us to be together.”
They often reflect on how fortunate they are to be surrounded by their extended family and spend almost every weekend connecting with loved ones. “We both always found time for each other, family, and friends no matter how busy work, residency or fellowship got,” said Miles.
The Scotts recently welcomed their second child and hope to continue another one of their routines that keeps them connected.
“Miles brings the kids to see me when I have to work late and maybe have a meal together, and I’ll do the same with him,” she explained.
“Having our 2-year-old helps keep us busy and distracted when not at the hospital and clinic,” explained Miles. “And now we are looking forward to time with both children.”
Even with children, the most important bond the Scotts nurture is between the two of them.
“We often deal with stressful situations or take care of others in their most difficult situations, so we have to take care of each other,” said Miles. “Stephanie and I continue to do that and work on that each day.”
