Voices of U of U Health
Navigating Medical School as a Mother
By Jenn Handrop and Tom Hurtado
Listen to the complete interview on the RealMD podcast.
Utah is leading the way in supporting student-parents in medicine—especially mothers.
The national average of graduating medical students with one or more non-spouse dependents hovers around 7%. In Utah, that number is four times higher, with nearly 28% of students navigating medical school while parenting.
What makes Utah such a unique environment for mothers in medical school? And how can our model guide other institutions?
“There was never a doubt in my mind that I would go to medical school, and that I would have a family, too."
– Eve Larkin
Second-Year Medical Student, University of Utah, Mother of one
A Supportive Environment for Mothers in Medical School
Mothers bring highly transferable skills to medicine—adaptability, prioritization, communication—that serve them well in both parenting and professional settings.
Some mothers defer admission to care for a newborn or young children. Others adapt their coursework around their parenting needs.
Utah’s culture places a strong value on family and parenthood. The Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah combines that cultural support with top-tier medical training. As one of the most respected medical schools and health systems in the Mountain West, the U draws students from across the country not only for its academic reputation, but also increasingly for its family friendly resources and community.
Mothers in medical school often cite these supportive structures as a key reason for choosing the University of Utah. Programs, policies, and a strong network of peers create an environment where students can succeed in both their academic and parenting roles.
Institutional Support That Makes a Difference
Universities aiming to better support student-parents can adopt several effective strategies:
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Evaluating student populations to represent a wide range of needs.
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Partnering with student support centers.
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Creating a student-parent resource administrator role within student services.
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Allocating funding for child care or other parenting-related expenses.
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Providing clear, accessible parental leave policies.
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Enhancing campus visibility for family spaces, such as lactation rooms.
Making these resources easy to find—online and in person—is crucial. Visibility helps normalize parenthood within academic life and connects students to help when they need it most.
A few examples of how we’re creating this kind of visibility at the University of Utah:
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Women Empowering Women in Leadership (WE WILL), a mentoring organization that connects students with physicians at all stages of life and practice. From young doctors with small children to seasoned professionals, these mentors provide valuable perspective, encouragement, and representation.
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At Second Look Day, newly admitted students are introduced to campus resources, including student-parent panels with current students sharing their experiences navigating parenting in medical school. These touchpoints reassure incoming students that their dual roles as parents and medical trainees will be respected and supported.
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Recent curriculum innovations also support student-parents. The Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC), introduced at the U in 2024, replaces traditional block rotations with a more flexible model. Students rotate through multiple specialties—such as pediatrics, trauma, and surgery—within a single week and stay with the same preceptors for 11 months. This continuity and structure helps student-parents better balance school and family life while exploring potential career paths.
“For anyone wanting to get into this hectic lifestyle, give yourself space to mess up and forget things. You’re doing the absolute best you can, and your kids think you’re super mom no matter what, so own it.”
– Monica-Rae Owens
Second-year Medical Student, University of Utah, Mother of two
The Value of Community
We foster strong communities through programs like WE WILL and informal peer-to-peer and faculty support. These resources help student-mothers build support networks and shared understanding.
Students benefit from knowing they are not alone when facing challenges such as parental guilt, fear of missing out, or the pressure to balance competing priorities. Mentorship and peer groups offer safe spaces to share concerns, brainstorm solutions, and learn from those who have walked similar paths.
Student-mothers consistently emphasize the power of hearing stories from fellow mothers—both students and professionals—who have succeeded despite the obstacles.
“The students in the class ahead of me gave me a handwritten map to all the lactation rooms, their reviews of day care tours, and talked me through their own experiences. The grassroots support is really important.”
– Kathryn Corona
Third-Year Medical Student, University of Utah, Mother of two
Nurturing the Next Generation
Our students represent a wide range of backgrounds and parenting journeys. Each student has unique needs—and each benefit from an environment that fosters belonging, mutual support, and understanding.
We want student-parents to look back on this chapter as the time when they were supported while building both their future and their families.
