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Stephen and Susan Helper: Two Careers, One Couple
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Anonymous user Tue Mar 14, 2006 13:30:36 PST
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0 responses 0 comments According to Dr. Susan Helper, the secret to a successful marriage is to first “be good friends.”

Susan and her husband, Dr. Stephen Helper, are not only a very devoted couple, but are also office partners at Mohawk Medical Group on Stockdale Highway in the Southwest. They joined the group in the fall after being in private practice in central Bakersfield since 1977.

The pair met in medical school and married just before starting residency. As Susan said, “Medicine tends to be so intense, so time-consuming.”

In fact, medical school typically means 12 to 16 hour days, and residency is even more daunting.

Stephen added, “During residency you tend to be mainly around other doctors. People in the medical profession tend to be your social circle.”

Because of this, dual-physician marriages are not that uncommon. On the other hand, if the spouse is non-medical, then it’s no surprise that there is a significant number of divorces during residency.

Stephen is a family practitioner and Susan an internist. When asked to explain the difference, Stephen said, “Sue sees the grandparents and I see the children.”

The focus of an internist is from adolescence to adulthood, but a family practitioner sees everyone from “newborns to the grave.” Even though they do not see the same patients, their specialties complement each other, and on occasion, they do collaborate on cases.

Susan admitted, “It’s always nice to have someone else, especially if you’re stumped with a problem. I’m frequently running something by Steve to get his perspective.”

Stephen stated that having each other is to their advantage, mainly because they have common goals. Susan agreed. “We certainly understand what the other person’s going through,” she said.

The Helpers have an incredible working relationship, and admitted that their professional and personal lives frequently blend. But where other couples may find working together all day, and seeing each other at home difficult, it does not seem to bother the Helpers.

“Really,” Susan said, “it isn’t a problem. We’re a very close couple and enjoy each other’s company.”

Susan and Stephen are the parents of three sons.

“Three boys, no Barbie dolls!” said Susan.

Raising children is difficult for any working parents, but even with the demands put on them, the Helpers always made a point for at least one of them to be present at school functions or games. On one occasion, Susan covered for Stephen as a football team doctor.

She laughed, “There was not a single groin pull that evening.”

Now that their youngest is in college, they’re “redefining” their relationship. “It’s just the two of us and two cats. It’s not so bad.”

With their individual practices, just finding time for vacations is sometimes problematic, but now that they have moved their practice to a new office, with a large group of physicians, it’s easier finding someone to cover their patients.

And if they truly want to be alone, Stephen admitted, “We basically have to leave Bakersfield. It's a big city, but actually a small town. We see our patients everywhere.”

This extraordinary couple seem to have all the answers to a successful marriage.

For physicians, combining professional and private lives can be a dilemma, especially since the career is so all-consuming. What makes the Helpers successful is that they have made their own family needs important. Even if there were any negative aspects to their dual-physician marriage, such as scheduling or long hours, they are far outweighed by the benefits.

While it is true that physicians may marry other physicians because of limited social circles, what sustains the Helpers’ marriage is much more than their obvious love — it is a true respect for each other.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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