I read with great interest the article on part-time faculty in academic medicine [1]. During the past 4 years, I have served as Director of the Medical Residents Clinic and Director of the Third Year Medicine Clerkship and have participated in inpatient rounds. Through these responsibilities, I have significant contact with residents and students as a teacher and role model. After the birth of my first child last year, I felt constantly sleep-deprived, frustrated, and overwhelmed by the demands on my time. I quickly realized that I was no longer a positive role model but rather a clear example to residents and students that general internal medicine is too demanding to allow a successful balance of career and family goals.

I planned to leave academic medicine to accept a part-time private practice position but instead negotiated with my Chairman a change to part-time faculty status and a continuation of many of my previous responsibilities. Since July, I have been working 25 to 30 hours per week. My personal satisfaction has skyrocketed, and I have renewed enthusiasm for patient care and teaching. If we are to heighten the appeal of generalist careers to the ever-increasing numbers of women in medicine, our academic institutions must meet this challenge by providing satisfied role models. By supporting part-time faculty members and by developing policies for promotion and time-to-tenure, academic institutions will enhance career satisfaction for those physicians choosing part-time work to balance family obligations and will provide appealing role models.