Medical Marriages

Friday, March 6, 2009 at 6 p.m.

Federal Heights LDS Meetinghouse

1300 Fairfax Road, Salt Lake City

Contact: Sarah Buchanan at snjbuchanan@yahoo.com or 801-824-6516

Medical students and spouses are invited to enjoy an elegant Italian dinner and an informative panel discussion. Please come prepared with any questions you may have for our panelists, medical doctors and their spouses who have successfully made it through medical training together. Don’t miss one of the favorite occasions of the year!

     Baby-sitting will be provided for a $2 per child fee (an RSVP to Sarah for the baby-sitting service is appreciated, but your children are welcome even if you forget to RSVP). Please feed children prior to the event; baby-sitters will provide a light snack.

Driving directions:

Take South Temple east to Virginia Street (the street just east of 1300 East)

Turn left (north) on Virginia Street

Take Virginia up the hill to Fairfax Road

Turn right (east) on Fairfax

The meetinghouse will be on your right-hand side (across the street from Shriner’s Hospital)

Membership Dues

If you have not yet paid your $10 yearly dues, you can do so at Medical Marriages Night or through contacting Finance Chair Jennifer Sunseri (jennifersunseri@hotmail.com). 

Member Spotlights

Learn some names, faces, and fun facts about fellow MSA members, and then look for them at upcoming events!

MSA member Rachel Holman grew up in a starter home subdivision in Spanish Fork. She fondly remembers the summers there: “Kick the Can, trampoline sleepovers, and the smell of the grass are all vivid memories,” she says. Later she went to college at SUU in Cedar City, eventually earning a BA in Dance and Health Education. There she met her husband, Nate (now a third-year medical student), while performing in Acclamation, a singing/dancing group. “We both love performing,” she says, “and we try to keep up on our musical talents.”

    Recently Rachel has been expanding those talents while learning to play the piano, a pastime that she enjoys. And of course she also loves singing and dancing. “I always wish I were in a dance class,” she says. “Dancing is my outlet and passion.” Although it can be time-consuming, Rachel also enjoys

digital scrapbooking, a hobby that is especially satisfying when she has the final project completed.

     The Holmans have two sons, Brenan (7 months) and Jackson (2 1/2). Rachel calls Brenan her “smile child and little monkey (because he loves being held!).” Rachel says that Jackson is smart and “has the cutest things to say that would melt anyone’s heart.” Tender Jackson loves to cuddle at night after story time, but he can also be “crazy and wild,” which Rachel says sometimes makes her time with the boys “a little on the scary/pull my hair out side.”

     Although it’s sometimes overwhelming, Rachel enjoys the proud moments of motherhood. “I feel especially proud when I see my kids excel,” she says. “Jackson is getting his potty training down so well, and Brenan is starting to clap, wave, and jabber.” Another source of pride comes from Nate’s successes, like good test scores or when he finds time to spend with the family despite his busy schedule.

     As the Holmans look forward, Rachel says that they’re excited to decide which field Nate will enter. “Seeing an end in sight is exhilarating,” she says. “I know that there is still a year until we’d even know where we are going for residency, but it sure helps to picture the lifestyle that is awaiting us.” In the meantime, Rachel is enjoying her membership in MSA, including fun activities and fortifying friendships. “I really like the bowling nights we’ve done in the past,” she says. “It is always fun to get to know new couples and to eat food!”

Busy mom and fourth-year med student spouse Timani Buck surely inspires us all! Timani grew up in Tri-Cities (Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland) Washington, and she is still friends with many of the good people from that area. Timani describes herself as a social person who loves getting to know people, a characteristic which she says may explain her “addiction to the internet (Facebook, blogs, and email).”

     The Buck household certainly must be a social place: Timani and her husband, Dan, have eight children! Lance (15) is a bookworm, new driver, and high school swimmer and water polo player. Timani says he has a “brilliant mind.” Social Ellexis (13) enjoys service activities, fashion, and cosmetics. An inclusive and artistic young lady, she is the Student Body VP at her school. Timani describes Trevor (12) as “hilarious, quick-witted, a hard worker, an entrepreneur, and dependable.” He loves babies and is his mom’s best helper.

Sports-minded Ean (9) loves to work with his hands, fixing or building things. He has a ready smile and is eager to learn. “Brilliant” Seth (8), is also creative,  inquisitive, and energetic. He uses some of that energy to proudly support the Utes! Little Lily (2) knows how to charm with her expansive vocabulary and overall cuteness. Timani describes Macie and Zeke (3-month-old twins) as “so different yet absolutely perfect and well-loved!” Managing a large family with a medical student spouse is certainly an accomplishment, and Timani feels proud of her family’s hard work. “I wanted a large family,” she says, “and I didn’t put my life on hold so my husband could achieve his academic/career goals. It takes a lot of teamwork and sacrifice, but we’re proving it can be done.”

     Even throughout this busy time, Timani has enjoyed volunteering and says that she’s “a sucker for a service project.” She says, “My children’s education is a top priority, and I’m in their school as often as possible.” During much-needed school breaks, the Bucks like to travel, “as HUGE of an ordeal as it is!”

     In addition, Timani has continued to be involved in MSA. “A few years ago there was a scrapbook club (only 4 of us went),” she remembers. “It began with me bringing scrapbook stuff to work on, but we would end up talking the whole time. I started leaving the scrapbook things at home and driving in just to socialize for a few hours, sometimes until 1 a.m.”