Institutional resources for medical students in committed relationships

Medical students in committed relationships must balance the demands of the rigorous educational process against such things as their partners' educational and professional priorities, childbearing decisions, domestic and family obligations, financial and geographic constraints, and the desire simply to do things together. Couples may also have to deal with the relative intimacy that often develops between students and their colleagues who function in close, often stressful settings and who tend to rely on each other for emotional and intellectual support. The variety of these challenges has increased as student bodies have become more heterogeneous in age, gender ratio, and cultural background. Medical schools can help couples cope with these challenges by developing policies and programs responsive to the needs of couples and by providing opportunities for partners' involvement in the institutional life of students.