Hi there! My name is Sonia Chen. I grew up with a physician parent and I have watched my parents struggle with juggling the costs of raising me with my father's medical school tuition and later on, his residency salary. In the end, we were fortunate enough to have familial support, but a lot of physician-in-training households don't have that option.

 

When COVID-19 struck, like many of you, I was deeply moved by the selflessness of our nation's physicians fighting to help each patient at the risk of their own health. As many had to work tirelessly around the clock to meet the surge of patients, I couldn't help but think of their kids. With the closing of in person schooling and the prolonged absence of their parent(s), the most vulnerable among us must be having a difficult time adjusting. When I graduated college and started a job working with children, I was confronted with the lack of childcare resources available to families. An issue only exacerbated by COVID-19.

 

Spurred on by my own experiences and the COVID-19 pandemic, I wanted to find a way to give back to the healthcare community in a lasting manner. And so, CareBuddies was born. I strongly believe that physicians-in-training should not have to choose between their family or their desire to help others, and I hope Care Buddies can be the bridge between these two crucial aspects.