Sharing Work and Home

Irina Koreen is a third-year ophthalmology resident, married to fellow ophthalmology resident Larry Koreen; they have a 3-year-old son, Ezra. The Koreens completed the M.D./Ph.D. program, and Larry also completed the M.D./M.P.H. program, at the New Jersey Medical School, where they met and later married in 2003.

“Some couples have separate work and home lives, and they really treasure that. We have a shared work and home life, and it’s great. At home, we don’t talk about our work until Ezra goes to bed, but even then, most of our conversations revolve around our plans for the future.”

“We’re getting fantastic training, and we’re making great memories during our time here in Ann Arbor.”

“I recently had a patient at the VA hospital. After I explained the diagnosis and what the treatment plan would be, he looked at me and said, ‘Thank you so much for all the hours you spent studying so you could take care of me today.’ I don’t think anyone has ever said that to me.”

—Irina Koreen

Interview by Whitley Hill | Photo by J. Adrian Wylie