Physicians Sean McFadden and Kay Thatcher have a unique partnership. Not only are they partners in their private OB-GYN practice, they also are husband and wife.
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Kay Thatcher, M.D. | Sean McFadden, M.D. |
“We decided to practice together so we were able to help each other out and know our schedules. For my husband, it was important to practice medicine the way he wanted to practice — to provide quality care,” Dr. Thatcher said. “We’re able to back each other up, give each other breaks and help each other out.”
Said Dr. McFadden: “I like doing things my way. I wanted to care for patients the way I wanted to be cared for.”
Members of the UNMC College of Medicine volunteer faculty since 2002, Dr. McFadden and Dr. Thatcher have been awarded the college’s Volunteer Faculty Member of the Month award for January and February, respectively.
“Drs. Sean McFadden and Kay Thatcher have provided excellent educational opportunities for residents and medical students of the University of Nebraska Medical Center,” said nominator Carl Smith, M.D., chairman of the UNMC department of obstetrics and gynecology. “They have served as extraordinary role models, excellent teachers of basic and advanced concepts and are superb clinician educators. In addition, they have eagerly sought educational opportunities with our house staff. They have been excellent teachers in Labor and Delivery and in the operating room.”
Both physicians say that providing opportunities for residents and students to gain additional knowledge and experience is a way of giving back to their profession.
“People took the time and energy to help me. It’s inherent in the field that you have to give something back,” Dr. McFadden said. “It’s important for students to get as much hands-on experience as possible. The patients are open books.”
Said Dr. Thatcher: “I would not be where I am today if I hadn’t been taught by other physicians who were willing to help me. Joining the program was a way to give back to the system. It’s important to be a mentor and a teacher and to help med students.”
Drs. McFadden and Thatcher both graduated from the Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine. They met while in medical school, but didn’t get to know each other until a couple of years later.
The couple married in 1997. They have one daughter and are expecting another at the end of June.
In November 2001, they opened their OB-GYN clinic, Sarpy County OB-GYN, in Papillion.
While some people may wonder how the couple keeps work matters separate from home life, Dr. Thatcher says it’s not that hard.
“When you’re busy with kids, family and home, it’s not hard to do,” she said. “While we touch bases about what’s going on at the office, we don’t always talk about work. We do the usual stuff that everyone else does. He mows the lawn and I cook, or he cooks, but I won’t mow the lawn!”
Dr. McFadden added, “We’re usually burned out by the end of the day.”
When they are not working, Dr. Thatcher likes to cook, read and play the piano, as well as being a mom. “I love to be with my daughter. She’s just a blast.”
Dr. McFadden likes to travel and exercise.
However, when they are working and when days get busy, their jobs do get stressful at times.
“Even at 2 a.m., you need to be functioning at your best,” Dr. Thatcher said. “When you are on your job, you need to be as sharp as a tack at all times. It’s very important.”
Dr. McFadden said the most stressful part of the job to him is “overwhelmingly demanding patients. Certain people who demand the world of everyone.”
For Dr. Thatcher, the most stressful part of the job is “telling a patient bad news or when health problems arise in a patient. You never want anything bad to happen to your patients.”
Despite the occasional stress, the doctors both say the most meaningful part of their jobs is helping others.
“When people come back and say ‘you fixed me’. It’s great knowing that you’re doing something positive,” Dr. McFadden said.
“It’s not work to me,” Dr. Thatcher said. “I look forward going to work. Giving birth is a big deal to people. To be there and be a part of it is incredible. People look up to you. It’s important to be a part of a person’s health I’ve always enjoyed medicine, it’s a privilege to be able to help others.”