A group of Wayne State University physicians are conducting a study on how COVID-19 is affecting the lives of doctors who are mothers.

The survey is a collaborative effort between Wayne State faculty at two clinical sites—Detroit Medical Center and Ascension St. John Hospital.

“A Global Study to Understand the Impact of COVID-19 on Women Physicians” will address a gap in the literature, namely how physician parents deal with outbreaks and epidemics and pandemics. The purpose of the study is to determine how COVID-19 has impacted the professional and personal lives of physicians who are mothers.

A later survey will study the impact on physician fathers.

Investigators include Claire Pearson, M.D., (principal investigator) associate professor of Emergency Medicine and director of Emergency Medicine Clinical Research at Ascension St. John Hospital; Teena Chopra M.D., M.P.H., professor of Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, at WSU and corporate medical director of Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology and Antibiotic Stewardship at the Detroit Medical Center and WSU; Anne Messman, M.D., associate professor and vice chair for Education, WSU Emergency Medicine; Miriam Levine, M.D., assistant professor of WSU Emergency Medicine and Department of Infectious Diseases at Ascension St. John Hospital; and Diane Levine, M.D., professor and vice chair for Education, WSU Internal Medicine.

All physician mothers are eligible to complete the survey. The survey takes 12 to 15 minutes to complete, and participation is voluntary. Access the survey here.