For decades Jessica T. Healy Ellsworth dreamed of becoming a doctor. She took calculus and chemistry and participated in study groups with students half her age.
Today, at age 47, she is working as a medical resident at The Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz., having graduated from St. Louis University School of Medicine this summer.
Although fulfilling, however, her career as a doctor will never mark her greatest accomplishments. Although demanding, it will never require her greatest energy. Although rewarding, it will never bring her greatest happiness.
All that, said the member of the Larkspur Ward, Scottsdale Arizona North Stake, has and will come from her role as a wife and a mother.
A Church convert and returned missionary, Sister Ellsworth completed only one semester at the local community college before meeting her future husband, Ken Ellsworth, at an institute activity and settling down in Seattle, Wash., in 1975.
In the years since, she had three children — Jasmine, Marisa and Kenneth Ray — worked in Boy Scouts and served as PTA president. She drove the car pool and took children to music and swimming lessons.
She went back to college when her youngest son started junior high, entering medical school the year he turned 18.
"When I interviewed for my residency and for medical school, they asked, 'What is the greatest thing in your life?" she said.
Without hesitation she always answered, "Motherhood."
Sister Ellsworth is delighted to finally be practicing medicine, but has never regretted postponing her medical career.
"As time goes by I feel remarkably fortunate that I chose that path," she explained. "For me, it worked out better than I could have ever hoped for. It's not perfect. You have your ups and downs. But if I could do it over again I would do it exactly the same way."
During medical school she watched other female students struggle with their desire to be a doctor and a mother. Because Sister Ellsworth's children were grown, she never experienced that conflict.
"I didn't have to worry about robbing or cheating my family," she said. "I didn't have to worry about cheating myself from the experience [of being a doctor]."
The medical path, however, was not easy.
"When I did start college at age 37 I began at a community college, starting with elementary classes, including high school math, before moving on to the University of Washington," she recalled.
She attended school while her children were in school and studied while they studied. She held Church callings — most recently serving in a ward Young Women presidency while attending medical school — and supported her husband in his callings. She battled fatigue and discouragement. Sometimes she wondered if she would ever meet her goal.
Then she would turn to her favorite scripture: "Have miracles ceased because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand of God. . . . Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither have angels ceased to minister unto the children of men." (Moroni 7: 27-29.)
"At times when I would get discouraged, doubting my sanity for pursuing such a goal, I could see Moroni saying this, banging on the pulpit with a resounding 'Nay,' " she said.
"I do not consider myself unusual or extraordinary. My Heavenly Father has blessed me, strengthened me and guided me. My grandmother reminded me often that the Lord will help us achieve our righteous desires."
She also drew support from her husband and their children.
Brother Ellsworth took on added responsibilities when his wife returned to school. Later, he sold his office furniture business, and found a new job in St. Louis, where his wife attended medical school. This summer, the couple moved again.
"She supported me when I was going to school and starting a new business," Brother Ellsworth explained. "My desire was to support her in what she wanted to do as well."
Brother Ellsworth said most husbands would do the same thing for their wives. "Life doesn't provide each person an opportunity to do something like this," he said. "We were just lucky."
However, he encourages husbands to look at their wives' desires with "an open heart and a very open mind."
Sister Ellsworth also offers words of support to other women looking to pursue a career after rearing children. "Look how we are aging," she said. "We are healthy, we are strong, we are living longer. Many women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s have raised their children. You could fit two more careers in that space," she said.
Being older hasn't hurt her career one bit. At graduation Sister Ellsworth was given two awards: the Alumni Distinguished Student Award (given to a senior student of high moral character) and the Donald W. Bussmann, MD Award.
In fact, Sister Ellsworth said being a mother has helped her career immensely.
When she entered medical school some questioned whether she would have the stamina to stay up three nights in a row during rotations. Soon they found out that as a mom, she had been loosing sleep for years, and was better on tired feet than the average 20-year-old, said her daughter Jasmine.
The incident was reminiscent of an earlier time when Sister Ellsworth and another woman — also a mother — were consistently earning the highest exam scores in their college chemistry lab.
Sister Ellsworth told her daughter their secret was simple: "We are moms, we know how to get things done fast and effectively."
E-mail: sarah@desnews.com
