Table 3.

Reframing Caregiving from Stigma to Validation

Stigma	Reframe	Exemplar quotes
Disclosing personal problems or seeking help perceived as inappropriate and risky	It is useful to evaluate work-life areas that need improvement, to seek help in implementing solutions, and to confer with others to maximize career success for all	I think that [the FRCS program is] definitely something that is very much needed… it allows the conversation, which I think almost never happens…you're almost never allowed to talk about personal and family-related needs… As a young clinician researcher, who's going through it, it's a relief just to have it publicly out there that this is something that somebody wants to invite as a conversation and that someone wants to try to think about how to make it better…. The fact that it's there and inviting those conversations is symbolic and I think important institutionally. It's very good for [institution] that they've joined this. I think it will be very good, as the program continues, for the people who are able to be a part of it… (female, 40s)
		“… I think it was helpful to try and just self-reflect and understand all of the balls you have up in the air and how that may impact your professional development, just through the process of applying [for the Doris Duke FRCS award], right? Step one is acknowledging that you have a lot going on and just understanding what that is and what that means and more importantly how it may impact your professional development… That's not really something that's tangible and quantifiable in many ways, but probably impacts promotion and career trajectory quite a bit…going through the process and understanding how [the FRCS] may, indeed, affect my professional development and the speed by which or hopefully the success of my career development really was very helpful to me.” (female, 40s)
Caregiver and scientist perceived as mutually exclusive	One can achieve success both as a caregiver and as a scientist	“Some of it's just changing people's attitudes…there's still a fairly pervasive attitude of, ‘Well, if you make that choice to have a family, or if you make that choice to move your in-laws in with you, that was your choice, and you have to give up the things that you could do professionally.’ I don't really think that's true. I do think it's going to take me longer… but it doesn't mean I can't do it…” (female, 40s)
Caregiving demands only exist in extraordinary situations and are perceived as weakness or failure	Caregiving demands are a normal part of everyday life and pertain to all physician-scientists. Facilitating the management of caregiving responsibilities is an investment in all promising research careers	“…[the FRCS award is] advertised as ‘an emergent crisis happened in your family and you can't deal,’ as opposed to more of these chronic issues that are really just life…instead of being like ‘a crisis happened and we're here to help,’ a little bit more of a, ‘when you feel that your caregiving responsibilities in life are potentially competing with your ability to realize your potential, we are looking for high ceiling, junior investigators who could demonstrate how us investing in their scientific trajectory in this way and protecting their family and career life will lead to success.’ Something that doesn't make it seem like you have lost, or you have failed, or you are failing…. might help people come out of the woodwork a little bit, and actually can promote success of the work that they are doing.” (female, 40s)
Caregiving demands perceived as weakness or failure	Acknowledge the resilience of those who continue to persist in their careers, while tackling extraordinary work-life challenges	“… I think to also know that other people are struggling, and that other people need help kind of is validating that it's not that you're weak or something like that, it's that you're facing extraordinary circumstances…” (female, 40s)
		“For me, it was almost cathartic to have to write it all down. You knew what you were dealing with, but to actually almost enumerate it was sort of, ‘Wow, okay, maybe I do have a lot going on here. Maybe I'm just not a weakling or what have you.’” (female, 40s)