"How do you juggle a career with a family and succeed at both?" asked a student during an ROTC sensing session with military doctors. Lt. Col. Laurel Neff, a family physician in the United States Army, answered that in her own experience, even in a career as demanding - and rewarding - as Army medicine, work-life balance is achievable with planning and commitment.

Neff, who is not yet 40 years old, serves as deputy commander for clinical services for the U.S. Army Medical Department Activity in Alaska, where she is responsible for a mix of over 90 military and civilian providers across three different locations supporting more than 32,000 patients.

Growing up in Philadelphia, Neff watched "M*A*S*H*" on TV and joined her local Civil Air Patrol squadron in high school. She graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point and then earned her medical degree at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine on the Army's Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP), one of the most comprehensive scholarships available in the health care field including full tuition and a generous monthly stipend. She was drawn to family medicine because of the full spectrum of care she provides to patients of all ages, including guiding them to invest in their own health and wellness.

Neff offered the following advice on how she achieves work-life balance:

1. Choose the right partner. Neff and her husband Dr. Michael Neff met in medical school and have been married for 11 years. From the beginning he supported her passion for the Army and understood their life together would have to accommodate her moves and deployments. As a result, he has been flexible, sharing child care and adapting his own career as a family medicine physician.

"I'm blessed with a husband who is highly involved in home and parenting responsibilities and supports the fulfillment I get from my career, whether it's in Hawaii, Kansas, a deployment to Iraq or our current station in Alaska," said Neff.

2. Know your priorities. Neff's career as an Army family physician allows her to provide medical care for Soldiers and their families in a highly collaborative practice in one of the largest health care networks in the world, along with ample opportunities for leadership and administrative experience. In addition to this, she always wanted a family. And in early 2011 that dream came true with the birth of their twin son and daughter, now age 2½.

"There's nothing more rewarding than serving those who serve - except being a parent," said Neff. "I've had great role models and hope, in turn, to show my children that they can be successful in whatever they want to do."

3. Be realistic, seek support and let go of perfectionism at home. Neff points to work-life success factors like time management, planning, communication, and understanding that everything doesn't need to be perfect. Her family has used Army base family support services, community activities and programs to maintain balance.

"I'm diligent in making sure I wrap up the workday in time for dinner," said Neff. "And I'm OK with the thought of taking store-bought cupcakes to school even when I know other mothers are baking them from scratch."

All of these factors, combined with Neff's dedication to the Soldiers she serves in Army Family Medicine, are essential to her prescription for success. She holds herself out as an example to younger generations interested in Army service, to assure them that they can have a successful career without sacrificing a rewarding family life.

"There will always be challenges in life but if you don't step foot in the ring, you will never know if you can win the fight," added Neff.

About the U.S. Army Medical Department
One of the largest health care networks in the world, the Army Medical Department offers more than 90 professional health care career paths - more than any other military service. Practicing physicians and other health professionals can choose to serve in active duty or as part of the Army Reserve and may receive up to a $75,000 special pay bonus in eligible specialties. For more information, visit goarmy.com/amedd.html.

About the Army Marketing and Research Group
The Army Marketing and Research Group (AMRG) is the U.S. Army's national marketing, marketing research and analysis and accessions analysis organization. The AMRG develops innovative and effective ways to: connect with the American public and make the Army more accessible and understood; increase awareness of both the benefits and value of Army service; and motivate the most qualified candidates to choose the Army as their service of first choice.

For U.S. Army Medical Department
Brianna Erickson, 952-346-6051
berickson@webershandwick.com