Beyond the Pause

Stephanie Moss, MD, PGY-1 Psychiatry, hit an unexpected roadblock in medical school. It was an experience that changed her approach to medicine.

Dr. Moss started suffering physically due to the stress. She struggled with block exams, fell behind her cohort and had a tough time with Step 1 practice exams. She took a leave of absence at the end of her second year in 2021.

“It was horrible,” Dr. Moss said. “At the beginning, I did not know anyone else who was taking a leave of absence, so I felt very alone. It was very demoralizing.”

She pushed herself to keep studying for Step 1 but ultimately failed that exam. She chose to take a step back, continue therapy, and refocus on hobbies and community activism. She took up dancing again, taught fitness classes and started a homelessness advocacy group in Chicago.