• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
BlackDoctor.org
Where Wellness & Culture Connect

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

  • Health Conditions
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Longevity
  • Resource Centers
    • Cancer Resource Center
    • Covid Resource Center
    • Clinical Trials Resource Center
  • Find A Doctor
  • BDO TV
Home / Wellness / General Health / #WeSeeYou: Widow & Single Mother Triumphs On Journey As 40-Year-Old Med Student

#WeSeeYou: Widow & Single Mother Triumphs On Journey As 40-Year-Old Med Student

Joyce Haynes Busch, MD

Joyce Haynes Busch went from South Central Los Angeles to being one of the top candidates in her medical school soon to graduate with a degree in medicine. The widow and single mother of two boys decided after 12 years in the real estate industry to pursue her original dream and heart’s desire of becoming a medical doctor.

At age 46, Busch will graduate in Miami, Florida, a phenomenal accomplishment when the average age of a medical student is 24. After a family vacation to relax and take it all in, she’ll begin her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Arkansas Southwest in Texarkana, Texas.

READ: #WeSeeYou: From Hood To Hooded, Congratulations Dr. Shon!

Busch’s husband died from prostate cancer in 2009 only a year and a half into their marriage, leaving her to raise his two young sons from a previous marriage. The boys’ birth mom had lost her battle with cancer only a few years earlier.

You May Also Like
13 Signs You Need to See a Dermatologist

Losing her husband was a devastating blow to Busch, especially coming so soon after their wedding. This type of change in life would knock many off track, never to find their way again. However, it only made Busch realize that life is short and tomorrow may never come so it was time to buckle down, get busy and stay focused.

“After my husband died I knew I had to stay strong for the boys who were 17 and 7 at the time. And I knew I had to finish what I started, completing my Doctor of Medicine degree,” Busch said. “I knew I had to continue living. I was now the sole provider for our family and I wanted to be a good strong force in the boys’ life.”

Busch began taking prerequisite classes prior to her husband’s passing at her local community college in Houston where the family was living at the time. During this time she had to manage caring for her terminally ill husband, caring for her two step sons (whom she later adopted, but not without much opposition from several extended family members), volunteering and completing the required courses to apply for medical school.

Joyce Busch

“I knew that being a physician was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life, even with this huge loss, there was no way I could give up on this dream. I had to push even harder to obtain it,” said Busch.

You May Also Like
7 Proven Ways to Cure an Upset Stomach

As opposition increased, she became more determined to make it a reality. She recalled the discussion she had with her mother. “Mommy, do you remember when I first told you I wanted to go to medical school and become a doctor?” They both thought about it and remembered it had been at least 12 years ago. Busch realized her quest could no longer be a “dream deferred.”

READ: #WeSeeYou: As A Pregnant Teen They Said She’d Never Graduate. Now, She’s Dr. Shaniqua Jones! 

She eventually started applying to medical schools. The first application season she only applied within the state of Texas and did not receive a single interview for admission. Then the second year of application season, she was accepted into the Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica (RUSM), where she struggled to raise her youngest son (the eldest son by now was in college. He graduated from University of Texas at San Antonio May 2014) and keep up with her studies. Busch recalls, “The coursework was so intense and trying to care for my son, it was grueling. I felt he needed more attention, because I was studying 10 to 12 hours a day.”

Continue Reading

The Latest In General Health

text neck

Text Neck: Do You Have It?

We use them all the time. Some of us can't leave home without it. And more than likely you are looking down at one right now. It's your smartphone. But looking down at it all day long could be bad read more about Text Neck: Do You Have It?
scary symptoms

Scary Symptoms That May Not Be As Serious As You Think

Unexpected symptoms can be pretty scary, making your mind assume the worst. Our imaginations can scare us into believing something sinister is afoot when we detect anything unusual about our bodies. This thought pattern often stems in part from our read more about Scary Symptoms That May Not Be As Serious As You Think

2023 Top Blacks in Healthcare Awards Announced

BlackDoctor.org (BDO), the leading online health & wellness destination for Black consumers, announces the highly anticipated list of distinguished honorees for the 8th Annual Top Blacks in Healthcare Awards Gala and Thought Leadership Event. This is the return of BDO’s read more about 2023 Top Blacks in Healthcare Awards Announced
healthy habits

Healthy Habits To Have By 30

They say it takes three weeks of repetition for good or bad behavior to stick. Are you working on the good ones more than the bad ones? Start young, and instill good healthy behaviors into your daily lifestyle. It's easier read more about Healthy Habits To Have By 30
(Photo credit: Instagram)

Omari Hardwick’s Lookalike Brother: An Unbreakable Bond

Actor Omari Hardwick is known for being a family man off-screen. He has passionately shown love for his wife and children on social media. But what many don't know is that he also shows love for his siblings. But it's read more about Omari Hardwick’s Lookalike Brother: An Unbreakable Bond
chronic disease prevention

Chronic Disease Prevention: It’s Never Too Late

Prevention! It is one of the buzzwords that pops up these days during conversations about health and wellness. We all know that it is important to eat in moderation and increase our exercise routine to help avoid serious diseases. On read more about Chronic Disease Prevention: It’s Never Too Late

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe to our newsletter

Poll

Popular Posts

  • 10 Signs You’re Living With Clogged Arteries 10 Signs You’re Living With Clogged Arteries
  • Tracee Ellis Ross at 50: Loving Her Body With No FilterTracee Ellis Ross at 50: Loving Her Body With No Filter
  • Like Father, Like Son: ‘Miami Vice’ Star’s Son Handsome Like his DaddyLike Father, Like Son: 'Miami Vice' Star's Son Handsome Like his Daddy
  • Mo’Nique at 55: Slimmer, Happier & Wiser: “I Love Us For Real”Mo'Nique at 55: Slimmer, Happier & Wiser: "I Love Us For Real"
  • The Cast of The Bernie Mac Show: 20+ Years LaterThe Cast of The Bernie Mac Show: 20+ Years Later

Footer

Where Wellness & Culture Connect

BDO is the world’s largest and most comprehensive online health resource specifically targeted to African Americans. BDO understands that the uniqueness of Black culture - our heritage and our traditions - plays a role in our health. BDO gives you access to innovative new approaches to the health information you need in everyday language so you can break through the disparities, gain control and live your life to its fullest.

Connect With Us

Learn More About

  • Hepatitis C
  • Diabetes
  • Sickle Cell
  • Mental Health
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Advertise With Us
  • BlackDoctor.org Advertising and Sponsorship Policy
  • Daily Vitamina
  • TBH

Copyright © 2023, BlackDoctor, Inc. All rights reserved.