VALENTINES DAY’S SPOTLIGHT: Health First’s Viera Hospital Surgeons Step from Altar to OR

Offer advice for a loving and lasting marriage

Ten years on, two separate Health First physician couples explore the limits of ‘In sickness and in health’.

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Relationships that begin in the workplace are bound to lead to – marriage, some studies suggest. Would it surprise you to learn that doctors are no different?

Health First Specialists Dr. Matei and Dr. Carey Andreiou met during their fellowships at the Cleveland Clinic Florida in Fort Lauderdale – she for urogynecology and he for urology oncology.

“Between med school, residency and fellowship, training is where you spend all of your time, so your friends are who you work or train with. So it makes sense that you would meet people that way,” says Carey.

Married 10 years in October, the Andreoius have three kids, two dogs and a cat, and they work out of the same buildings, Health First’s Viera Hospital and Medical Plaza.

Carey leads the UroGynecology Department (recently given Florida’s first Center of Excellence accreditation) alongside Dr. Aimee Tieu, who herself is married to a Viera Hospital surgeon, Dr. Ken Tieu.

“A doctor marrying another healthcare professional is pretty common, but both being in the same discipline isn’t,” Aimee says.

“With both of us being surgeons here, there are weeks we see each other more in the operating room than at home.”

The Tieus met in medical school at Penn State University. Like the Andreious, the Tieus have three children. Both couples will be celebrating their 10th anniversary this year, too.

“I think people assume sometimes that if we are doing surgery on the same patient there would be tension. It’s actually wonderful,” Aimee says.

“We know how each other thinks and can anticipate needs, and we don’t hesitate to question something, either. It’s great for our patients.”

Finding Balance in a Demanding Career

The challenge for these couples is the same as any couple in a demanding career – striking a balance.
“There are going to be good and bad aspects to being married and in the same profession,” says Carey.

“For us, it’s helpful to understand the stresses and schedule that go along with being in medicine. We also understand why certain jobs may be better or worse for each other, and we’ve changed jobs a few times and made a couple of cross- country moves before finding our home here.”

Both couples like to travel. The Andreious have just returned from a ski trip out west. The Tieus are, as of press time, on a family vacation themselves.

Their advice for a loving and lasting marriage?

“In a disagreement, instead of directing that frustration at what the other person is doing wrong, first ask, what am I doing to make this situation worse? How can I make it better?’” Aimee says.

“Time is the most precious and scarcest commodity for us. Learn when to outsource some of the work. Having people to help with some of the day-to-day frees up time for us to spend with the kids and each other,” Carey says.

Visit HF.org/news_and_events to find out what’s happening at Health First.

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