Being twins brings double blessings to physicians
As toddlers, Andrea and Angela Ruman realized they were special, even before they knew what the word “twin” actually meant. “Are you twins?” is the constant question from strangers that dogged them their entire lives.
“I think people are just fascinated at seeing two people who look exactly alike. That’s why they keep asking these questions,” said Andrea.
Dr. Andrea Ruman (left) and her twin, Dr. Angela Ruman. Both are physicians at UCLA.
People might do even more of a double-take to learn that these identical twins both happen to be physicians. In the same specialty. At the same university. Dr. Andrea Ruman practices internal and primary care medicine at UCLA's Arthur Ashe Student Health Center and does a lot of work on women’s health, while a few blocks away at UCLA's 100 Medical Plaza, Dr. Angela Ruman is an internist in women’s health at the Iris Cantor Women’s Health Center.
It may strike some people as a little bit of the Twilight Zone. It’s a common misperception that the Rumans have had to take in stride ever since people began asking in all seriousness if Andrea could read Angela’s mind, or if Angela could feel pain when Andrea gets hurt. Or there’s this one: “When you look at your sister and see what she’s wearing, do you automatically know how it’s going to look on you?” a curious questioner once asked Angela.
“Can we read each other’s minds? No! No! No!” Angela protested. “We are close. I can read her body language, but I can’t tell you what Andrea’s thinking right now.” Maybe not telepathy, but Andrea does think she has "a very deep level of nonverbal communication" with her sister.
Andrea admits that she “got a little more uncomfortable” about the twin thing than her sister. “I felt that when people would look at us, they would go to that freak-show, sci-fi place and perceive us as these very curious creatures. Whereas my sister would say, ‘Well, back up a minute. People are probably just fascinated and want to know more about us in a positive way.’”
People who are curious about the genetic development of twins can quench their curiosity at an upcoming conference Tuesday, May 18, where a rare gathering of six of the country’s top experts in the field of twins’ development is being hosted by the UCLA Center for Society and Genetics. The conference, to take place at the Fowler Museum, will be moderated by former “60 Minutes” producer Abigail Pogrebin, author of “One and the Same: My Life as an Identical Twin and What I've Learned About Everyone's Struggle to Be Singular.”
Among those sharing their perspectives will be Dr. Eric Vilain, UCLA professor of human genetics and urology; Dr. Laura Baker, professor of psychology and director of the USC Twin Project; and Dr. Joan Friedman, author of “Emotionally Healthy Twins.”
Asked what advice they would give parents of twins, Andrea zeroed in on what worked for their upbringing: “Parents should somehow convey to their children how special and unique it is to be a twin, but they should also make it a point to find and develop their children’s uniqueness and individuality. Our parents tried to reinforce our individuality as much as they could.”
The women have no idea why they both gravitated to medicine – and internal medicine at that. Their education started at the same school, but always in different classes, their parents made sure. Both went on to Stanford for their undergraduate studies, but they didn’t live together and had their own circle of friends. While Angela took longer to decide to enter medical school at USC, Andrea took a more direct route to medicine and went to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. They did their residencies at different hospitals — Angela at Cedars-Sinai and Andrea at UCLA Medical Center.
But their natural interest in genetics “might have been the impetus for us to continue with our science education,” Andrea speculated. “Somehow or another, we were able to take these very dry genetic concepts and apply them to who we were as human beings.” Both preferred the soft sciences — psychology, human biology — to chemistry, calculus and physics.
As doctors, they have shared patients over the years who either wanted to keep their medical care within the Ruman fold or coincidentally ended up seeing both. One patient showed up only knowing they were sisters, but not twins. “So when she came to see me, it was hysterical — she was very surprised,” Angela said, laughing.
The Rumans, Andrea (left) and Angela, have found it's fun sharing a close relationship as twins that few people get to experience.
When one of the Rumans hears “Hi, Dr. Ruman,” in the grocery store or movie theater, they never know whether the person is a former or current patient, or one of the other’s patients. “All I do is smile and say hello,” Andrea said. “Sometimes I just don’t have enough time to get into it.”
The bond between twins is like no other, the women said. “It’s very special. No one else has it,” said Andrea. “It’s very difficult to explain to people who have brothers and sisters. It’s not the same, and it’s not the same as having a best friend. When it works – and it certainly works for us because we’re close — it’s wonderful. We like being sisters, and we are incredibly good friends. She’s my go-to person — other than our respective husbands.”
The person who benefits from this extended family that consists of the twins, their husbands and their husbands’ families all together is Olivia, Angela’s 23-month-old daughter, whom Andrea sees every day. The twins live a few blocks from each other.
Even at her age, Olivia is learning what life is like to be around twins, a concept they try to explain to her. But does she ever get them confused?
“I am here to tell you that the mother-daughter connection trumps the identical twins aspect. I am not her mommy, and she knows that,” Andrea said, smiling. “But I think I probably have an ‘in’ in terms of her feeling comfortable with me because I am mommy-like!”
