Meet Northville cardiologist Dr. Ken Tobin and his family of 8!

Cindy and Ken Tobin have a lot on their personal and professional plates, but you won’t hear them complain. The couple, married for nine years, have managed to merge two busy families and two challenging careers with amazing ease.

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The two met while practicing medicine at William Beaumont Hospital in 2002. Cindy was a nurse practitioner in cardiac surgery and Ken was part of a private group out of Birmingham, Mich., specializing in non-invasive cardiology. Born and raised in northern California, Ken came to Michigan to do his internal medicine residency at Botsford Hospital, followed by a cardiology fellowship at William Beaumont Hospital.

Merging families

As their friendship grew, so did the reality that being together long term would require bringing their kids from previous marriages (Cindy’s two daughters and Ken’s two sons and one daughter) all under one roof. Together, they would become a new family of eight.

Unfazed by the reality, Ken and Cindy were married in 2005 at a small winery in Calistoga, Calif., close to where Ken grew up. “It was a small event with only family present,” says Cindy. “Our kids were all part of the wedding party.”

The family has grown by one as they welcomed a daughter, Olivia, five years ago. “She’s kind of a ‘yours, mine and ours’ princess,” jokes Ken. Olivia joins the other children: Ken’s 19-year-old daughter who attends the University of Michigan and 16- and 14-year-old high school sons, and Cindy’s 19-year-old daughter who attends Wayne State University and 15-year-old high school daughter.

Six kids attend five different schools, Cindy points out, admitting that, “Life is a bit crazy.”

Making it work

They make it work by “organizing our schedules as much as possible, getting some help from the teenagers who are able to drive and, quite frankly, not taking anything that happens too seriously!” says Ken. “We make it a point to spend family time as much as we can and we try to take one dedicated family trip each year to escape our daily grind. This year’s event is going to be Disney World, where Olivia can finally meet a real princess!”

Focusing on what’s important

Ken and Cindy enjoy working together at the University of Michigan Frankel Cardiovascular Center, where Ken is a clinical assistant professor and director of the Chest Pain Center and Cindy is a nurse practitioner. They enjoy sneaking a few extra minutes together while at work, although, according to Ken, “Those moments are sometimes few and far between.”

In addition to their love of children and family, the two enjoy music. “We try to fit in a few concerts per year, says Ken. “Usually classic rock and blues, although I give in and suffer through a country show every now and then.” They also love to cook. “I am more of a griller, and Cindy is more of the baker — so it compliments rather nicely.”

Despite this hectic lifestyle, Ken and Cindy find time for date night each month, sneaking off to a favorite restaurant or movie where they reconnect.

But, no matter where they happen to be, they realize that one of their most important jobs is serving as strong role models for six growing kids, three of whom appear to be following in their parents’ footsteps as they head toward careers in medicine.

Dr. Tobin is one of the cardiologists who practices at the new U-M Northville Health Center, now open to offer specialty care for the whole family. Conveniently located at 7 Mile and Haggerty Roads. Learn more at uofmhealth.org/Northville or call (248) 305-4400.