Best of both worlds

Spend a few minutes with Dr. Anne Marie Beaudet, and you’ll come away feeling energized. The adjunct faculty member and Western University alumnus is passionate about teaching and medicine and is enjoying the best of both worlds.

Dr. Beaudet comes by her interest in teaching honestly. Her parents were teachers, and she had the good fortune to be mentored and inspired by them, as well as her own teachers and professors throughout her education.

“In high school, I had a memorable teacher who was very strict, but recognized my potential and encouraged me toward medicine. Having someone like her see the potential in me really led me down this path to medicine,” she said.

Later, during her undergraduate medical education studies, Dr. Beaudet was influenced by Dr. Ian Taylor, a neurosurgeon and an anatomy professor.

“He was a University of Toronto legend and was one of the reasons why I pursued radiology,” she said enthusiastically.

Dr. Beaudet has taken this passion for education and channeled it into a variety of different teaching opportunities. Serving as an adjunct professor for approximately five years, she’s been involved in teaching anatomy sessions, radiology sessions within the clinical medicine course, and career nights. Most recently, she’s taught ultrasound anatomy sessions,

She also serves as head preceptor supporting electives and selectives in radiology.

“I love didactic teaching and I love interacting with the students and imparting some of my wisdom on them,” she said.

The satisfaction from teaching for Dr. Beaudet comes from seeing the light bulb go off for students, as they begin to grasp a concept.

“I used to teach summer school math for high school students, when I was doing my BSc,” she said. “I’d have these kids in the class who it seemed didn’t really have a prayer at getting through the course. You would  see them succeed by the end of the course and it melted my heart. That’s where my passion lies.”

She feels the same way with the students she teaches today. And she works hard to set the students up for success, telling them that the best thing they can do is to be present, be inquisitive and have a great attitude. And drawing from one of her own mentors, she advises student to get to know their own self well and begin to understand their own limitations. In doing so, they will begin to engender trust from their colleagues.

“You have to know your limitations now and throughout life, because your colleagues are trusting you to ask questions, seek advice and support when you need it,” she said. “Only when you know your true abilities can you gain the trust of those around you.”

While several educators and her uncle, Dr. Joseph Spano, a fellow Western University alumnus, stirred an intrigue for teaching and medicine in Dr. Beaudet, she credits her family doctor, Dr. Park Parry for playing an important role in her pursuit of medicine.

“I remember Dr. Parry used to have these Dingbat Calendars in his office,” she said. “I think they were created by a pharmaceutical company. I remember being fascinated by them – especially the radiologist. Dr. Parry noticed my interest and would wrap them up and give them to me.”

Originally from Chatham, Dr. Beaudet has lived in London, Toronto, and Newfoundland while pursuing her undergraduate, medical, residency training, and a Cross-Sectional Imaging Fellowship. Now she is living the best of both worlds in Windsor and she’s very proud to be part of a school that has generated so much community pride.

When she’s not at the hospital or in the classroom, Dr. Beaudet is pursuing a number of hobbies including dance, language and art classes, renovations, playing golf and squash and travelling. She also likes to day trade and is considering pursuing some level of certification in stock trading. And recently she was elected to serve in a delegate position  with the Ontario Medical Association District 1.