Q. Describe your proudest moment as a teacher, who was the student(s) and why was it such a special moment.
It seems I didn’t even know it was happening at the time – I only found out about it later. When we moved to UBC in 2001, I became part of the intra-uterine transfusion team here. I was advocating for the inclusion of learners in the procedures because I felt that it was one of the really ‘cool’ things that we do in our sub-specialty, and we really needed to teach about it. One of my colleagues, Dr. Francine Tessier, spoke up and said “Yes, that is true. Watching Amanda do cordocentesis was what inspired me to go into Maternal Fetal Medicine”. I was surprised and thrilled to hear that.
Q. Why do you love to teach?
Because I really love what I do, I love to see a passion ignited in others as well. It also keeps me “on my toes” as learners are always questioning us and obliging us to examine why we do the things we do.
Q. Was there someone who was inspirational to you, and whom you emulate as a teacher/mentor?
I have had the privilege of working with many outstanding teachers through my training and career. My first vivid memory was from my clinical rotation in Medicine as an undergraduate med student. My preceptor, Dr. Ian Holmes, was the ultimate clinician – caring, compassionate and superbly skilled. He taught us the importance of communication and clinical examination in diagnosis – I remember watching him examine a patient’s abdomen and thinking I could almost ‘see’ the information being transmitted through the patient’s skin and into his hand.
During my residency, my husband, Dr. Gerald Marquette, was a great mentor – igniting my interest in research and understanding the importance of getting to really know a patient and her situation in order to provide the best care.
Q. Are there words of wisdom you would like to say to those aspiring to be teachers?
Share your passion. Seek out the knowledge that is already within your learners so that you can learn from one another. Tell/ listen to stories to enrich your teaching. Say “I don’t know” if it’s true. And inspire your students to reach beyond yourself.
Q. How would your students describe you as a teacher?
I think they would describe me as enthusiastic, and challenging – I am usually probing to see what they can figure out how their own knowledge can illuminate a topic.