When a patient is referred to maternal fetal medicine, they are understandably anxious. It usually means the pregnancy has complications and is considered high risk. Sometimes that means the specialists in this field are disclosing difficult news about the pregnancy, especially when the fetal prognosis is guarded or life limiting.
Dr. Sue Chandra, maternal fetal medicine specialist, sees patients at the Lois Hole Hospital for Women in Edmonton. She’s also an associate professor in the U of A department of obstetrics and gynecology. She was nominated for recognition by a physician she mentored, who feels Dr. Chandra’s compassion toward her patients inspires others.
“Dr. Sue Chandra is an outstanding maternal fetal medicine specialist, and this is demonstrated on a daily basis when she sees the most complex obstetrical patients in Edmonton (+catchment area). Her patients often comment on how compassionate and informative she is, and this is especially important given most of these patients are sent to MFM due to their high-risk pregnancies. MFM are often the specialists who diagnose and have to disclose some of the most difficult news to their patients (for example, a diagnosis of a complex fetal condition or and sometimes lethal anomalies), but Dr Chandra always delivers the news with empathy and compassion. She is truly an inspiration to those around her and a role model to her trainees. One would only aspire to be like her one day and help train a new generation of physicians who are just as compassionate and passionate as her!”
Learn more about Dr. Chandra and her work in her Shine A Light profile (Alberta Doctors' Digest, November/December 2023).