Meet Dr. Andréanne Lefort, Assistant Professor and family physician at the GMF-U Vallée-de-l'Or
Dr. Andréanne Lefort completed her medical studies at McGill University and joined McGill's Department of Family Medicine in 2011 when she began her residency in Family Medicine at the GMF-U de la Vallée-de-l'Or. "During my rural family medicine clerkship with McGill University, I had the chance to discover Val-d'Or, a wonderful setting for training," Dr. Lefort shares. Charmed by Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Dr. Lefort settled there as a family doctor. She established her practice at the GMF-U de la Vallée-de-l'Or and due to her great motivation for teaching, became an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine.
The eldest of four children, Dr. Lefort grew up in Blainville, on the North Shore of Montreal. Despite having spent her childhood close to the big city, she confirms that she was 100% fulfilled by her decision to move to Val-d'Or. "What motivated my decision to move here is my versatile practice, the work atmosphere where respect, mutual aid and friendship reign, and of course the pleasure of being in nature at the end of the day and on my days off.” Passionate about life, Dr. Lefort is described as someone who loves challenges and is not afraid to make her dreams come true, from the smallest to the most impressive.
"Family medicine seemed like a unique opportunity for me to practice a vocation that reflects my diverse interests in medicine," Dr. Lefort says. She describes family medicine as ideal because of the diversity and goals related to the profession. As the spectrum of knowledge is vast, family physicians are exposed to a multitude of clinical problems that can affect people of all ages and medical specialties. "Also, prevention and screening at all ages are crucial aspects of family medicine which I love to participate in," adds Dr. Lefort. She also values contact with patients,"Listening and talking are as important as care." Passionate about what she calls, while laughing, "bellies and babies,” Dr. Lefort takes care of childbirth and is also responsible for the perinatal component of the program in the residents’ training. "It is a privilege to be able to participate in the full range of emotions that accompany a pregnancy, birth, newborn and the busy first years of life!"
In 2019, less than 10 years into her career, Dr. Lefort received the Prix de la relève from the Collège québécois des médecins de famille (CQMF). This award recognizes the leadership skills of a family physician in his or her early years of practice. The recipient must show leadership in their community of practice, involvement in non-medical community projects or initiatives, humanism and recognized interpersonal skills and medical expertise recognized by peers. "Just as when I received the CFPC Family Medicine Resident Leadership Award in 2013, I felt so blessed to receive all this gratitude. Just to be nominated was incredible," says Dr. Lefort. "To be selected by my peers was an invaluable recognition for me. To be nominated for the award was just one more token of recognition, and truly impressive from the top of my few years of practice! "
Mother of three, Dr. Lefort has just returned from maternity leave and is focusing on work-family balance and a healthy life balance in her little corner of paradise.