Dr. Anne Chatel grew up looking up to her physician parents, and from a young age knew she wanted to be a doctor. During her time at Vanderbilt, she has grown in her appreciation of her colleagues, not only as knowledgeable mentors but also as thoughtful examples of character. As a Nashville native, she has a true local’s list of the region’s must-do activities, but in her free time she prioritizes time with her husband and developing her new hobby, quilting.
Tell us about your background.
I actually grew up in Nashville. I went to college in Atlanta at Georgia Tech and then came back here for medical school. I’ve always wanted to live in Nashville. That seed was planted for a lot of reasons. My family lives in Nashville, plus I love Vanderbilt. I’m incredibly biased, but I think Nashville is a great city!
How did your path lead to medicine, specifically neurology?
Both of my parents are physicians. As a little kid they were like superheroes to me. Over time my interest grew from just thinking my parents were amazing into something I knew I wanted to pursue for myself. I studied engineering in college. There I discovered that I liked complex problems, and I also liked talking to people. So that confirmed my medical path.
Neurology was not on my radar until we did clerkships during medical school. I got on my neurology rotation and I had the sense of being at home, that these were my people and these were my patients. That was particularly true in the Neuro ICU and with stroke patients. I trusted my gut and spent more time in neurology and met more people in the department. That initial attraction has proven to be true.
What have been some highlights of residency so far?
Residency is tough, but overall the absolute highlight has been the people I've worked with, both faculty and coresidents. I love coming into lunch at noon conference and having time to talk and learn with my friends. Everyone is excited for each other, whether for professional successes or personal milestones. It’s a department full of really good people; not only smart people to look up to in terms of their knowledge, but people who are just quality and the kind of people I want to have in my life in general.
When applying to residency I already knew that [the department had such fabulous people], so it wasn’t a surprise. But it’s much more meaningful when you’re living it out with people.
What have been some of the more challenging moments? What helps you face those challenges?
I think the most challenging parts are the times when you are pushed a little bit past what you think your limit is. That point of, “I’m past what I can do,” either because you’ve been awake for 24 hours or you have more stroke calls than you think you can manage, etc. So there’s that aspect—it can just be hard work, logistically. But then it’s also challenging to tell people bad news, or see people lose their loved ones. There can be beauty in those moments though and trying to find that beauty and meaning has been a coping mechanism for me.
For example, if someone loses a loved one, taking a little extra time to learn why they loved that person can go a long way. As you get more details about their lives, you learn how special it is that they got to share life with that person and build that bond. Getting perspective about their life and what anchors that sadness can turn it into a moment of beauty. And it ultimately feels like a privilege to walk with these families through challenging situations and help them navigate them.
Who have been some important mentors for you along the way?
My parents of course. They are both physicians and raised five kids. Now that I’m a doctor and know more about what it takes to raise kids, I don’t know how they did it!
I also have so many role models and outstanding people I have had the opportunity to work with. There are too many attendings and co-residents to name—not just in the stroke division but across the entire department and hospital. I look up to them not just because they are impressive neurologists but they are also people I want to emulate in my everyday life in how I treat those around me.
I also have so many colleagues for whom it is very important to them that you are doing well as a person. That has been a surprise—just how thoughtful and kind everyone has been and how genuinely interested people are in your well-being as a human.
What are your goals post-residency?
I’m going to do a stroke fellowship here at Vanderbilt. After that I’m not sure exactly what my career will look like, but it will be something combining my passions of stroke and end-of-life care.
As a true Nashville native, what are your local recommendations?
I love Nashville! In the summer, I love floating the Harpeth River or visiting any of the parks. Percy Warner, Radnor Lake, and Beaman Park come to mind, but there are so many. I love Lieper’s Fork. There are a couple art galleries, a restaurant and some shops, and the drive out there is beautiful in the fall!
Martin’s Bar-B-Que is my favorite restaurant in the whole city. But other places that come to mind that are secret gems are Blue Moon Cafe and Benji’s Bagel.
What other interests and hobbies do you enjoy?
Spending time with my husband, Nick, is always a priority. Without him I would not have been able to get through residency.
During my intern year, I got to talking with a couple of the senior residents, and I learned that one played tennis and the other took piano lessons. In talking to them, I realized I needed a hobby. So I learned how to quilt. I taught myself how to sew, and now I make baby quilts as a hobby.
What advice would you share with first-year residents?
It was good for me to see the senior residents I looked up to invest in themselves outside of residency. The advice I would share would be that you owe it to yourself to do something that isn’t residency related and develop something you’re curious about. Residency will take everything that you give it. But if you protect even a small amount of time to do something that you like, and not feel guilty about that and prioritize that, it will be such a help to your life. The demands of residency mean that there’s not that much time you can invest into wellness, but even that small amount, if you treat it like an obligation, is so good for you. It was good for me to see other people model, and I have appreciated that.
