CQUniversity’s Head of Department - Medical & Imaging Sciences Assoc Prof Anita Bowman (pictured left with Australasian Sonographers Association (ASA) President Dr Jennifer Alphonse) recently achieved a major milestone by being named the Sonographer of the Year and Educator of the Year by the ASA. Anita’s efforts over the past eight years have seen more than 250 students graduate from her sonography program.
What was a recent highlight in your life?
Walking across the stage to receive the dual Awards for Excellence as ‘Sonographer of the Year’ and ‘Educator of the Year’ from the Australasian Sonographer Association. This was in acknowledgement of the work of myself, the sonography team, our clinical partners and CQUniversity in creating and implementing the undergraduate-postgraduate sonographer course across Australia.
What do you love most about your role?
I love the creative side of my role. For example, working with industry to create new, or different, education pathways to enable students to access interesting and fulfilling careers. It feels like dropping a stone into a pond because the ripples spread out to impact not only the lives of the students but their families and wider communities.
What is the greatest moment of your life so far?
There are two greatest moments of my life so far. Firstly, the crisp September morning when I married Scott, a man who loves me so much he would move heaven and earth to help me realise my dreams. Secondly, being present at the birth of our grandson Owen. It was incredible to see the newest member of our family emerge into the world.
What is your favourite book or film of all time?
As a child I kept my favourite book - Tales of Long Ago retold by Enid Blyton - in a box with a few trinkets and a piece of soft rabbit fur I stole from a school bag of scrap material (I still feel guilty about that!). I took that box with me wherever I moved. I read it over and over again and daydreamed of ancient Greek and Arabian tales where kindness was rewarded and cruelty punished. I was a child who loved fantastic tales with an ethical undertone!
What is a motto or phrase that you live by?
The phrase ‘this too will pass’ is something I have said over and over to myself when things feel bad. In life sometimes negative things happen beyond our control and they make us feel helpless. My experience has been that if I can ‘endure’ and try to avoid situations that make me feel less good whilst spending more time in situations that make me feel good, then things can improve with time.
What would be your last meal?
Strangely enough Scott and I have discussed what we would choose for our last meal! I would choose a starter of slow roasted crisp skin pork, a main course of Atlantic salmon cooked in butter til the skin is crisp and the flesh is rare, sprouts roasted with almonds, roasted butter pumpkin and brocollini. Finally fresh blueberries, strawberries and raspberries for dessert. That would combine all the food tastes I love in one meal.
If your office was burning down, what would be the one thing you grabbed on the way out the door?
I would grab the two amazing sketches that hang on my office wall. They are pen and ink spiral drawings which Scott and I spent hours creating. I treasure them.
