Dr. Beecker is a Royal College-certified dermatologist, who is fully-trained and certified in 3 separate medical specialties: Dermatology, Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine. In addition, she earned American Board-certification as a dermatologist by the American Board of Dermatology. Dr. Beecker is active Staff Dermatologist at The Ottawa Hospital and Assistant Professor at The University of Ottawa. The range of conditions in which Dr. Beecker holds expertise includes medical dermatology, skin cancer, as well as cosmetic dermatology.

 

Expertise::

Dr. Beecker is a national expert in skin cancer detection and prevention. She is of the Past President of the Canadian Dermatology Association and the Research Director for the Division of Dermatology at The Ottawa Hospital.  Dr. Beecker founded the Pigmented Lesion and Melanoma Clinic at The Ottawa Hospital academic teaching centre. She is the only dermatologist in Canada using this specialized equipment at a teaching hospital. Dr. Beecker trains medical residents and medical students in these clinics, as well as the in General Dermatology Clinics.  Dr. Beecker is Past-Chair of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons Dermatology Exam Committee, which sets and conducts the exam for dermatology residents graduating and attempting to obtain Canadian certification as a dermatologist.

 

Research::

As Director of Research at The Ottawa Hospital Division of Dermatology Division and a Clinical Investigator in the Clinical Epidemiology Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI), Dr. Beecker conducts and supervises many research studies, and has multiple publications in the medical literature. She is invited to lecture about dermatology locally, nationally, and internationally. She is frequently interviewed by the media, especially on topics such as sun protection and skin cancer.

 

Awards:

In 2024 Dr. Beecker was awarded the Canadian Dermatology Association Merit Award for her contributions to the CDA and the Canadian dermatology community. In 2020 Dr. Beecker was awarded the prestigious “President’s Cup Award” by the Canadian Dermatology Association for the second time having also received this award in 2016. Dr. Beecker was awarded the Canadian Dermatology Association Residents and Fellows Society Clinical Teaching Award in 2013, and was nominated for the 2013 PAIRO (Professional Association of Interns and Residents of Ontario) Excellence in Clinical Teaching Awards. She has received numerous other awards, including grants for research studies to improve medical care for dermatology patients.

 

Dermatology Leadership:

• Past President, Canadian Dermatology Association

• Past Chief Examiner, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada Dermatology Exam Committee

• Past Secretary, Board of Directors, Canadian Dermatology Association

• Clinical Investigator in the Clinical Epidemiology Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (OHRI)

• Past Chair of the Sun Awareness Program Committee, Canadian Dermatology Association

• Ontario Medical Association, Section of Dermatology, Executive 

• PhD Thesis Advisory Committee Member: MD/PhD Candidate

• Ontario Sun Safety Working Group member

• Faculty Advisor for Sun and Skin Safety for Youth Committee (SaSSY)

• The National Capital Skin Disease Foundation, Director

• National Co-Chair of “Dermatology for non-Dermatologists”

• World Congress of Dermatology Global Celebration Committee

• Research Director, Division of Dermatology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital 

• Sun Awareness Working Group, Canadian Dermatology Association

• The Patient Quality and Safety Committee, The Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, 2011-2016

• Residency Selection Committee, Division of Dermatology, The Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital

• Residency Program Committee, Division of Dermatology, The Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital, 2014-2016

• The Division of Dermatology Lead for instituting Morbidity and Mortality Rounds, 2012-2016

• Volunteer dermatologist for “Melanoma Monday”: screening members of Parliament and the Senate, annually