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Thornton Academy
438 Main St.
Saco, Maine, 04072
(207) 282-3361
STORY BY LAURA ELLIS & ERICA RIOUX
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARY ELLEN PRIBISH
DESIGN BY KATE STE. MARIE & DEREK BENAVIDES
Right across from the former site of the First Congregational Church in Saco stands another Main Street staple, pediatrician Dr. Robert Faucette's office. The small white building provides help for Saco children seeking remedies for everything from a runny nose to broken bones. Even before being greeted by the smiling faces at the front desk, the children's books, toys and sunlight welcome and comfort visitors.
A job opportunity is what drew Dr. Faucette to Saco. Dr. Ross, the former pediatrician, was leaving and after hearing this, Dr. Faucette put in his application. After shadowing for a few days a week to see exactly what the job would be like, he decided it was the right place for him to be. "I think it (pediatrics) is a little more upbeat and the kids are fun, you can always kind of crack jokes. I've always liked kids and it's fun," said Dr. Faucette now on his 20th year of practice.
He finds medicine to be a very rewarding career and since he was a child, medicine had always been appealing to him.
"I decided I wanted to be a doctor when I was in about 7th grade or so. Well, a professional athlete would have also been exciting but I don't think I could have dealt with that kind of life-style." He entertained ideas of being a teacher/coach also but in the end, medicine is what pulled him in.
"My strongest connection (to Saco) is through parents and kids. I think I can communicate fairly well with the kids." It's his ability to communicate and create a comfortable environment for children that makes him so successful.
"The most rewarding thing is taking care of someone really sick. On a minor scale it's coming in here every day and calming a really fussy kid. The other day I watched the resident examine this child as she screamed. She was six years old and she screamed through the entire thing. Usually six year olds don't scream, but she was pretty fussy. I let the resident evaluate and I started talking to the six year old. A minor success for the day is being able to calm down the child and relate to some things she's aware of and making a connection."
Although Dr. Faucette has built an amazing practice for himself, he still has many doctors and other role models that he looks up to. "There is a doctor in Portland who has a photographic memory. It's amazing to see how much he remembers. He has all the facts and figures. Another doctor who just retired always knew everything too. And he handled severely ill kids with multiple traumas but I never saw him get rocked by anything, he always stayed very calm and collected. Whenever I sent a kid to either of them, I knew they'd get great treatment and that's a nice feeling."
An avid hockey player, participating in three teams in the area and playing 3-4 days a week, Dr. Faucette looks up to cartoonist Charles Shultz.
"Charles Shultz had an ice rink built in his backyard and played everyday until he was 72. Everyone has their role models, and if he played until 70, I hope I can too."
Dr. Faucette feels the ocean and the four seasons are the best things about living in Saco. He finds Saco to be a comforting and safe environment for children and adults to work and relax. The only thing that truly gets on his nerves about this area is the presence of MERC in the busy downtown area.
"I think it's kind of lousy. It takes away from a true downtown environment. They put a new train station in Saco, but just having that over there and you'll be waiting for the train and the smell of MERC comes along, it's not going to be so sweet. That's probably the worst part."
Dr. Faucette has an adventurous and out going personality.
"My favorite thing to do is ride roller coasters. It's like controlled torture. I'd like to circle the globe someday. Just take a plane and stop in a few places, just to say I've been there. I'd also like to visit all 50 states. I've been to 34 or 35 different states, but I'd like to say I've been to all of them. Going to Australia would be adventurous but controlled so you wouldn't have to worry about getting diseases or anything."
On a day off Dr. Faucette is dressed "casually" in khaki pants and a blue button down shirt. Being such a well-known public figure in Saco there is rarely a time when he doesn't see someone he knows or has treated.
"I see people all the time but sometimes I'm not dressed up or I won't have my tie on. Like on my day off I'll be dressed scraggly. Being a doctor people think you always have some sort of appearance."
As a father of three, Dr. Faucette couldn't think of a better place for him and his wife to raise children or live. "I don't have a reason to move. I like to travel but I'll always come back here."
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