Luka Abashishvili, MD 

From the start of medical school, my desired medical specialty kept changing after almost every clinical rotation. It was during a family medicine rotation that I changed it last. During the rotation, I observed a delivery and was part of the team that cared for the newborn and the mother in the hospital. Two weeks later, seeing the same patient in an outpatient clinic wholly changed my perspective on the importance of care continuity in the patient-physician relationship. It helped me realize how important it is to me to have the opportunity to care for every patient population, including pediatric, adult, and geriatric age groups. Even though most of my clinical clerkships were in Tbilisi, Georgia, I did a family medicine elective in Santa Fe, where I learned about the program curriculum, goals, vision, and the rich culture of New Mexico. I was impressed by the faculty and residents' enthusiasm and commitment to caring for every patient holistically, considering and addressing all facets of the patient's well-being. The 1+2 system, which allows me to learn in academic and community settings, was another crucial factor in my decision to continue learning with UNM-SF FMRP.