Amity Calvin, MD (she/her)

I grew up in Sisters, a small town in Oregon that thrives on its quaintness. My mother is a family doc who goes on house calls, and as kids, my brother and I would often accompany her to play music for her patients – me on violin, him on guitar. These visits surprised me, because they went beyond my expectations of a doctor’s visit- they would discuss the logistics of getting a hospital bed inside a bedroom. I have strong memories of the interiors of these patient’s houses- seeing their pictures, pieces of their homes, what they’ve chosen to surround themselves with. Family medicine, more than any other specialty, embraces that “I’m a guest in your world” feeling. And as a queer half-Asian privileged kid from a rural town, knowing how to see the parts of a person as intersecting pieces of a greater story has been particularly important in my journey as a learner. I am deeply honored to be joining the UNM family medicine team.

Jesus Guzman Jr., DO (he/him)

I chose family medicine as my specialty because of its versatility. As an emergency room scribe, I saw firsthand how an FM-trained physician performed deliveries, OMT, and ED procedures while running his personal clinic. During my time in medical school, both my FM preceptors did a combination of inpatient and outpatient work. Beyond being versatile, they enjoyed amazing patient–physician relationships and knew their patients on intimate terms, from their comorbidities and medications to their children’s graduations and career choices. I truly enjoyed those months in clinic, because although they were hard work, I had finally found a specialty that matched my personality. I chose to continue my training at UNM in recognition of its commitment to providing to its underserved population and because it offers nearly a full spectrum of training and is backed by the largest health and university network in New Mexico.

Owen Hamilton, MD (he/him)

I chose family medicine for several reasons, but mainly because I wanted to be able to serve the most vulnerable members of my community, which requires longitudinal primary care that meets community members where they are at. I am very interested in reproductive healthcare and being able to take care of patients prior to, during, and after their pregnancies, as well as their children. LGBT+ populations have poor health outcomes in several areas and family medicine and primary care will be a huge part of improving those outcomes. Providing inclusive care, including transition related care for transgender patients is another reason why I chose family medicine. The breadth of practice as well as the potential relationships with my patients excite me as I look forward to the next three years.

Elizabeth Heeder, MD(she/her)

I grew up in East Lansing, Michigan, in the middle of the Great Lakes State. I studied Spanish and Pre-Medicine at the University of Notre Dame, and spent every chance I could combining my two majors in volunteer settings. The personal encounters I had while volunteering deepened both my understanding of the social determinants of health and my desire to know patients as individuals, not just diseases. I attended medical school at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan where I was blessed to live and work in a diverse and underserved community. There, my suspicion that family medicine would best meet my desire to care for the whole person in the context of the community was confirmed. During interview season I was drawn to the University of New Mexico because I saw a team that is passionate about health equity and dedicated to serving the community. My specific interests within medicine include full spectrum family medicine, Latinx health, global health, addiction medicine, and palliative care. I spend the majority of my free time outdoors running, eating, having life chats, or reading a book. 

Lakita Maulson, MD (she/her)

Boozhoo (Hello)! I am a proud member of the Lac du Flambeau Ojibwe Nation in Northern Wisconsin where I grew up and am a first-generation college graduate of UW-Madison where I obtained my degree in Kinesiology. I then completed a research year prior to starting medical school at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health as a member of the Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine. I also obtained a General Management MBA degree from UW-Parkside during a year off of medical school. I am excited to be moving to the Southwest to train in Family Medicine at a program that is highly dedicated to serving the underserved. This is a huge passion of mine, especially as it pertains to Indigenous health and wellbeing. Family Medicine’s approach spoke to me as it prioritizes taking the time to address patients’ underlying psychological and social needs alongside their medical needs. To me this is the best way to care for individuals, families, and an entire community. Specific areas of interest I have include office procedures, addiction medicine, Tribal health, global health, maternal and child health and education/teaching. In my free time, I like to cook/bake, travel, fish, hike, read, play basketball, and hang out with family and friends.

Chance Najera, MD (he/him)

After spending four years in upstate New York for medical school, I am thrilled to return home to New Mexico for residency! My initial interest in medicine and health equity began while I was a college student at UNM, where I was involved in efforts to improve mental health outcomes for recently resettled refugee families through community advocacy. I was drawn to Family Medicine due to the unique relationships formed with patients over time across various clinical settings, as well as the focus on social context as an integral component of providing high quality healthcare. In addition to immigrant health, my other interests within Family Medicine include pediatrics, outpatient procedures, and medical education. I chose UNM because of its comprehensive training within a large, well-integrated Family Medicine department, and its commitment to producing graduates who intend to practice in underserved areas. Outside of medicine, I enjoy tennis, musical theater, playing the piano, and spending time with my family. I am honored to begin this journey in a place I love!

Amanda Nguyen, DO (she/her)

Hey everyone! Born and raised Southern Californian here. After picking up a degree in psychobiology (and a minor in French) at UCLA, I moved to Erie, PA for medical school. In addition to learning a lot about snow, I had the privilege of working alongside a variety of community organizations who helped me develop a passion for improving health literacy. I love family medicine's holistic approach to care and the opportunities we have to build durable, long-lasting relationships with our patients, which is especially important when working with those who feel disenfranchised by the healthcare system. I am thrilled to join the Family Medicine residency here at UNM, where health equity, advocacy, and full-spectrum practice are at the forefront of our training. I am especially excited to be pursuing my interests in LGBTQ health, rural medicine, and women’s health. When there’s down time, you can catch me working on one of my random hobbies, my favorite at the moment being tropical fish keeping. I also enjoy all things involving food, trying to grow things, and energetically but poorly singing showtunes with my girlfriend and our ornery senior dog.

Veronica Pace, MD (she/her)

I am so happy to join the UNM Family Medicine Program. I chose a career in medicine to become a PCP for those who need doctors most. At UNM, I will learn the core skills of family medicine with special training to meet the needs of medically underserved populations - mental health, women’s health and obstetrics, addiction medicine, transgender and gender affirming care, and so much more. I was especially drawn to UNM’s exceptional training in family planning, FQHC continuity clinic, and obstetrics fellowship. I am thrilled to connect with the beautiful community of Albuquerque, as I have spent my whole life on the other side of the country - in Massachusetts! I grew up in Newburyport, MA, studied Biology and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies at UMass Amherst, and completed medical school at UMass Medical School in Worcester. During my time there, I found so much joy caring for patients at the free clinics and serving as a mentor to incarcerated adolescents and disadvantaged undergraduates working to become physicians through the same pipeline program that supported my journey to medicine. In my spare time, I love to run, spend time with friends and family, cook extravagant Italian dishes, and play music.

Shandiin Sam, MD (she/her)

Family Medicine allowed me the flexibility to care for everyone from birth to the elderly. I loved the connections Family Physicians have with their patients, asking about their family members and reliving positive moments in their lives. It was heartwarming to know I wouldn’t be just a doctor, but also a trusted confidant to my patients. I want to be the bridge to my patients understanding Western medicine, as my passion is to give back to the Native American and rural communities. Thus, I hope to train broad spectrum or focus on maternal-infant health. Recently, I was introduced to how policies are made, and I hope to explore more of the advocacy side of medicine. UNM was the perfect choice to train for me because it is a “minority-majority” state, I loved that they have a continuity clinic with Indian Health Service, and there are so many opportunities to explore several of my interests. 

Colin Savareid, MD (he/him)

I chose Family Medicine because I believe the specialty has a unique, holistic perspective on health that views the patient in the context of their goals, values, background, and community. I love that I will have the ability to treat my patients at all stages of their lives. I was drawn to UNM because of the combination of strong academics with a mission to care for the underserved and marginalized, and actively make a difference in the community it serves. It was important to me to choose a program concerned with advancing health equity, and one in which the spectrum of training included opportunities in reproductive health, addiction medicine, and gender-affirming healthcare. I'm also excited to train at UNM because of the location: I'm originally from Los Angeles, but Albuquerque has been a second home to me for several years, as it’s home to my partner, Sarah, and my two stepsons. I love the climate, landscape and culture of New Mexico, and I'm proud to finally make it home to the Land of Enchantment!

Christian Tyler Smith, DO (he/him)

I am thrilled to join the UNM Family Medicine Residency and continue my medical training in New Mexico. The calling of Family Medicine Physician is truly an honor and something I have worked diligently to prepare for. I moved to Las Cruces in 2017 to attend medical school at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine but the majority of my clerkships were located throughout the state. I feel fortunate to have worked in various hospitals and clinics in Albuquerque, Gallup, Belen, Espanola, Edgewood and the Isleta Pueblo. Each community provided the charm and diversity that make New Mexico so special. While continuing my training at UNM, I hope to impart empowerment in health and wellness to each of my patients. I love Family Medicine because the scope of practice is broad, much like my own interests. These include addiction medicine, chronic pain management, childhood development, nutrition and public health. Beyond medicine, I enjoy spending time with family, hiking, playing guitar and reading.

Hannah Udell, DO (she/her)

I was born in La Crosse, a beautiful town in the driftless region of southwest Wisconsin and obtained my bachelor’s degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, majoring in anthropology and evolutionary biology. After graduating, I found home in the Cascade mountains, working for three years in infectious disease research at the University of Washington and attending medical school at Pacific Northwest University. My interests in medicine started at a young age and were affirmed by volunteer experiences at a clinic within the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota and a community youth organization in Seattle. Early medical school, I found “my people” within a state family medicine organization, where I became involved in leadership and advocacy, solidifying my understanding of family medicine as a tool for social justice. I am particularly passionate about reproductive justice and adolescent, rural, and community medicine. I chose UNM because of the opportunities to nourish these passions and grow as a compassionate and skilled provider for individuals from a diversity of backgrounds. Outside medicine, I appreciate spending time with nature and staying active biking, hiking, skiing, and running. I am absolutely thrilled to be joining such a wonderful group of talented and passionate individuals.

Carlos Vargas Pavia, MD (he/ze)

I am originally from Albuquerque, NM, where I went to UNM for both college and medical school. I knew that I wanted to pursue a career in medicine because it combined my love for knowledge with helping people. I choose to do family medicine because I knew that I wanted to be able treat everyone and know a little bit about everything. Some of my interests include human development, the musculoskeletal system, and nutrition. In my spare time, I enjoy going on bike rides, walking through the bosque and spending times with friends and family. I am excited to practice medicine in the community that I love. I feel fortunate to be on the path that I am on and am grateful to all those who have helped make it possible. Go Lobos!

Kerry Zimdars, MD (she/her)

I was drawn to Family Medicine by its focus on getting to know your patients as people and recognizing how the everyday aspects of their lives affect their health and wellbeing. It is the field that provides you the opportunity to care for everyone from a newborn to their great-grandparents and ensure that no matter where you are, you have the tools and the capability to address their needs. As someone with a passion for public health and advocacy, Family Medicine was a natural fit, as was UNM. My interactions with members of UNM Family Medicine always felt so welcoming and open, which is exactly what I hope for in any team I may be on. I couldn’t be more excited to explore life in the Southwest as I relocate from Wisconsin to New Mexico. 

Kathryn Brown, DO (she/her)

I was born and raised in Cincinnati, OH in a Family Medicine household. I was fortunate enough to watch my father and grandfather, both family physicians who accepted eggs and oil changes as payment, care for multiple generations of families and build trusting relationships with their patients and community. I attended The Ohio State University for undergrad where I studied Environmental Science and researched the intersection of race, place, pollution, and health. I continued pursuing my interests in health disparities, community service, and mentorship in medical school at the University of Cincinnati. There, I had the opportunity to work with a community-led partnership in Tanzania as well as with several mentorship and STEM pipeline programs in Cincinnati. This work, combined with my upbringing in exam rooms and on house calls, lead me to Family Medicine. I chose to go into Family Medicine because of the ability to provide broad-spectrum care to those who need it most while building longitudinal relationships. I am thrilled to be going to UNM for residency because of the mission-driven approach to broad-spectrum, community-minded care. I am excited to receive the training I need to continue serving patients from all backgrounds in a variety of settings.

Yen-Phuong Bui, DO (she/her)

I am very proud to be called a Vietnamese refugee because my past experience with the disparity in healthcare taught me the importance of providing compassionate care where and when it is most needed. After graduating from the University of Houston-Downtown with a Fine Arts degree and working full time as a graphics designer, I spent my weekends volunteering at MD Anderson Cancer Center. It was there that I realized healthcare, specifically family medicine, would best fit my interests and how I want to contribute to my community. Family medicine best balances my enthusiasm for connecting with patients and practicing evidence-based medicine while allowing me the fulfillment of a career that helps improve patient lives and prevent diseases. Connecting with patients from all backgrounds, critically thinking to make confident clinical judgments to solve medical problems for patients of all ages, improving the health of patients and educating the community on preventative care are important aspirational goals for my medical career. I find these factors to be the most humanistic part of medicine and the Family Medicine Residency Program at UNM would further help achieve my goal of gaining the necessary skills to care for future patients.

Austin Caballero, DO (he/him)

I was raised in Runge, a small town deep in rural South Texas. I went to Trinity University, where I studied neuroscience, and then completed medical school at UNTHSC-TCOM. During my studies, I discovered my passions while working with marginalized populations and volunteering with individuals living in transitional shelters. I am fortunate to have found family medicine where I could realize my passion for addressing social determinants of health at the population and individual levels. Through my mission to cultivate adaptive and healthy communities, I believe in patient advocacy and facilitating conversations focused on addressing health disparities. I chose UNM because of its commitment to training full-spectrum family physicians who deliver compassionate care to underserved populations. I am happy to call UNM my home alongside caring professionals, their commitment to community health, and being located in the natural beauty of New Mexico. Additionally, my special interests in family medicine include adolescent medicine, minority health, and medical education. In my free time, I enjoy watching the latest films, learning music on the piano, improving my baking skills, and adventuring through parks and trails.

Jacki Castellanos, MD, MS (she/her)

Jackie is the daughter of immigrants from Korea and Mexico and was raised in Monterey Park, California, an Asian American and immigrant community. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley – University of California, San Francisco Joint Medical Program and holds a Master of Science and Doctor of Medicine. For her Master’s thesis, she was awarded the Emerging Scholars in Family Planning Grant from the Society of Family Planning Research Fund to design a qualitative research study to investigate undergraduate students’ access to abortion services. She authored an op-ed published in The Los Angeles Times (September 2019) based on the preliminary findings of this study to support the successful passage of the College Student Right to Access Act, which mandated that all California public universities offer medication abortions at student health centers. She is also interested in storytelling, both performing live for The A Word: Stories in Reproductive Health and The Nocturnists podcast. As a family medicine physician, she will continue to advocate for policy changes to increase access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare. She is excited to train at UNM’s family and community medicine’s residency program to learn how to practice addiction medicine, full-spectrum reproductive healthcare, and community medicine in a medically underserved area.

Lizzet Castillo, MD (she/her)

I have lived in New Mexico for most of my life, having attended UNM for my undergraduate education and then medical school at the UNM SOM. I grew up in a small rural town in Chihuahua, Mexico where the community had little to no access to healthcare. Thus, I experienced first-hand the important role that primary care plays in the health outcomes of individuals and communities. Family medicine is often the primary access point for patients, especially marginalized populations who are affected by health disparities. I chose Family Medicine because I want to serve the most vulnerable members of my community, while also building life-long relationships with patients and serving them across generations. As I continue my training at UNM, I hope to continue advocating for patients and striving to break down the barriers to healthcare access. I am excited to join the UNM Family Medicine Residency where I plan to continue pursuing my interest in caring for the underserved and learning more about addiction medicine, women’s health and much more.

Emma Connelly, MD (she/her)

Hello! I’m from Kansas City, Missouri and attended UMKC’s combined BA/MD program. My parents are both teachers in the arts, so choosing a career in medicine took me in quite a different direction. From a very young age I have been passionate about women’s health and think Family Medicine is the best path to pursue a holistic approach to women’s health care and advocacy. I love the flexibility of family medicine and the ability to do a little bit of everything that you are passionate about! One the reasons I was drawn to UNM’s program was the large Hispanic and Native American population they serve as well as the strong women’s health and outreach opportunities the program offers. In addition, I am interested in pursuing Global Health opportunities, working with underserved populations, community medicine, and any way to keep improving my Spanish speaking skills! In my spare time, you can always find me hanging out with my pets, learning a new craft, exploring the town, or chilling with friends and family.

Julia McIntyre, MD (she/her)

I grew up in the Bay Area and moved to northern Ohio to attend Oberlin College, where I majored in economics.  I returned to San Francisco after college to work at the UCSF Trauma Recovery Center, a free clinic that provides mental health and case management services to survivors of interpersonal violence and traumatic loss.  During my time there, I discovered that I wanted to become a physician.  I went back to Ohio to go to the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine for medical school.  I chose family medicine because I am interested in the longitudinal relationships between patients and physicians, and I think primary care providers are uniquely situated to use medicine as a tool for social justice.  A lot of my specific interests in family medicine are a reflection of the time I spent working before medical school, such as trauma-informed care, reproductive health and family planning, mental health, and care for underserved populations.  I was drawn to UNM for residency because I saw my personal values mirrored in the program.  I am thrilled to train at UNM.

Lily McKoy-Drake, DO, MPH (she/her)

My first year of medical school, I often asked myself which organ system I found most interesting and which age group I felt most drawn to serving (my answer seemed frustratingly constant: all of them!). It wasn’t until my second year that I realized my attraction to Family Medicine is less about the type of medicine practiced, but the way it is practiced. The philosophy deeply resonates with its more encompassing approach of preventing disease, treating the whole person from birth to death, the continuity of care between inpatient and outpatient settings, the focus on underserved populations and a history of advocacy and community engagement. But more than anything, I love the way Family Medicine prioritizes relationships: building partnership and honoring patient autonomy through shared decision-making rooted in quality communication. My future dream is to use these skills (along with my MPH degree and my previous work experience in health policy research and advocacy) and practice full-spectrum Family Medicine in an FQHC for underserved communities. My medical interests include chronic disease management, addiction medicine, women’s health and obstetrics, osteopathic manipulative treatment, and community medicine. I am passionate about health equity and social justice and look forward to using my research skills and understanding of healthcare policy to help improve the clinical care, health system coordination, and better advocate for my future patients. I am excited to further develop these skills through the incredible training opportunities that the University of New Mexico will offer me. And on top of that, my husband and I are thrilled to explore the beautiful Southwest!

Eliana Otero-Bell, MD (she/her)

 I grew up in Northern New Mexico and completed my undergraduate and medical school at UNM, and am so excited to have the opportunity to stay for residency! I am grateful for the opportunity to work with all types of patients of all different ages and backgrounds, each with a unique story. Throughout medical school, I realized what a privilege it is to care for people, working with them to identify what exactly it is that the medical system can provide, while also addressing social needs and advocating on behalf of our patients and for the health of our communities, and learned that oftentimes the best medicine is not “medicine” at all. I plan on becoming a full spectrum rural physician and to one day work in a critical access hospital, providing primary care, with specific focus on obstetrics, emergency stabilization and procedural medicine. I am truly honored to be staying in my home state working with the population I care so deeply about and am excited to learn so many things over the next few years that will prepare me for life as a Family Medicine Physician in rural New Mexico! 

Danielle Pohl, MD (she/her)

I grew up in Iowa and completed my undergraduate education at Iowa State University and my medical education at the University of Iowa. I entered family medicine because the opportunities are genuinely never ending, I am interested in practicing rural full-spectrum FM. My specific interests include rural/underserved and addiction medicine, procedures, reproductive health, and emergency/acute care. I’m thrilled to train at UNM because I know I am able to explore all of my interests in a supportive environment with excellent training and the program is committed to caring for (and actively improving care at an individual and systemic level) underserved populations. I am so excited to explore the beauty of NM and get to know as many people as possible! Outside of medicine I love spending time with my dog Rocco, attending concerts, camping, hiking, and rock climbing.

Claire Sava, MD (she/her)

I am a proud New Mexican and am grateful to continue my medical training at UNM. Growing up, I was provided such a wonderful view of medicine through my mother’s work as an RN and my father’s as a family physician. Seeing how they cared for others through their work piqued my interest in medicine from a young age. While completing my undergraduate degree in Denver, I became interested in harm reduction and began volunteering at a needle exchange. I also spent time working on a campaign for universal healthcare. Through these experiences my understanding of how multifaceted health is began to grow. Returning to UNM for medical school and seeing how impactful providing good primary care is, especially in an underserved state like NM, further propelled me towards family medicine. Family medicine excites me because it is versatile and looks at the broader picture of what affects one's health and quality of life. Through family medicine, I will be able to provide broad spectrum care while building relationships with my patients, which I find to be the most rewarding part. I look forward to continuing to pursue my interests which include addiction medicine, reproductive health, OB and health advocacy. 

Meagen Twyeffort, MD (she/her)

I grew up in Sandia Park, New Mexico and attended UNM for my undergraduate and medical school through the Combined BA/MD Program. During medical school, I had the opportunity to do clinical rotations in Taos, Shiprock, and Santo Domingo Pueblo. I also explored topics that I am passionate about such as helping to develop and teach health literacy classes for patients. I chose family medicine because it incorporates the ecosystem of each patient and allows me to serve as a partner and advocate for patients. I look forward to serving as a resource for patients who lack access to medical services and helping reduce barriers to health through community engagement. I am excited to educate and empower patients to become masters of their own health. My small-town background, combined with my patient care experiences in our state, has fueled my passion to train at UNM and serve our communities. I enjoy traveling with my husband, playing with our corgi-heeler pup, and RV camping with my mom. 

Eve Wiggins, MD (she/her)

Before starting medical school at the University of Washington, my now-husband and I took time off from work to drive 3800 miles from Anchorage, Alaska to Las Cruces, New Mexico (and 3800 miles back). After just a few days spent in the Land of Enchantment, I knew that I needed to come back someday to spend more time in this beautiful and interesting place. Four years later, it feels like a dream come true to be making the trip south once again, and I am thrilled that my husband and I are both returning to New Mexico to join UNM – him in emergency medicine, and me in family medicine. I chose family medicine because I want to take care of people of all ages, with a wide variety of medical concerns, and to develop relationships with my patients over time. I am especially interested in adolescent medicine, geriatric medicine, addiction medicine, reproductive health, and obstetrics.

Margaret Wisniewski, MD, MPH (she/her)

I’m excited to be joining the University of New Mexico Family Medicine Residency! I decided to pursue family medicine so that I could build long term relationships with my patients. I hope to be able address social determinants and lifestyle factors in the primary care setting to improve health. I completed a Master in Public Health before medical school and I really admired that this program prioritizes community based medicine. I am passionate about women's health and appreciate that this program has excellent exposure to obstetrics and family planning. Finally, I really valued that University of New Mexico offers truly broad spectrum family medicine training so that I can graduate well prepared! 

Harman Gill, MD (he/him)

I began to pursue a career in medicine driven by a desire to make a positive impact in my community. However, unforeseen circumstances led me on an unconventional path, which granted me the privilege to focus on personal growth and self-development. During this time, I travelled to India, where I practiced spirituality and selfless service, learning the importance of introspection, humility, and serving those less fortunate than myself. Upon returning home, I became a paramedic and served in my community. However, I realized that I wanted to continue caring for the patients I left at the hospital doors, which motivated me to pursue family medicine. Engaging in disease prevention and connecting with patients on an individual basis, while acknowledging social determinants of health is of utmost importance to me. I chose to train at UNM, knowing that I would have the opportunity to support medically underserved communities. As a family medicine physician, I aim to serve my patients with empathy, compassion, and a holistic approach to patient care. I aspire to share my values of indiscriminate healthcare and continue growing as a physician and a human being. For me, life is about the journey, not just the destination.

Susanna Basappa, MD (they/them)

I chose Family Medicine because I am a dedifferentiated person – I enjoy learning about everything, and could not choose between specialties. I also enjoy working with both adults and kiddos – for me one of the most important things is continuity of care, and getting to know and support the whole family, rather than siloed individuals. I like working with my hands, but don’t enjoy surgery culture – outpatient procedures seem just the thing. Specific areas of interest that I will pursue include: Addiction Medicine, Gender Affirming Care, and Abortion Medicine. As a Potawatomi person, I want to work with Native communities, and to support our Native relatives with Community Base Participatory Research. I was especially impressed that UNM has all of the aspects of training I was looking for, and I definitely felt that I would fit in well with the program.

Kimberly Chapman-Natewa, MD (she/her)

Keshi (Hello). I have spent my life between Zuni and Albuquerque, New Mexico. I gained a love for family medicine by observing several family doctors’ compassionate care growing up. That love continued to grow and toward the latter half of medical school, I knew where I wanted to be. I wanted to join a residency program where I could practice broad-spectrum medicine and take care of people in my home communities. UNM Family Medicine Residency is the perfect place to achieve those things. When I graduate, I plan to continue to serve the people of New Mexico, be an advocate for advancing rural and Native health, and help mentor future generations of family doctors. Aside from medicine, I love the outdoors and am constantly hooping at open gyms around Albuquerque.

Dustin Cochran, MD (he/him)

I grew up in rural Southeastern Oklahoma within the borders of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma in a town called Atoka. I attended Oklahoma State University in Stillwater where I studied Microbiology before attending medical school at the University of Oklahoma. Growing up in rural Oklahoma, I got to experience firsthand what it is like to be in a medically underserved community, and the challenges that those communities face. As a member of the Choctaw Nation I also got to experience the unique difficulties and barriers that Native Americans face when it comes to receiving adequate medical care. These experiences helped spark a desire and passion in me to work in medically underserved and Native American communities. I am very excited to have the opportunity to pursue a career in Family Medicine at the University of New Mexico because of the program's focus on underserved and Native American communities. I know that I will get the training here to prepare me to make a lasting impact within my tribe and other underserved groups. My specific medical interests within the field of Family Medicine include prenatal and postpartum care, family planning, minority and refugee healthcare, pediatrics, and procedures.

Yara Khalifa, DO, MPH (she/her)

Hello! My name is Yara and I am super excited to start this journey at UNM. I was called to the healing arts and specifically family medicine due to its large scope, inherent sense of community, and potential for grassroots revolution. I grew up in North Africa and the Arabian peninsula: moved to the Midwest and Florida and am now in Pueblo & Diné Nation. My mission in medicine and life generally is to integrate all these unique experiences and lessons I've been honored with and pay it forward with healing care. I am blessed to continue my life journey at a program that mirrors my beliefs and encourages me to expand and hone my knowledge. 

Diandra Little Dog, MD (she/her)

I grew up in San Diego, CA and my education has taken me all over the country from San Diego to Virginia to Minnesota where I graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School. I chose Family Medicine because I want to be able to establish long-lasting and trusting relationships with my patients while providing care across different areas of primary care. My specific interests include Public Health, addiction medicine, women’s health, and gender affirming care. I am excited to be doing residency at the University of New Mexico because it was one of the few programs in the country in an area with a significant Native population that offers everything I wanted in a Family Medicine program. I am also looking forward to exploring the Albuquerque area, learning more about the local Native cultures, and trying as much of the local cuisine as possible. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my horse, going to new restaurants and museums with my fiancé, and watching football.

Matthew Lucero, MD (he/him)

I was born and raised in Socorro, New Mexico and did my undergraduate and medical school at UNM. I am a graduate and member of the Combined BA/MD program, and my goal has always been to stay and provide culturally sensitive and comprehensive care in my home state. My passion is Social Justice, and becoming full scope Family Medicine doctor allows me to address the issue of accessibility that so many of our rural home communities face. FM allows for the continuity of care longitudinally as well as continuing to care for these patients if they are hospitalized. This specialty allows us to do prenatal care all the way to the delivery, and then care for the babies. I have a passion for working with underserved populations, including LGBTQ+ individuals and people with substance use disorders (especially those who are pregnant). I love doing as much as I can for patients and Family medicine gives me the tools to address so many different needs. I eventually want to practice in NM so UNM felt like the perfect place train among amazing faculty, and with this wonderful and diverse population.

Christian Mackey, MD (he/him)

I attended the University of Michigan for my B.S. in Psychology, my MPH in Public Health Nutrition, and for medical school. There, I cultivated interests in providing care for homeless individuals and for climate change advocacy. I feel at home with my colleagues in Family Medicine because I share with them a passion for building relationships with patients and an enthusiasm for an extensive breadth of clinical topics. I look forward to improving my clinical skills through residency, while also exploring career opportunities in research, advocacy, and medical education. The parts of the UNM Family Medicine Residency that attracted me are the opportunities in training from being a large academic training program, having a multilingual patient population, as well as being the state’s safety net health system. To me, moving to Albuquerque from the Midwest meant being closer to family, joining friends who moved to the area before me, and taking advantage of the mountainous outdoors.”

Whitney Peterson, MD (she/her)

I was born in Oklahoma and grew up in Texas before completing my undergraduate at Oklahoma State University. I worked as a medical assistant in a primary care internist office in Stillwater, OK, where I was first exposed to primary care in a more rural setting. As a member of the Cherokee Nation, I utilized tribal health facilities for my personal primary care needs during my undergraduate years, where I learned more about the health disparities that indigenous populations face. I attended medical school at Georgetown University, where I continued to pursue my interests in public health within medically-underserved communities as an AHEC Scholar. After completing a family medicine rotation with IHS in Gallup, NM, I was inspired by the physicians with whom I worked and desired to return to the southwest to complete my residency at UNM. I chose family medicine because I believe that its broad-spectrum training would allow me to serve all patients of all ages and identities, especially within marginalized populations. Additionally, I am drawn to the many unique opportunities in family medicine to become involved as a leader in community health. My interests in family medicine include reproductive health, addition medicine, and indigenous health.

Erika Rios-Casillas, DO (she/her)

I was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM and I’m excited to begin my training as a family medicine resident at the University of New Mexico. I completed my undergraduate studies in Biology and Spanish at UNM, and medical degree at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine.  My experience growing up in a neighborhood with limited access to health care motivated me to serve my community after college. For 10 years I worked at Casa de Salud, a non profit organization in the same area I grew up in where I developed clinical and leadership skills that have helped me communicate and connect with patients and their families. It is through my work at Casa that I found family medicine a rewarding field of practice in which I get to create long lasting relationships - from children, adults, to the abuelitas. I have a strong interest in community medicine, women’s health, and addiction medicine. I am a recipient of the National Health Service Corps Scholarship and I am committed to continue working in limited access to health care areas in our state.  UNM’s training will undoubtedly help me achieve my goals as I continue to learn and grow both personally and professionally. 

Korazon Romero, MD (she/her)

Family Medicine was a career that I knew would allow me to build meaningful relationships with patients over many generations. Having interests in preventative medicine, women’s health and ob, pediatrics, addiction medicine and more made Family Medicine a perfect fit for me. I grew up in rural New Mexico, and having the ability to train full spectrum to be able to return and serve a rural community was always a goal. I love Family Medicine for the approach they take to patient care, always taking into account social factors and thinking of ways to help combat issues outside of medicine that affect health. Training in New Mexico means connecting with a patient population that is diverse, connected through many different beautiful cultures, and unfortunately underserved. To me, being a physician in New Mexico means being ready to treat anything that comes through the hospital/clinic doors to some extent and that exposure during residency was exactly the training I felt I needed to best serve my patients in the future.

Isaiah Sommers, MD (he/him)

I grew up in Cambridge MA and went to Wash U in St. Louis for undergrad. After graduating I worked for several years in education and community health, before completing my premedical prerequisites at Bryn Mawr College and going to the University of Chicago for medical school. In my clinical training on the South Side of Chicago, I saw where our tools for addressing medical and social needs come up short, particularly for patients from historically marginalized backgrounds. I went into family medicine to advocate for patients and promote health equity, through a full-scope practice including outpatient procedures, prenatal care, obstetrics, and health policy. My partner and I couples matched to UNM (she is an EM resident!), and we are thrilled to train alongside colleagues who have similar values and aspirations. Outside of the clinic, you can find me riding or tinkering with my bike, in the mountains hiking and backpacking, convincing my partner that we don’t need another cat, and on a basketball court trying not to sprain an ankle. 

Erika Strickler, MD (she/her)

Hi everyone! My name is Erika, and I'm a first-generation Filipina-American from Sacramento, California. I chose family medicine because she likes the scope of care I can provide, and I love that it empowers me to use one of my core talents -- connecting with people -- in my everyday practice of medicine. Family medicine is also one of the few specialties that really focuses on addressing structural violence and the way it affects our patients; this was especially clear to me on my interview day at UNM, and a huge reason I've decided to attend residency here. In addition, the unique cultural landscape, the diverse patient population, the spirit of the desert, and the obvious passion of my co-residents to provide culturally-competent, comprehensive care to the people of New Mexico were all reasons I've chosen to attend residency at UNM. I look forward to growing and learning in an environment that will encourage me to not just become a good physician, but a trusted community member. 

Sarah Stroup, MD (she/her)

I grew up in Colorado and felt confident coming into medical school that Family Medicine would be the specialty for me! I am passionate about spending time in the communities I live and work in and love to see how medicine can be woven into daily life, not just inside the clinic walls. Before medical school, I spent 2 years in the Peace Corps living in Rwanda and working on maternal and child health projects. Collaborating with Community Health Workers in Rwanda certainly reinforced my interests in Community Medicine and reminded me that the lifelong relationships built through shared experience are what I value most in this career. I am so excited train at UNM and learn from this wonderful patient population in Albuquerque. Though I plan to practice full-scope Family Medicine, I am especially interested in reproductive justice and ensuring that comprehensive women’s health care is a part of my residency training while here at UNM. Though this means a move for me, my partner Greg and our dog Pancake, the similar climate and cultures to our home in Denver will definitely ease this adjustment. I cannot wait to start my UNM residency journey!

Alyssa Villacres, MD (she/her)

What excites me most about joining the Family Medicine specialty is becoming a part of a community of physicians and other healthcare professionals who share my values and my vision for what healthcare can be. As a family doc I have the opportunity to build long-term trust with other people and their families both during the times they are healthy, and when they are not. This career allows me to offer to patients a partnership with their doctor where their needs, no matter how daunting, are met with openness and determination. To my core, I believe every human being should be given a chance to engage meaningfully with high-quality, patient-centered healthcare, and walk away feeling listened to and cared for. I have a lot of big dreams and idealism that often clash with the reality of medical care. But I am also driven by my lived experience that with this foundation in medical knowledge along with my simple humanity, I can make a difference for others in even the smallest ways. I look forward to being further inspired and grounded by my resident physician peers, the UNM faculty, and my patients in Albuquerque.

Santa Fe 1+2 Interns

Kayla Brown, MD

I grew up in Austin, Texas, and completed my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences at Texas A&M University. Prior to medical school, I worked as a medical assistant, scribe, and travel scribe trainer. This experience solidified my interest in medicine and desire to care for underserved, marginalized, and vulnerable populations. While attending medical school at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine in Arkansas, I realized the broad scope of family medicine and unique patient-physician relationships would best allow me to serve and advocate for my patients. I was drawn to the UNM - Santa Fe/Northern New Mexico FMRP by its supportive community, commitment to patient care, advocacy opportunities, and combination of university-based and community settings. Within family medicine, I am particularly interested in sexual and reproductive health, gender-affirming care, health policy advocacy, behavioral health, and wilderness medicine. In my free time, I enjoy checking out local restaurants, console gaming, and exploring the great outdoors with my Weimaraner, Strudel. I'm super excited to be a part of the UNM family and experience all that New Mexico has to offer!

Frances Chàves, MD

Sangmin Choe, MD

I was born and raised in Busan, South Korea and spent most of my career out of medical school as a clinical pharmacologist. I have always been fascinated by the way that different individuals respond to medication. In my previous role, I focused on quantifying human response to medication and developing models to predict outcomes based on different factors such as age, gender, size, and organ functions. Variabilities do not only occur between different individuals but also within the same individual over time. Age, disease state, and lifestyle changes can all affect a person's response to treatment. By working as a family practitioner, I will be able to put faces to the demographic data that I once worked with. I will have the opportunity to build lasting relationships with my patients and gain a deeper understanding of each patient's unique situation. I believe that this personal approach to patient care is crucial for providing the best possible health care to each individual. In my leisure time, I enjoy spending time outdoors, whether it be hiking, paddling, or snowboarding. Exploring the natural beauty of the land of enchantment is something that I am very much looking forward to.

Selena Gallegos, DO

I was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada and completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Nevada, Reno. During my time there I attended many free pop-up clinics throughout rural Nevada and even in Lima, Peru. Through this experience, I saw first-hand the positive impact patient-centered care had on communities. I, then, attended medical school at the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Las Cruces. My family has resided in New Mexico for hundreds of years. It is a place I have come to know and love for its rich culture and beautiful landscapes. I look forward to serving patients in New Mexico as I train to be a full-spectrum family medicine physician. My clinical interest include: global health, Latinx health, and geriatrics.

Montserrat Hernandez, MD

I was born in a city close to Barcelona, Spain. My unschooled parents emigrated there from the rural south. I began my career in health sciences as a registered nurse and moved into midwifery before becoming a medical graduate. The first time I visited the United States, in 2012, I learned first hand about the many contradictions within the U.S. medical system. As an international medical graduate, I always viewed the U.S. medical system as being of exceptional quality, technologically advanced, and a foremost leader in medical innovation and research. I still believe these things to be true; but I have also learned about stark health disparities by race, ethnicity and geography, as well as the disquieting conditions of extreme poverty. I became passionate about studying in the U.S. and contributing to this country’s medical system. I am excited by the idea of training as a family medicine physician and have a special interest in women's health, global health and preventative medicine. I am honored with the opportunity to train at UNM, a program grounded in a core and driving ethos of advancing health equity and with unparalleled strengths in my areas of interest.

Ivonne Veli Cornelio, MD

I was born in Lima, Peru. I have developed a strong sense of commitment to serving communities through my work in the eastern Andes. I am a medical graduate from the University of San Martín de Porres in Lima, Peru, and I was an attending physician at a primary healthcare center in Catalunya, Spain after completing a family medicine residency in Santander, Spain.  In 2019, I relocated to Albuquerque, and I have since become involved in various assignments with the medical reserve corps (MRC). As a volunteer with the Department of Health of New Mexico, I have been actively engaged in the recent pandemic response efforts, including vaccination distribution and education. Serving other Hispanic communities in my native language is particularly fulfilling. I chose the UNM- Santa Fe “1+2” residency program to enhance my medical knowledge, clinical skills and to make a meaningful impact on underserved communities. 

Shiprock 1+2 Interns

Zara Karuman, MD

Ever since rotating at the IHS Hopi Healthcare Center as a first-year medical student I have been looking for ways to continue my training in the southwest region. I was inspired by the scope of full-spectrum family medicine practice that I saw on that rotation. I’m particularly interested in osteoporosis and frailty in the elderly. I’ve done a general surgery intern year and would be excited to do outpatient procedures.

Adrienne Lee, MD

I think relationships are the most important things in life, and I'm driven by stories. My curiosity about and fascination with others' stories has led me to family medicine, through which I hope to step even more into my identity as a fierce patient advocate, provider of nonjudgmental care, and promoter of patient empowerment. I look forward to learning and growing as a physician and as a person, and to working with and serving the community around Albuquerque and Shiprock.