| Medical School: University of Queensland | Career Goals: Child Neurology |
| Hometown: Columbus, Ohio | Email: sotterson@salud.unm.edu |
Why UNM is My Choice for Residency: I chose to rank UNM highly because of the people. Yes, there was a significant appeal to the nearby mountains, the desert climate, and the opportunity to explore a new part of the country. But the thing that struck me immediately, and still had me talking about UNM days after my interview, was the connection that I felt with the residents and attendings after speaking with them. The group was very diverse in their interests outside of medicine, but all had a strong passion for patient care and service. I had rarely met a physician who articulated the importance of bearing witness to patients and families even on those occasions when we cannot "fix" what is wrong. At UNM, I've found many doctors who openly discuss this philosophy and practice it in their patient care. I wanted to come here because I felt that the program would foster a similar capacity in me as I move forward in my medical career.
Favorite Things About UNM: Hands down, the best thing about UNM is the people I get to work with. They make everything about the job easier and help bring variety to my days.
Favorite Things About NM: I love the gorgeous scenery and sunrise/sunset as I'm driving to or from work, occasionally with hot air balloons on the horizon. I like to spend time with my friends, whether it's hiking the Sandias, playing with my dog, or eating a meal and playing a board game together. Pre-COVID, I also liked exploring the eating scene around Albuquerque and finding new favorite taco trucks or watering holes. I look forward to getting the opportunity to do that again in a post-vaccine era!