Mary Schmidt, DO

Why UNM is My Choice for Residency: When starting the application process, my Pediatric Department chair raved about how all of the students she knew that interviewed at UNM absolutely loved the program - so I applied! I received the interview and had a great experience. Although we were not able to travel in person to interview due to COVID, I was able to get a sense of the closeness of the residents and attendings during my interview day. I felt the residents on the call were so much like me and would be wonderful co-residents. I had only been to New Mexico once before when I was six, so I had no idea what to expect when I moved! Every morning, when I drive to work and see hot air balloons floating in the sky paired with the rising sun over the mountains in my rearview mirror, I can’t believe I get to live somewhere so beautiful. Each day going to work to help and learn from a diverse patient population along side happy, supportive, and intelligent residents is everything I was looking for in a program. I’m so happy to be at UNM!