Christian Wesley Barr, MD, MPH
Where are you from?
I was born in New Jersey, but I grew up in Albuquerque, NM.
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine?
I was really excited about the Global Health program here at Banner, and I loved the fact that there was a specific track for Rural Medicine. I also really wanted the opportunity to improve my Spanish!
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson?
I love hiking and I’ve always loved the desert, but mostly I’m just looking forward to a winter that doesn’t get too cold!
What are your interests or hobbies outside of Medicine?
I absolutely love music. I play guitar and piano, and I’m a passable drummer. I’m a big baseball fan, though unfortunately I’ve chosen to root for the Mets (who aren’t very good). Finally, I have a very sweet dog: a mix between a Boxer and German shepherd named Arthur who I love to take on walks or out to play ball at the park.
What are your professional interests within Medicine?
My biggest interests in medicine are Global health, substance abuse medicine and hospital medicine.
Favorite way to spend a day off?
Finding a new hiking trail here in Tucson with my dog!
Top item on your "Bucket list"?
Number one on my bucket list hast been the same for years: I’d like to go to a game at every Major League Baseball stadium in America. Currently I have 7 down, 23 to go!
Chane Cilliers, MD
Where are you from?
Germiston South Africa originally before moving to the Bay Area in California
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine?
I chose UA family medicine due to the different opportunities afforded to the residents through the programs such as being able to work with refugees, learn Spanish, take part in a global health track and still have other opportunities to explore other avenues such as hospitalist medicine, obstetrics and women’s health.
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson?
Tucson is known for its food so I am very excited to try all of the different types of cuisine in the city. I am also very excited by all of the hiking and chances to be outside.
What are your interests or hobbies outside of Medicine?
Painting, hiking and tennis
What are your professional interests within Medicine?
My professional interests include full spectrum family medicine, women’s/ reproductive health and global health.
Favorite way to spend the day off?
Sleeping, hiking, hanging out with my dog
Top item on your “Bucket list”?
The top item on my bucket list is to visit every country in the world.
Ryan James Imber, MD
Where are you from?
Byers, CO
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine?
The opportunity to be at an academic center with some community settings mixed in and getting to experience different rural/underserved areas in the state that my wife and I plan to live in permanently.
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson?
Experiencing all the different cuisines
What are your interests or hobbies outside of Medicine?
Being Active in anyway, but especially lifting weights, playing basketball, and playing some golf. My wife and I have no problem spending a lot of our money on food
What are your professional interests within Medicine?
Rural and under-resourced medicine, Sports Medicine
Favorite way to spend a day off?
Sleeping in, doing something physically active, hanging out with my wife
Top item on your "Bucket list"?
Visit every MLB stadium
Julia Lai, MD
Where are you from?
Pittsburgh, PA
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine?
I am looking forward to working for an FQHC in a rural region after completing residency. The UA FM south campus track will prepare me well for those experience by training at Abrams clinic (an FQHC itself) and gaining exposure by working in different types of rural sites for rotations throughout my 3 years of residency and learn through our program’s collaboration with Arizona AHEC.
I was also particularly interested in the Community Medicine Track as well as the Mobile Health Program our residency has to offer. With my prior background in street medicine, I want to continue building experiences and seek out opportunities to give primary care as well as prenatal care to uninsured patients/families.
Lastly, the UA Integrative Medicine curriculum has a lot to offer to residents and their patients. Having only had minimal to moderate exposure to Medical Nutrition and Lifestyle Medicine, I would like to increase my knowledge base and skillset through the curriculum at UA in order to serve patients better.
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson?
The sun!
What are your interests or hobbies outside of Medicine?
Dog training, animal rearing, indoor house plants
What are your professional interests within Medicine?
Working with underserved populations, community medicine, mobile health, street medicine, integrative medicine
Favorite way to spend a day off?
By the pool
Top item on your "Bucket list"?
By end of residency, I want to be able to grow my own herb garden and raising/keeping quails in the backyard
Leira Joy Lew, MD
Where are you from?
I was born in TN, lived in OR, VA, FL, and then came to Phoenix, AZ when I was 10 years old.
I flew off to West Michigan for the past ten years for undergrad and med school.
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine?
1) I was drawn by the strong mission and commitment to:
- cultural humility and diversity programming by the FMR and GME as a whole here.
- social justice and disability medicine
- global health in their own backyard. This was huge to me.
2) It also happened that in my fourth year, I was exposed to a lot more integrative medicine and so it seems it was meant to be!
3) Lastly, my family is in Phoenix!
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson?
1) Where do I start?! – This is the first place I have studied as an adult in a drivable distance (2 hours to Phoenix) to my family, so I’m excited to reconnect more frequently after many years away.
2) I confess I did not take the City of Gastronomy title seriously when I first heard of it, but have been blown away by the amazing food adventures here and the hippy dippy nature of Tucson!
3) The sun! It is so good for mental health, as much as I loved my time in Michigan.
What are your interests or hobbies outside of Medicine?
I love martial arts, camping, watching soccer, and cooking with friends at our homes! Our intern class has grown tight and I’m so grateful to have them in my life.
What are your professional interests within Medicine?
Global health (shout out to SNMA global health fellows!), disability medicine, ADHD research, diversity programming.
Favorite way to spend a day off?
1) Lately, it has been to drive 16 miles into Mount Lemmon in Tucson and hiking its green forests, incredible mountain range vista points, and fish-able lakes! It feels like a temperate, Michigan forest up there in the middle of the summer!
2) To cook together and share a meal at a coworker’s house. The interns and upperclassmen/paired mentors have been nothing but supportive and welcoming!
Top item on your "Bucket list"?
1) Take some friends to the Heard Museum in Phoenix! It is an incredible place to learn about the history and culture of indigenous communities in Arizona.
2) Stargaze at night in Sabino Canyon
Najayah Niami, MD
Where are you from?
I was born in North Carolina but call Arizona home.
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine?
I chose UA Family Medicine to return to Tucson and work within the community I call home. I did an away rotation at UA and appreciated the encouragement and support faculty and staff showed learning residents. Furthermore, I connected with UA’s mission to cultivate well-rounded, culturally competent physicians dedicated to providing top care to underserved and rural communities.
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson?
I am most looking forward to returning to Tucson for the amazing food. Beyond that, I love any and all outdoor activities, and Arizona has plenty!
What are your interests or hobbies outside of Medicine?
I have recently gotten into podcasts and love a good true crime podcast. I also love reading - mainly thriller/mystery novels. Beyond that, I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking, boating, etc. I just love being in the sun in general.
What are your professional interests within Medicine?
I am particularly interested in global and public health within the scope of family medicine.
Favorite way to spend a day off?
I would either spend the day being active and outside in the sun or inside relaxing and reading a book - depends on the day.
Top item on your "Bucket list"?
My top “Bucket list” item at the moment is visiting and exploring Egypt.
Maria Van Gundy, MD
Where are you from?
Arcola, Illinois
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine?
I attended the National AAFP conference in Kansas City and felt that this program offered everything I was looking for including a focus on rural rotations, serving a diverse and underserved population, as well as the Spanish Language/Health Disparities Track. I also appreciate the mix of academic and community medicine!
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson?
Trying the amazing foodies, sunny days, having family and friends visit, and developing relationships with co-residents and patients
What are your interests or hobbies outside of Medicine?
Dancing, cooking, baking, traveling, peloton, attending concerts, and improving my Spanish
What are your professional interests within Medicine?
Rural Medicine, Women’s Health, Global Health, Refugee Health, and Community Health education
Favorite way to spend a day off?
Sleeping in followed by spending the day at the spa getting a massage! I also enjoy trying new restaurants and experiences around Tucson.
Top item on your "Bucket list"?
Sky diving
David Yang, MD
Where are you from?
Durham, North Carolina.
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine?
I hope to work among underserved populations in the future and felt this was a strong component of the UA FM residency program. I appreciate the supportive, academic environment and the opportunities for full-spectrum training in rural and low-resource areas. It’s a wonderful program and I am grateful to be here.
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson?
I enjoy the diversity of the city. Since its only an hour away from the border, there is a large Spanish-speaking population. I hope to be able to practice and improve my Spanish!
What are your interests or hobbies outside of Medicine?
Bike-riding, trying new food.
What are your professional interests within Medicine?
Clinical informatics, POCUS, preventative medicine.
Favorite way to spend a day off?
Probably go to the beach.
Top item on your "Bucket list"?
I’d love to visit Taiwan again (where my parents are from).