I was born at a very young age in the great state of Minnesota, where (as Garrison Keillor says) all the women are strong, all the men are good looking, and all the children are above average. Unfortunately, because my parents are not from Minnesota and I was not born a girl, I am neither strong, nor good looking, nor above average. Thankfully, Minnesotans are a very accepting lot and I have found Arizonians to be even more so. I went to undergrad at Wheaton College near Chicago, spent a few years working with teens in rural Alaska, and then spent some great years as a youth pastor back home. I supported my ministry habit by working as a coffee barista, security guard, bus driver, and construction worker (not all at the same time). I finally went back to school and did my premedical classes at the University of Minnesota. I then worked as an Emergency Medicine Scribe while applying for medical school, which confirmed for me that talking to patients and helping them get better is the best job in the entire world! I went to Ben-Gurion University in Israel, and later worked for five months in Tanzania doing family medicine at a small mission hospital. I first checked out the U of A Family Medicine Residency Program at the suggestion of a good friend and medical school classmate who was a resident here. I talked to many former classmates about their various residency experiences and they all had nice things to say, but my friend absolutely RAVED about his experience at the U of A. When I interviewed here, the things he was saying seemed to be true. I found approachable, strongly academic faculty who are eager to teach; a wonderful patient population from many cultures including recently immigrated folks from multiple continents (I admit, unfortunately, I have yet to have a patient from Antarctica); a solid group of residents who are bright, fascinating people, who are happy to be where they are and truly compassionate towards their patients and colleagues; emphasis on international and integrative medicine; and a beautiful location with lots of hiking, good food, and sunshine. Almost any residency can put on a good face during interview season, but after several months on the ground here in Tucson, I can honestly say that the UAFMRP delivers what it promises. When I'm not post-call, I'm extremely grateful to be here.
