Class of 2025

Medical school: Drexel University College of Medicine

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona

Favorite things to do outside the hospital: Live music, reading books, watching movies/sports, exploring nature.

What led you to choose family medicine as a specialty? I wanted a path to sports medicine that would allow me to train in many different areas of medicine and form a strong bond with the community I serve.

Why did you choose El Paso to train for residency? I wanted to live in the desert in an area close to the border of Mexico, to experience a new culture.

Professional/clinical interests: Sports medicine, ultrasound-guided procedures.

Favorite quote/movie/TV show/book: Quote: Romans 12: 20, 21; Movie: Dune (2021); Book: Kodua’s Ark

Random fact about yourself: I love cats.

Plans after residency: Sports medicine fellowship and the unknown…

Medical School: Semmelweis University

Hometown: Woodstock, Canada

Favorite things to do outside the hospital: Be outdoors! Bike, hike, yoga, work out, travel when possible.

What led you to choose family medicine as a specialty? I love working with the diverse cases that family medicine offers, the range of ages from pediatrics through geriatrics, and building relationships through continuity of care.

Why did you choose El Paso to train for residency? After visiting friends in El Paso, I immediately fell in love with the mountains, unique desert landscape full of palm trees and cacti, welcoming community, Hispanic culture, and sunny weather (year-round). As I learned more about the TTUHSC El Paso family medicine program, El Paso continued to become more appealing to me, and during the campus tours and interview, all the good things I heard about the program were quickly reinforced in-person by the residents and faculty. These experiences combined made it easy to rank El Paso as my top choice.  

Professional/clinical interests: Sports medicine

Favorite quote/movie/TV show/book:  The Office / Breaking Bad

Random fact about yourself: I’m the only Canadian-born in my family!

Plans after residency: Pursue a sports medicine fellowship.

Medical school: Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara

Hometown: Katy, Texas  

Favorite things to do outside the hospital: Traveling, country dancing, catching up with family and friends, and hanging out with my cat daughters Miso and Sushi.

What led you to choose family medicine as a specialty? I love that family medicine provides that continuity of care from "cradle to grave" and am able to treat all members of the family. I enjoy being able to educate patients in the outpatient setting but also have the flexibility to practice medicine at the hospital. I really enjoyed my pediatrics, OB, and internal medicine rotations during medical school and didn't want to give up any of those patient populations.

Why did you choose El Paso to train for residency? From the first time I visited El Paso, I fell in love with the mountains and the community this border town has. Being bilingual, I wanted to be in an area where I can further practice my Spanish and feel confident in explaining medical conditions to my patients in both languages. All of the residents I met were so friendly and welcoming when I came for a program tour. 

Professional/clinical interests: Outpatient and hospitalist work, obesity medicine, preventative care, sports medicine

Favorite quote/movie/TV show/book: Proverbs 3:5-6.    Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 

TV show: Grey's Anatomy (I know, so stereotypical of me.)

Book: Anything I can listen to on the Audible app.

Random fact about yourself: There is a video somewhere on the internet of me hyperventilating before my first bungee jumping experience. 

Plans after residency: I would like to work both in the inpatient setting as a hospitalist and outpatient. I want to eventually open up my own clinic. I enjoy learning about health care in other countries around the world, so I would want to continue to do medical mission trips when possible.

Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine

Hometown: Los Angeles, California

Favorite things to do outside the hospital: Building marble runs with my daughter and blowing giant bubbles with my son.

What led you to choose family medicine as a specialty? The diverse demographic of patients we see is what attracted me to family medicine. Feeling energized at the end of a long day is what let me know it was my calling.

Why did you choose El Paso to train for residency? I have always had an interest in global health. El Paso is located near the Mexican border, and I wanted to work with patients from Juárez. I chose this residency because I wanted to strengthen my cultural competency to fulfill my future professional dreams. I always envisioned building a practice that is particularly sensitive to the challenges of immigrant people in accessing health care.

Professional/clinical interests:

(1) Becoming proficient in LGBTQ adolescence medicine

(2) Researching and publishing on cultural beliefs and their influence on clinical outcomes

(3) Becoming medically proficient in providing dignified, holistic quality of care to older people

Favorite quote/movie/TV show/book: The Wire

Random fact about yourself: During college, I backpacked through South America.

Plans after residency: Geriatrics fellowship

Medical School: University of Medicine and Health Sciences

Hometown: Levittown, Puerto Rico

Favorite things to do outside the hospital: I love reading, going to the gym, swimming, hiking, and playing with my pets. I also enjoy going to the movies and love to watch documentaries.

What led you to choose family medicine as a specialty? I chose family medicine because of the broad scope of care and the relationship I get to build with patients and their families.

Why did you choose El Paso to train for residency? I chose El Paso because I wanted to help people in underserved, Hispanic communities.

Professional/clinical interests: Sports medicine and nutrition

Favorite quote/movie/TV show/book:  

Quote: “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted” -Aesop

Movie: Pan’s Labyrinth

Book: Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

Random fact about yourself: I’m a black belt in Taekwondo.

Plans after residency: Sports medicine fellowship.

Medical school: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Auburn

Hometown: Longview, Texas

Favorite things to do outside the hospital: Play with my two dogs, Lucky and Lola!

What led you to choose family medicine as a specialty? The diversity of the patient population, continuity of care, and I love preventive medicine.

Why did you choose El Paso to train for residency? The friendly people, the beautiful environment, and the culture. All the individuals I interviewed with were so friendly and sweet. I instantly knew I wanted to train here. Plus, I love the many days of pure sunshine!

Professional/clinical interests: Rural medicine, geriatrics, hospice and palliative care.

Favorite quote/movie/TV show/book:

Quote: “Whoever is happy will make others happy.” – Anne Frank

Movie: Jurassic Park

TV Show: Stranger Things

Book: To Kill a Mockingbird

Random fact about yourself: My dream is to open my own animal shelter!

Plans after residency: Geriatrics or a hospice and palliative care fellowship.

Medical school: Narayana Medical College, India

Hometown: Denver, Colorado

Favorite things to do outside the hospital: I love to travel, go on road trips and explore new places/cultures.

What led you to choose family medicine as a specialty? I like the clinical and professional diversity that family medicine offers. Establishing continuity of care and preventive care for patients is something I am passionate about.

Why did you choose El Paso to train for residency? When I visited El Paso for the first time during the interview process, I was intrigued by the friendly community, beautiful mountains and the warm weather. Everyone in the program was very welcoming, and I knew right away that this is where I belong!

Professional/Clinical Interests: Preventative medicine, integrative medicine, women's health and border health

Favorite quote/movie/TV show/book:
Quote: “Wherever you go, go with all your heart” - Confucius
Movie: The Shawshank Redemption, Finding Nemo
TV Show: Modern Family
Book: Harry Potter Series

Random fact about yourself: I used to play the cello.

Plans after Residency: I would like to pursue a women's health/obstetric fellowship and eventually start my own private practice someday.