Autumn: ever since I can remember this has been my favorite season. The reason I love autumn is that during this season the world transforms and renews itself. After moving to Tucson 8 years ago, I was excited that even in our desert landscape there are places to find classic Autumn experiences. My family and I have made it an annual tradition to go and enjoy the autumn colors and the sound of leaves crunching under our feet as we walk along the forest trails of the Coronado National Forest on Mt. Lemmon. Autumn is also the time when my kids return to school, and when the house resumes its normal school-year flow. This flow in my home involves waking the kids up on weekday mornings and having them ask for 5 more minutes of sleep, after school homework assignments, and intentionally carving out time for my family to reconnect after our busy weeks of school and work on the weekends.

Professionally, Autumn marks the beginning of the annual residency cycle. The intern class we worked hard to recruit is now here and settled into our residency family. Our 2nd year residents are adjusting to life as senior residents, realizing and reflecting on how much they’ve learned as interns and how much more there is to know before graduation and beyond as family medicine physicians. And, our 3rd year residents are preparing for life beyond residency, experiencing a normal mix of great enthusiasm with some trepidation of next steps. This is also the time of year that we often welcome new faculty members and are excited to have them join our residency family.

Autumn marks the beginning of the recruitment of a new intern class. This process of sharing the best parts of our program with interested students is affirming and reinvigorating for all of us involved as it is a time to reflect on what makes our program unique and strong, including our innovative outpatient curriculum, our strong inpatient curriculum, our commitment to caring for the most vulnerable populations in our community, and our continued support and focus on of the diversity of our program.

To continue to be innovative, collaborative, and true to our mission, we also take this time to think thoroughly about the things we want to improve. This year, we have chosen to adopt the theme of “Back to Basics,” a theme that was heavily influenced by the fact that for the past 18 months, and into the foreseeable future, we continue to practice, learn, and teach with the shadow of Covid-19 looming over us. Our “Back to Basics” theme is deeply embedded in our choice to focus on 4 fundamental areas of development: (1) Diversity and Inclusion; (2) Well-being of Residents and Faculty; (3) Teaching Excellence; and, (4) Strengthening Feedback and Evaluations. We are committed to maintaining these as strong pillars in our program.

I am proud and grateful to our entire residency family as we continue to support one another and our program in this time of transformation and growth. I hope that the energy of the season as we move into Autumn brings joy, hope and sense of renewal for us all.

Karyn Kolman, MD

In May, the Alvernon and South Campus residents were able to meet (in-person!) and present their scholarly projects. Due to the pandemic, all projects were put on hold and residents were not able to complete them so the residents were given the opportunity to present an expressive art piece they created, reflecting on their experiences in 2020 and what it meant to them as residents.

Alvernon Graduates:

Ambereen Ahmed, MD

Integrative Medicine Fellowship, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Nicolette Barbour, MD

MCH Fellowship, St. Elizabeth Healthcare Affiliated with University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Cincinnati, KY

Bryan Brown, DO

Campus Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

Andrew Janicki, MD

Inpatient Nocturnist, Banner Health Medical Group, Tucson, AZ

Jeiran Javaherian, DO

Outpatient Medicine, Phoenix VA Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ

Leticia Moedano, MD

Global Health Fellowship, Contra Costa/Univ of CA San Francisco, Locums Outpatient, Valleywise Federally Qualified Health Center, and Locums Inpatient, Indian Health Service Hospital, Phoenix, AZ

Jennifer Veaco, MD

National Health Service Corps. Outpatient, Phoenix, AZ

South Campus Graduates:

Javier Enrique Laguillo, MD

Rural Emergency Medicine/Inpatient at Copper Queen Community Hospital in Bisbee and Douglas, AZ

Jabez Babu John, MD

Presbyterian Hospital, Albuquerque, NM

Joseph Martin Harkins, MD

Hospitalist at Santa Cruz Regional Medical Center in Green Valley, AZ and Choices Women's Center in Tucson, AZ

Delphine Colar, DO

Pokagon Health Services, Dowagiac, MI

Connie Samantha Herrera, MD

Undecided, likely joining Chiricahua Community Health Centers, Inc., Douglas, AZ

Weston John LaGrandeur, MD

Practicing full spectrum academic medicine with Sea Mar FQHC, Seattle, WA

Sean Anthony Maiolo, MD

Pursuing a fellowship in Addiction Medicine & Toxicology

Natondra Powell, MD

Where did you relocate from?

Washington, DC, it’s my second home but originally from Georgia

How have you adjusted and what do you enjoy most about Tucson?

I love the sunshine and the heat. I usually drive with windows down so I’m pretty acclimated. The beauty and majesty of the mountains never gets old!

Do you have a favorite restaurant?

La Chaiteria

How did you unwind from the schedule of a First Year Resident?

I spent time with my daughter creating, painting, playing, attending African dance class, and can’t forget sleeping!!! Yoga, mediation, and herbal soaks also helped keep me sane.

Any advice to current First Years?

When things get challenging, and it will, remember you wanted this, you worked hard and sacrificed to be here. YOU GOT THIS!!!. No one said it would be easy. Remember that mistakes are just big lessons, learn from them, grow from them and don’t beat yourself up. Just as you practice compassion and empathy for patients do the same for yourself. Hold on to your original purpose and intention in choosing this path, you will be tested!! You’re not alone. You are supported. Be vocal. Prioritize your wellness!! You can’t pour from an empty cup. Celebrate yourself and your accomplishments regularly! Enjoy the journey!! Everything else will fall into place. These are some of my daily mini mantras! Lol!

Kela Bergren, MD

Where did you relocate from?

I officially relocated from Seattle, but am a born-and-raised Montanan.

How have you adjusted and what do you enjoy most about Tucson?

Experiencing the desert and all its beauty has been such a fun adventure! Being the Montanan that I am, I love that Tucson has a smaller-town feel to it compared to most cities.

Do you have a favorite restaurant?

One of my favorite places to visit with my co-residents is SideCar where you can order sushi from next door then enjoy a beverage-of-choice on a relaxed patio outside.

How did you unwind from the schedule of a First Year Resident?

Tucson has a fantastic mountain bike community and through it I have met some of my closest friends here. My first year, I would often find solace on Mount Lemmon biking or adventuring to Sedona and Flagstaff any weekend I had off.

Any advice to current First Years?

Always, always, always make time to do the things you love! Not only will it help protect your mental well-being during a stressful time, but often those are the memories you will remember later on.

On the Banner Health Cultivating Happiness in Medicine (CHIM) website there are available self-care resources for physicians during this time of COVID-19 pandemic: Self-Care for Faculty and Residents

Fabiana Kotovicz, MD

1.Where did you go to medical school and which residency?

University of Sao Paulo Medical School (Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Sao Paulo), Brazil

2.How long have you been teaching?

I have been teaching residents and medical students as a faculty for the last seven years but I was very involved in medical education as a chief resident as well.

3.What do you enjoy most about teaching residents?

Teaching residents and medical students makes me a much better physician. I don’t believe that they realize how much faculty learn from working with them. Everyone has their own strengths from communication skills with patients to specific clinical skills and it is very important to be humble and open to learn from our colleagues and learners.

4.How do you de-stress? Any hobbies?

Being in contact with nature is my way to de-stress. A walk to the closest park or a trip to a National Forest/Park are the most powerful ways for me to recharge.

5.What do you enjoy most about Tucson?

The magical landscape. I find the desert landscape a symbol of resilience and grace and I find myself very fortunate for being able to experience so many different places and cultures so far.

6.Do you have a favorite restaurant?

I haven’t had a chance to visit many restaurants in Tucson yet but my favorite places to dine at this time are in the Marriot Star Pass ­­­­­not only because of the food (which is good) but because of the wonderful mountain and city views.

7.Any words of wisdom for current residents?

Keep your clinical curiosity high when caring for patients, this will help you become a better physician and provide the excellent care that we all deserve. Don’t let clinical inertia dominate your practice, bring clinical questions based on evidence-based medicine and shared decision making.

Elizabeth Kyle Meehan, MD

1.Where did you go to medical school and which residency?

Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, PA; UCSF-SFGH Family Medicine Residency in San Francisco, CA

2. How long have you been teaching?

Since 2013

3. What do you enjoy most about teaching residents?

I love working with residents to help them accomplish their goals within medicine and watching them grow their medical knowledge, clinical skills and professional leadership while maintaining their unique sparks throughout residency. It is amazing to see where our graduates end up and to know the ripple effect that they have on future learners and patient communities after graduating from our program.

4. How do you de-stress? Any hobbies?

Being with my family—especially my husband Niall and our 3 children Makai (5yo), Talcott (almost 4yo), and Heath (1yo) is most important to me and helps me de-stress. My children are very funny, lively, and time with them fills my soul and makes me laugh a lot. We spend a lot of time as a family in nature, hiking and exploring. Seeing the world through my children’s eyes is a blast. Lately we have been finding lots of caterpillars and are working to identify what they are and what type of moth or butterfly they will become. I love live music and dancing. I am fairly artistic and love to draw. I also write a lot of letters to friends and family all over the world to stay in touch despite the distance. My happy place is on a beach with good bodysurfing waves and shells. My family loves to listen to Hawaiian Reggae and imagine we are on a beach when we do.

5. What do you enjoy most about Tucson?

The outdoors and the near year-round ability to be outside. The night skies, sunrises and sunsets are unparalleled.

6. Do you have a favorite restaurant?

Tumerico

7. Any words of wisdom for current residents?

Residency is an experience where the days are long but the years are short and it passes in a blink of an eye. Your time in residency is the time to set the foundation for your career and is the launch point for your career. This is your time to experiment with your practice style, how to ascertain new medical knowledge and try out different avenues of family medicine to figure out how you want to practice and what scope you want to have in the future. The more open-minded and excited you are to learn the more fun these years will be.

Reach Out and Read promotes childhood literacy by providing age appropriate books to children during their doctor visit. In the past, the ROR program has been sustained through community sources of funding but these sources have dwindled in the past year.

You can write a check payable to: UAF/Family Medicine. In the memo write: Alvernon Reach Out and Read or Alvernon ROR.

Checks can be mailed to:

Department of Family and Community Medicine

P.O. Box 210491 Tucson, AZ 85711

David Rollins, MD, Alvernon Track

Class of 1983

It does not seem possible that nearly 40 years have passed since I finished my residency. Both our children were born during that time, Dan in March of the first year and Jenn in July just after I finish the third year.

Six weeks after Jenn was born, Joanne and I traveled back to our home state of California, and I set up a full-spectrum family practice, including deliveries, in Northern California. I had a great 10 years in the practice but it proved very difficult on family life so I transitioned into urgent care, working both as a clinician (85% time) and as urgent care director (15% time).  While working in urgent care, I found (somewhat to my surprise) that I enjoyed occupational medicine. There is an investigative part of occupational medicine that appealed to me and I have been doing that for the past 18 years here in Modesto, CA.

Now at age 68, still in full time practice, I am ready to wind down but not go out. Our son has two daughters, ages 6 and 4, in Seattle. Our daughter has a son and two daughters, ages 10, 7, and 3, in Houston. Like many in our phase of life, we find grandparenting is a great joy and just can’t get enough of it.  Wanting to be closer to family, we are in the process of moving to the Houston area where I plan to capitalize on my grandparenting skills and reduce my professional life to 2 days a week.

Joanne and I (now at 43 years of marriage) love to travel and intend to do more of it as my work duties decrease. My passion is bicycling and you’ll find me either on my Cervelo road bike or my Peloton 3 or 4 times a week. Hiking is also great fun and my conquests include Mt. Shasta, Mt. Whitney, and Half Dome (the backside… not the face!).

I often reflect back on my education and training. Although I can remember some very tough times, it has served me well and I remain thankful for the career choices I made along the way.

Hello! I would like to start off by addressing my recent residency colleagues: trust your training, it has already served me well and don’t worry there is a great life waiting for you after residency!  After graduating from residency in June of 2021, I took a much needed 2 month break from medicine by decompressing, traveling and catching up with my family.  The COVID 19 pandemic took a toll on our residency, community and nation as a whole but I am proud of how we responded during that time to provide care to our Southern Arizona Community.  Now, with a different perspective in my new home city of Seattle (that was less affected by COVID), I see how amazingly we did by providing care in a relatively low resource and anxiety inducing time.  Being the chief resident during that time was an experience I will never forget.

Now in my new Pacific Northwest home, I am practicing full spectrum family medicine with the Sea Mar Community Health Centers.  While I have only worked for around 2 months, I have learned that my training at UofA South Campus has made me a strong, curious and compassionate provider.  Working in an FQHC with a large underinsured, underserved Spanish speaking population I feel a connection to the population we serve in South Tucson and I am greatly enjoying it.  The other aspect of my job that I have really enjoyed is sitting on the other side of the table as I supervise residents from the Swedish Cherry Hill Family Medicine Residency on their inpatient service.  I have always loved teaching and am pleased I can scratch that itch with my current position.  I hope that this translates into a full time academic appointment at some point in my career.

Seattle has been quite the change from my past 7 years in Tucson, it is very green, very wet and much bigger!  Seattle was the destination for my wife and two dogs as my wife is currently a second year resident at the Virginia Mason Anesthesiology Program.  A two physician household presents many time constraints but my wife and I have loved and prioritized spending time in the great outdoors, testing out the local beer scene and figuring out how to avoid traffic.  I often miss Tucson and my South Campus Family and reflect on the many great friendships and bonds I made while there. Who knows where life will take us next, but The Old Pueblo is definitely on our short list!