University of New Mexico – Santa Fe Family Medicine Residency

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Class of 2027 (PGY-3)

 

Luka Abashishvili, MD

Hometown: Tbilisi, Georgia

Medical School: Tbilisi State Medical University

Why FM: From the start of medical school my desired medical specialty kept changing after almost every clinical rotation. It was during a family medicine rotation that I made the final change. During the rotation I observed a delivery and was part of the team that cared for the newborn and the mother in the hospital. Two weeks later, when I saw the same patient in an outpatient clinic, it wholly changed my perspective on the importance of continuity of care in the patient-physician relationship. It helped me realize how important it is to have the opportunity to care for every patient population, including pediatric, adult, and geriatric age groups.

Why UNM-SF: Even though most of my clinical clerkships were in Tbilisi, George, I did a family medicine elective in Santa Fe, where I learned about the program curriculum, goals, vision, and the rich culture of New Mexico. I was impressed by the faculty and residents’ enthusiasm and commitment to caring for every patient holistically, considering and addressing all facets of the patient’s well-being. The 1+2 system, which allows me to learn in academic and community settings, was another crucial factor in my decision to continue learning with UNM-SF FMRP.

Interests in medicine: Hospital medicine, sleep medicine

Hobbies: Hiking, Chess, MMA, drinking wine (with extra sophisticated demeanor)

 

Madison Kajder, MD

Hometown: Albuquerque, NM

Undergrad: University of New Mexico

Medical School: University of New Mexico

Why FM: I went into medical school knowing I wanted to be a family medicine physician. As a family medicine physician I have the privilege of building longitudinal relationships with patients, getting to know them as people, and assisting them in achieving their individual healthcare goals. I enjoy the variety in both age and pathology that I am able to encounter every day. Family medicine physicians are uniquely positioned to be leaders within communities; I am excited to be an advocate for patients both within the medical system and beyond.

Why UNM-SF: It was important for me to continue serving my community and stay in New Mexico for training. It is immensely rewarding to work within the La Familia clinic and provide care for a vulnerable and underserved population. UNM-SF FMRP also offers the perfect mix of having the support and learning opportunities offered by a large academic center like UNM while also having the last two years be in an unopposed hospital with a flexible elective curriculum. I was attracted to the focus on rural medicine electives and the advocacy and legislative block. Lastly the residents and faculty were welcoming, enthusiastic, passionate, and kind and I was excited for the opportunity to work with them.
Interests in Medicine: Reproductive health, addiction medicine, rural outpatient medicine
Favorite things to do in Santa Fe/New Mexico: Hiking, camping, concerts
Favorite Restaurants: In Albuquerque; Thai cuisine and Curry Leaf. In Santa Fe; Jambo Cafe and Zeng
Hobbies: Playing board games and video games. Sewing. Reading.

 

Ashley Newman, MD

Lead Resident – FMC

Hometown: Albuquerque, NM

Undergrad: University of New Mexico

Medical School: University of New Mexico

Ryan Rivard, DO

Hometown: Long Grove, IA

Undergrad: Augustana College (IL)

Medical School: Rocky Vista University (CO)

Why FM: I decided to do family medicine for several reasons! I’ve had an interest in serving underserved communities since high school and it felt like the most direct way to do so. I also enjoy learning about all the body systems and how they interact as an osteopath, and family medicine offers the opportunity to apply this and expand this knowledge throughout my whole career.

Why UNM-SF: Despite growing up in the Midwest I fell in love with the mountain west during medical school and the balance the outdoors provide during difficult times. I decided to move down to New Mexico for the opportunity to train in one of the most underserved areas in the country to make myself into a strong primary care provider that can provide high quality care to those who need it most. Being under the UNM umbrella also meant access to many specialists to allow me to expand my base of knowledge in different disciplines and apply that to my clinic patients at La Familia or inpatient at St. Vincent’s. At the same time, living in Santa Fe means I can unwind in the Sangre de Cristo after a tough day, running trails or skiing slopes in my backyard!

Interests in medicine: Outpatient primary care, inpatient medicine, lifestyle medicine

Hobbies: Trail running, skiing, backpacking, photography, cooking, sports

 

Daniel Sadoway, MD

Lead Resident – La Familia

Hometown: Phoenix, AZ

Undergrad: Arizona State University

Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson

Why FM: Family Medicine is the toughest, most rewarding specialty, the one that really requires you to work hard to develop the broadest possible scope of knowledge. It’s fundamentally what it means to be a doctor. Just look at our rotation schedule – one moment you’re in continuity clinic doing (among other things) psychiatry and addiction medicine, the next you’re in the ICU taking care of people on their worst day, and then you’re managing labor and delivering babies on your weekend call. There’s something different and challenging every day. And perhaps most importantly, it’s the specialty that gives you true continuity across ages and settings. You don’t just see a patient for a quick visit or consult, you get to know them, you get to prevent disease before it strikes, and you get to dive into what makes them tick so that you can work together to develop a care plan that actually works.
 
Why UNM-SF:  I wanted a strong 1+2 rural training track to get the best of both a robust academic program and a community experience, and I thought Santa Fe was unique because, unlike the vast majority of 1+2s, the sites are only an hour apart so you get to keep your same continuity clinic patients throughout all 3 years of residency. Since starting here I’ve realized how flexible it is – you really get to build your own practice. For example, I can actually get people in to see me. I’ve called a patient with a sick child after hours and slotted them into my clinic the next morning – even though I didn’t have clinic scheduled. But the program worked with me to make it happen. I’ve called a patient with lab results, heard concerning news, got them into my clinic the same day, sent them to the ED, saw them in the ED, rounded on them in the hospital once they were admitted, discharged them, and then saw them again in clinic for the hospital discharge followup. True continuity. I’ve even gone to a patient’s house to change a smoke detector – and another patient’s house to help order oxygen (and look at art). Even the ability to manage your own inbox at home without messages getting sent to a pool is a blessing in disguise, because you feel ownership over your patient panel. And through it all, I’ve had kind, knowledgeable attendings available just a text message away. I’ve talked to a lot of people at other programs and this ability to shape your practice and be there for your patients is pretty unique to Santa Fe. Also…it’s Santa Fe, one of the most beautiful places on Earth. How could you go wrong?
 
Interests in medicine:  Full spectrum rural medicine
 
Hobbies:

 

Shilpa “Chippy” Sreedharan, MD

Hometown: Rock Hill, SC

Undergrad: Emory University

Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina

Why FM: I wanted a solid foundation of comprehensive knowledge in patient care, and the ability to utilize my surgical experience in a way that allowed me to care for patients of all socioeconomic statuses. I loved the variety and flexibility of experiences offered in FM training – it is a combination of all my favorite fields in one.  
 
Why UNM-SF: The faculty truly cared about tailoring our training to our individual career goals while simultaneously encouraging prioritization of life outside of work. 
 
Interests in medicine: Procedures! Wound care, sports medicine, reproductive care, women’s health, dermatology. 
 
Hobbies: Traveling. TV, reading. Keeping plants alive. Yoga, swimming , shopping. Exploring new restaurants and bars. Anything social!

 

Darian Zubia, MD

Medical School: Escuela Latinoamericana

Class of 2028 (PGY-2)

Charles “Charlie” Adams, DO

Hometown: Omaha, NE

Undergrad: University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Medical School: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why FM: I never want to be doing the same thing every day and my interests in medicine are many. I enjoy lots of spontaneity and having the option to spend time in each of these areas of interest.
 
Why UNM-SF: Some things that most drew me to UNM were its reputation as being a great place to learn with an extraordinarily supportive environment. I also desired to move out of the states where I’ve always lived, in which many forms of medicine are illegalized. My plan has always been to combine medicine with human rights advocacy. New Mexico is a safe haven for pursuing the areas of medicine that matter most to me. It’s also free of restrictive bathroom laws like where I come from. Last but certainly not least, Santa Fe’s built in legislative advocacy block at the state capitol was a huge draw. I’ve spent large chunks of time at the state capitol in Missouri throughout medical school, so it’s something I’m going to do either way. Having this built into the program says so much about their genuine commitment to foster physician advocates.
 
Interests in medicine: My interests include Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, Gender Affirming Care, and Reproductive Care. I’m especially interested in melding my experiences with grassroots and legislative advocacy with my experience as a physician.
 
Hobbies: Making Instagram reels, live drag shows, weight lifting and body building, baking, thrift furniture shopping, and playing with my cat

Shanena Allen, MD

Hometown: Santa Fe, NM

Undergrad: Utah State University

Medical School: University of Utah Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine

Why FM: I love caring for patients of all ages and walks of life from newborn, to prenatal care to geriatrics! I also have a passion for preventative medicine and feel like family medicine offers a comprehensive approach to holistic patient care. 

Why UNM-SF: I grew up in Santa Fe and was excited at the opportunity to come learn and work in the community that I love! I also wanted a 1+2 program that would give me the firm academic foundation as well as the opportunity to practice more community medicine.  
Interests in Medicine: I am very interested in Obesity medicine and plan to possibly pursue a fellowship in obesity medicine. I also have interests in preventative medicine, lifestyle medicine, diabetes care, and sleep medicine. 
Favorite thing(s) to do in Santa Fe or New Mexico or favorite vacation spot: Walk the Old Reservoir, also called the Canyon Preserve Trail, which is a beautiful nature escape located near downtown Santa Fe. 
Favorite Restaurant in Santa Fe or type of cuisine: Los Amigos! They have the best New Mexican food and some of my favorite salsa! 
Hobbies: Crochet, Sewing, crafting, hiking, camping, and exploring new places! 

Gary Le, MD

Medical School: University of New Mexico

Julianna Mustafa, MD

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Undergrad: UCSD

Medical School: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science Chicago Medical School

Why FM: I am drawn to family medicine because of its deep commitment to community health and the opportunity to build long-term, meaningful relationships with patients across all stages of life. I value the breadth of care family medicine provides and am passionate about addressing health disparities through a holistic, community-centered approach. The ability to care for individuals and families over time, while also engaging in preventive and public health efforts, aligns perfectly with my goals as a physician.

Why UNM-SF: I chose the UNM Santa Fe Family Medicine Residency because of its strong commitment to resident well-being, dedication to high-quality, patient-centered care, and the diverse clinical experiences it offers. The program’s emphasis on community engagement and support for developing well-rounded, compassionate physicians deeply aligns with my values and career goals in family medicine. 

Hobbies: Hiking, knitting, painting, reading

Jose Osteria, DO

Hometown: Cerritos, CA

Undergrad: Cal State Fullerton University

Medical School: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why FM: A faimly medicine doc is likely the first doctor someone sees. There is so much good you are able to do BEFORE someone gets sick. And when they are sick, you can still follow them closely to make sure they get better. Family Medicine allows me to treat patients at all levels of care.
 
Why UNM-SF: I’ve lived in New Mexico for the last four years and I wasn’t ready to go! UNM-SF gives me the chance to build an academic foundation while preparing me for community care. I’ve alwasy seen myself working at a community hospital and the university offers great education, so it’s perfect for me!
 
Interests in medicine: I like a little bit of everything, but I do like my geriatric patients. I’ve always had a soft spot for palliative care and hospice. There’s something about providing that much needed comfort in their last days that resonates with me.
 
Hobbies: Cooking, video games, and the great outdoors

Matthew Schneider, do

Medical School: Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine

 

Class of 2029 (PGY-1)

 

Sokhna Diouf, MD

University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine

Elena Florez-Aguirre, MD

University of New Mexico School of Medicine

Jackson Joseph, DO

Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Maria Evelyn Juarez Parra, MD

University of New Mexico School of Medicine

Rebecca Touchet, DO

Virginia Tech Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Louisiana Campus

Nicole Urrutia, MD

Hometown: Las Vegas, NM

Medical School: UNM

Why FM: I chose FM for the breadth and depth of medicine within the FM scope of practice. I appreciate the continuity of care possible through family medicine and the opportunity to truly care for all members of a family. 

Why UNM-SF: The Santa Fe program allows me to train closer to home, and the residents, faculty, and support staff make it feel like home. I was immediately impressed by the camaraderie between residents and between faculty when completing a Sub-Internship at La Familia and CSV. I knew I would feel supported yet challenged here. The training opportunities available with an academic affiliated community program and the electives available make me feel like I will be well prepared to practice full spectrum rural medicine upon completion. 

Interests in medicine: Early childhood development, maternal and child health, lifestyle medicine, community medicine

Hobbies: Playing with my two daughters, reading, puzzles, movies, camping, hiking, walking, learning new things, eating