
Incoming Resident Profile – Austin Cotter, MD


He attended Arizona State University, studying biology and engaging in research, and went on to join the college’s Class of 2023. During Match Day, he discovered that he would remain in Phoenix for residency training.
That step will come in a familiar place — Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, the hospital where he was born. Dr. Cotter will be joining the college’s Family Medicine Residency.
For him, the match was a dream come true. “Being the home program for my medical school, I already knew how strong the family medicine program at Banner was. I had also met my amazing mentor, *Sarah Coles, MD (Class of 2011 alumna from the college), as one of the docs in the Family Medicine Clinic,” he said.
That strong connection dissuaded him from earlier thoughts of one day leaving to pursue adventures elsewhere. “After doing college and medical school in Arizona, I realized how much I value the community I grew up in. I wanted to stay here for residency and, at least my early career, to make a difference in this state.”
It was during his time at the College of Medicine – Phoenix that he found his passion for family medicine.

And he commended the training the college provided him for allowing him to enter this next chapter equipped for any challenges he may face. “I feel as prepared for residency as I could get from my medical school experience. We had fantastic faculty who taught us ‘doctoring,’ the History and Physical, plus how to incorporate that info and make a plan of care,” he said.
In addition, Dr. Cotter noted the value of the various simulation scenarios they practiced in the college’s Center for Simulation and Innovation, as well as the impact the amazing mentors and faculty from the college had on his professional development.
As he enters residency, Dr. Cotter looks forward to becoming an integral part of the team at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix. It will be a transition from more of an observer role — which, he experienced as a medical student — to a full practitioner. “I am excited (and nervous!) to make my own orders and defend my own plans to my senior residents and attending physicians,” he said. “Now is the time to integrate all the knowledge I have spent the last four years acquiring.”

*Both Drs. Coles and Cotter were inducted into the college’s Gold Humanism Honor Society Class of 2023.
About the College
Founded in 2007, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix inspires and trains exemplary physicians, scientists and leaders to advance its core missions in education, research, clinical care and service to communities across Arizona. The college’s strength lies in our collaborations and partnerships with clinical affiliates, community organizations and industry sponsors. With our primary affiliate, Banner Health, we are recognized as the premier academic medical center in Phoenix. As an anchor institution of the Phoenix Bioscience Core, the college is home to signature research programs in neurosciences, cardiopulmonary diseases, immunology, informatics and metabolism. These focus areas uniquely position us to drive biomedical research and bolster economic development in the region.
As an urban institution with strong roots in rural and tribal health, the college has graduated more than 1,000 physicians and matriculates 130 students each year. Greater than 60% of matriculating students are from Arizona and many continue training at our GME sponsored residency programs, ultimately pursuing local academic and community-based opportunities. While our traditional four-year program continues to thrive, we will launch our recently approved accelerated three-year medical student curriculum with exclusive focus on primary care. This program is designed to further enhance workforce retention needs across Arizona.
The college has embarked on our strategic plan for 2025 to 2030. Learn more.