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 Natalie Alteri, MD
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Undergraduate: University of Minnesota – Twin Cities
Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Favorite Activities: I like to spend time outside hiking, kayak, visiting the Phoenix Zoo, and taking road trips to National Parks. Inside, I enjoy puzzles, board games, and going to concerts. My partner Ryan and I love to spend time with family and friends and introduce our out-of-town guests to our favorite local restaurants and hikes!
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix: I was born and raised in Wisconsin with regular trips to Arizona to visit extended family. I moved to Phoenix for medical school with the hope of settling down in a place I knew I would be happy to call home. During my clinical rotations in medical school, the residents and faculty here were incredibly kind, supportive, and passionate about providing high-quality care and promoting health equity. I knew that this was a group of people that I wanted to continue to work with and learn from! I am excited to continue developing skills in evidence-based medicine and advocacy while learning to provide personalized care for people of all ages.
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 Christa Bellack, MD
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Undergraduate: University of Oklahoma
Medical School: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Favorite Activities: Hanging out with my cats. Making pottery and ceramic art. Scoping out the best vintage shops in Phoenix
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix: I loved the warm, welcoming culture of the department, the focus on learning the latest evidence-based medicine, and the numerous opportunities in my own personal interests, such as community health and addiction medicine. I have no doubt that this program will support me in both personal and professional growth, with incredible opportunities for leadership like the American Physician Podcast, and involvement in state and national advocacy. The chance to train at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix is an incredible privilege, and I know that I am surrounded by some of the brightest minds and leaders in Family Medicine.
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 Prathima Harve, MD
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Undergraduate: Arizona State University
Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Favorite Activities: Cooking, art, yoga, reading, hanging out with our puppy
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix: I am an Arizona native and was lucky to have both an excellent undergraduate college and medical school right here in my backyard. I chose UACOM-P because I wanted to stay in Phoenix and practice in the community I grew up in while learning to tackle many of the social determinants of health that burden many Phoenix residents. I’m also excited to continue to work with faculty and residents who have mentored me throughout medical school!
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 Anas Maatough, MD
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Undergraduate: Arizona State University
Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Favorite Activities: Hiking, playing basketball, traveling, exploring local coffee shops, spending time with family and friends
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix: Throughout medical school and interview season, the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix residency stood out as a program dedicated to evidence-based medicine with an extremely supportive community of faculty and residents. With strong training in a variety of disciplines, including obstetrics and pediatrics, this program offers the perfect mix of breadth and depth that I’m looking for in a residency to become a well-rounded family physician. As an Arizona native, I’m also excited to stay and explore new ways to better serve my community through the program’s extensive outreach and advocacy opportunities. I’m looking forward to working with a program that I know will help me grow and develop as I start the next chapter of my training.
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 Elen Mendoza, MD
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Undergraduate: Stanford University
Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Favorite Activities: Baking, binging Netflix TV shows (especially Korean dramas), cooking, trying out new restaurants and boba shops (I’m a foodie), reading, spending time with family and pets
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix: I was born and raised in Phoenix to immigrant parents and identify as a first-generation college student. My passion for medicine stemmed from lived experiences with lack of access to health care—and in particular providers experienced in cultural humility. Phoenix is home. It is a vibrant city with a beautiful desert landscape and a rich cultural heritage. I had the privilege of completing a sub-internship in family medicine at Banner University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, and I was moved by the compassion, kindness, and sense of camaraderie among the residents. I also deeply appreciated the opportunity to learn cutting edge, evidence-based medicine to improve the health of my patients and community. Lastly, I deep admire our program director Dr. Brown for all the advocacy work he engages in, and I hope to grow in my role as a physician advocate.
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 Gabrielle Rowlison, MD
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Undergraduate: University of Arizona
Medical School: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Favorite Activities: Baking, volleyball, hiking, going to concerts, craft beer, exploring new restaurants and bars, all things Halloween, exclusively taking Cody Rigsby’s classes on Peloton
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix: I was born and raised in Yuma, Arizona, and went to the University of Arizona for undergrad (bear down!). I will always cherish my time in Michigan for medical school, but I am excited to come home and contribute to caring for a community I am passionate about. After my interview I was confident that I would not only get excellent, evidence-based training here, but I would feel so supported by the incredible faculty and program director along the way. This program’s location in Arizona’s capital provides a unique opportunity to engage in advocacy, and the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix really takes advantage of that. A big draw in for me was also the fact that we are the hosts of the AFP Podcast! I knew this was a place I could foster my love for education and science communication in a fun and accessible way. I was sold after the Halloween ICD-10 codes episode!
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 Trevor Smith, MD
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Undergraduate: Arizona State University
Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Favorite Activities: Playing video games (especially RPGs like Fallout and Skyrim), swimming in the summer and skiing in the winter, spending time with my family, and being overly competitive when playing board games
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix: Having been a lifelong resident of Phoenix, I can't imagine a more fitting place fo my medical education and training. I am excited to continue serving Phoenix's diverse population and working towards addressing the healthcare needs of my hometown community. Throughout medical school, my experiences with the faculty, residents, and staff of UA COM-P were consistently positive and the mentorship they provided helped guide me on this path to family medicine. I’m also particularly interested in hospice and palliative medicine and value their commitment to training well-rounded physicians that go on to pursue fellowships in this field.
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 Tyler Steele, MD
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Undergraduate: Creighton University
Medical School: Creighton University School of Medicine
Favorite Activities: Spending time with my wife, friends, and family, hiking, fishing, music, trying new restaurants and foods, museums, and spending time with our two cats, Beans and Ziva.
Why Arizona and U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix: I knew immediately in my interview that this was a program that would be a great cultural fit for me. Dr. Brown and all the faculty seemed so supportive and kind to both one another and the residents. The residents themselves seemed very happy with their residency and were so helpful in answering questions about their program. I love this program’s commitment to the community they serve through the Emerson Mini-Med School program, the food pantry services they operate, and through their advocacy through state and national legislatures. Additionally, I appreciate the program’s emphasis on broad spectrum family medicine, as well as the opportunity to practice medicine with many different patient populations. Regarding the move to Arizona, my wife and I are so excited to experience a new place full of sunshine, outdoor activities, and a lack of snow (coming from the Midwest, that’s a huge plus!)
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