Hear from our wonderful alumni!

Greta Weber, DO

PGY-5

Pediatric Critical Care Fellow

University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA

There are so many reasons I feel fortunate to have completed residency at the University of Arizona. Attendings across all specialties were incredibly hands-on with teaching and challenged me to think critically about my patients. As a resident-run program, I was performing tasks that would normally have gone to a fellow such as intubations, LPs, and ultrasound-guided line placement. By my third year I was running PICU rounds and managing the entire PICU overnight. This level of responsibility helped boost my confidence in my assessments and decision making, which was a huge asset in the transition from resident to Critical Care fellow. I couldn’t have asked for a better program to prepare me for fellowship.

Jesse Hass Alfonso, DO

General Pediatrics, Banner-Cholla Pediatrics

Tucson, AZ

When I matched at the University of Arizona pediatric residency program I was overjoyed because not only did I love the city of Tucson, but I had gotten a good feeling about the program during my interview. After completing this residency program, I can honestly say that my intuition was correct. My co-residents became family, my attendings became mentors, and my patients became teachers that prepared me for my future career. I particularly appreciated the diverse patient population I took care of and getting to utilize my Spanish so frequently. Upon graduation, I felt well prepared for my pediatric board exam due to our teaching day curriculum as well as the excellent teaching from attendings while on rotations. Though nervous to start my general pediatrics career in the real world, my confidence quickly grew thanks to the training and experiences I had during residency. If I could go back, I would choose this program all over again!

Keely Smith, MD

General Pediatrics, Banner- Cholla Pediatrics

Tucson, AZ

Choosing the UofA pediatric program was easy. While residency loomed a daunting presence upon my horizon, the warmth of camaraderie that radiated from this program assured me of my eventual success. Having since graduated from the program, I’ve found that the bonds forged between my co residents and me continue to serve me. While they helped me cope with the arduous process of becoming a physician at the UofA, they continue serve me in my practice, providing trusted counsel and making this desert feel to me more and more like home.

So, in short, yes, the UofA prepared me for practice. Guided and cared for, I left equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary for a successful practice, and a community I can lean on for years to come.

Ricardo Gámez, MD

General Pediatrics, Communicare

San Antonio, TX

My very first interview of residency was at The University of Arizona/Banner Health in Tucson, AZ.  I arrived in Tucson with its scenic mountains, beautiful cacti, and lovely people a ball of nerves.  Throughout my day interviewing, I met so many people, from the residents, Chiefs, faculty, and program directors. All were generous, welcoming and so very encouraging of my fit to the program and what the program could do for me.  Unbeknownst to them, I had been advised by peers and online chatrooms to not invest too much in your first interview since it would be a trial run for others to come.  I felt I had done poorly and decided that this was not the right fit.  
I was wrong.  
The University of Arizona pediatrics residency became my family, one that I cherish every day with gratitude for their support, love, teaching, and understanding.  The training is excellent and the faculty is world-class, I could fill volumes with examples of their commitment to teaching and resident success.  This program became a fundamental part of me.  So much so that I decided to stay on for a Chief Resident year.  Along with the perfect Co-Chief. I hoped that I could provide for new residents the same mentorship, dedication, and support that was showered on me.  I gave back my all because the program empowered me to surpass my goals.  This program was my only real choice.

The University of Arizona-Tucson provided me with a strong foundation and invaluable preparation for my fellowship journey. One significant advantage was that Tucson is not saturated with fellows/fellowships. This meant that we received unparalleled firsthand training and hands-on experience. Whether it was responding to codes in the PICU, driving scopes in endoscopy suite, or assisting in the cath lab, the opportunities to expand your skills are endless. Additionally, the relationships I cultivated with my mentors during my residency were instrumental in shaping my career. Their guidance, support, and wealth of knowledge prepared me for an academic career and helped me navigate the path to fellowship. I continue to maintain these relationships and text regularly to catch up and when I need career advice. Furthermore, our residency program's vast catchment area exposed me to a diverse patient population, enabling me to develop a broad skill set and an appreciation for the complexities of healthcare delivery in a wide range of contexts. This multifaceted preparation has proven to be a solid steppingstone as I entered fellowship, equipping me with the necessary skills and confidence to be a successful fellow, clinician, and researcher.

Kevin Weinberger, DO FAAP

PGY-5

Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellow

Texas Children’s/Baylor COM 

The University of Arizona-Tucson provided me with a strong foundation and invaluable preparation for my fellowship journey. One significant advantage was that Tucson is not saturated with fellows/fellowships. This meant that we received unparalleled firsthand training and hands-on experience. Whether it was responding to codes in the PICU, driving scopes in endoscopy suite, or assisting in the cath lab, the opportunities to expand your skills are endless. Additionally, the relationships I cultivated with my mentors during my residency were instrumental in shaping my career. Their guidance, support, and wealth of knowledge prepared me for an academic career and helped me navigate the path to fellowship. I continue to maintain these relationships and text regularly to catch up and when I need career advice. Furthermore, our residency program's vast catchment area exposed me to a diverse patient population, enabling me to develop a broad skill set and an appreciation for the complexities of healthcare delivery in a wide range of contexts. This multifaceted preparation has proven to be a solid steppingstone as I entered fellowship, equipping me with the necessary skills and confidence to be a successful fellow, clinician, and researcher.