Holly Astin, MD

Rural Training Track

Education: Honors BS, University of Utah; MD, University of Texas Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine

Hometown: Cottonwood Heights, UT

Hey, Y’all! I was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and grew up in Rhode Island for the first few years of my life, but spent most of my childhood in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. I studied Biology at the University of Utah for undergraduate and wrote my senior thesis on my research on cholesterol and the function of an intestinal receptor in zebrafish. After graduating, I worked for two years in the cadaver lab at the U of U School of Medicine, teaching anatomy to medical students, dental students, and PA students.

For medical school, I attended the University of Texas Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine in San Antonio, Texas. I enjoyed the opportunity to work with the population of San Antonio, especially the Hispanic population, which often reminded me of my own Abuela and Papá and helped me to strive toward making cultural competency a cornerstone of my practice. I learned more about health inequities and disparities among marginalized and minority populations while working in the free clinics in San Antonio and my incredible experience providing care for these individuals was the primary driving force in deciding to become a family physician.

I am excited to be back in the Mountain West and a little closer to home for residency. As part of the Rural Track, I hope to become a full-spectrum family physician and am looking forward to including lots of obstetrics and newborn care in my future practice. Additionally, my interests include point-of-care ultrasound, procedures, and of course, rural medicine!

When I’m not at work, you’ll find me with my small, senior, cocker spaniel mix (Edson), a cup of tea, and a good book or playing Dungeons and Dragons with a group of other nerdy residents.

Landan Banks, MD

Denver Health Track

Education: BA, University of Denver; MD, University of Illinois at Chicago

Hometown: Gurnee, IL

Howdy folks, I’m Landan. I grew up in Gurnee, Illinois, and attended University of Denver for undergrad. While at DU, I was involved in the Undergraduate Pre-Health Program at University of Colorado where I studied the role of underrepresented minorities in healthcare and society and shadowed in the emergency department at Denver Health. After seeing health disparities that affect urban underserved patients, I knew I wanted a career treating this patient population. Team sports have also been a big part of my life. I played high school football and college rugby. I knew I wanted a career working with athletes, so sports medicine was on my radar.

After graduating from DU, I moved back to Chicago where I worked for a few years as a clinical research coordinator and then as a medical assistant at an ID office that saw predominantly LGBTQ patients. I attended medical school at University of Illinois at Chicago where I was co-president of the Family Medicine Interest Group. In this role, I was able to develop strong mentors in the specialty who inspired my passion for family medicine. I found family medicine to be the only specialty which I could pursue my diverse interests in working with the urban underserved, sports medicine and LGBTQ health and behavioral health.

I am thrilled to return to Denver to continue my training and honored to be a part of such a prestigious program at UCFMR. I am looking forward to becoming an exceptional family doc. My hobbies include playing rugby, weightlifting, house plants, running and live music.

Jacqueline Carson, MD, MPH

Denver Health Track

Education: BA and BS, Washington and Lee University; MD/MPH, University of Virginia

Hometown: Williamsburg, VA and St. Petersburg, FL

Hi all! I’m Jacqueline (she/her) and I am so thrilled to be a part of the UCFMR family. I moved around a lot as a kid but, as a result, I managed to become a fan of many winning sports teams from the places I’ve lived along the way (Go Spurs, Go Cards, Go Bucs, Go Hoos!). I attended a small liberal arts university in central Virginia where I studied economics, poverty studies, and biology. It was there that I found my passion for working with underserved populations, particularly individuals who are experiencing homelessness.

After college, I took a year off to scribe, volunteer as a homeless outreach worker, and travel before I started my MD/MPH at University of Virginia in Charlottesville. Over my five years there, I was lucky enough to work part time at a local homeless day shelter and help build a robust homeless health care system specifically for Charlottesville’s most vulnerable folks.

Family Medicine and UCFMR were both obvious choices for me. I was looking for training that would prepare me to work with underserved populations, especially those who are unhoused, struggling with substance use, LGBTQIA+, and refugees. It was also important to me to find a program with integrated opportunities to utilize my background in public health and advocacy. I found all of these things and more in UCFMR and I am beyond grateful to be a part of this wonderful team.

When I’m not working, you can find me searching for the best pastry in Denver, practicing yoga, petting dogs in the park, hiking in the Rockies, listening to podcasts, or catching a sports game.

Alison “Ali” Cottrell, MD

University Health Track 

Education: BBA, University of Wisconsin-Madison; MD, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University

Hometown: Park Ridge, IL 

Hi everyone! My name is Ali Cottrell (she/her/hers) and I’m coming from the much-less-sunny city of Chicago, where I grew up the youngest of four and developed a passion for deep-dish and hot giardiniera. I went to UW-Madison for undergrad (best school in the world prove me wrong!) where I studied international business, marketing and French. After a quick detour in business, I completed a post-bacc at Northwestern and medical school at Rosalind Franklin University. During medical school I worked with our Spectrum organization to craft lecture content on gender-affirming care to incorporate in our clinical reasoning and endocrinology courses. I also spent a month at the Hope of Children and Women Victims of Violence Organization in Ndejje, Uganda where I engaged in helping locals access proper healthcare in the hospital and clinic settings. 

I chose family medicine because of the unique position it puts you in to be your patients’ closest advocate, and I hope to use that opportunity while pursuing my medical interests of gender-affirming care, global health and integrative medicine.  

I chose UCFMR after completing a sub-I here and experiencing first-hand the support and encouragement the program offered to its residents. The culture, combined with the flexible and innovative curriculum, made me feel like there wasn’t an opportunity here I wouldn’t be offered. I am excited to go through residency with this new fam and know I’ll be supported endlessly the whole way! 

In my free time, I love just about anything outdoors and can’t wait to spend the next three years exploring the mountains and city of Denver. My interests include running, hiking, and my most recent hobby of learning to climb! 

Luke Davis, MD

Denver Health Track

Education: BS, University of Oregon; MD, Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

Hometown: Winston Salem, NC

Hi! My name is Luke (he/him). I moved around a lot as a kid before going to the University of Oregon for college (Go Ducks!) where I majored in biology. I fell in love with health equity work after my freshman year of college, when I had the privilege to work with an organization in Nicaragua that focuses on community-centered approaches to improving public health.

I knew I wanted to become a family physician for underserved patients through my time with an FQHC largely serving the unhoused and LGBTQ+ community in Eugene, OR. I realized working in family medicine was where I could have the largest, most upstream effect on patient health. My passion for health justice continued to grow in medical school in Miami, where I got to work with various immigrant and other underserved communities.

I chose UCFMR because of its commitment to health equity and the opportunities for training in addiction medicine, LGBTQ+ care, and health policy. I have felt so supported personally and professionally by everyone at the program since day 1.

In my free time, I love partaking in everything the Colorado outdoors has to offer, playing and watching sports, board games, and playing my banjo.

Erin Heath, MD

University Health Track

Education: Honors BS, Washington State University; MD, Oregon Health & Science University

Hometown: Portland, OR

Hi everyone! My name is Erin (she/her) and I am excited to be joining UCFMR! Originally from Seattle & Portland, I went to a little town among vast wheat fields called Pullman for college at Washington State University (Go Cougs!). While there I majored in neuroscience with minors in biology and psychology, all while working in a psychopharmacology lab studying opioid withdrawal and ways to mediate its symptoms. Throughout college I was “pre-med,” having had the dream of being a doctor since I was little. This dream was only affirmed through shadowing neurologists and cardiologists while also volunteering in the local hospital’s birthing center.

After graduating, I spent a month backpacking through Europe, then promptly moved back to Portland, OR where I began medical school at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU). From the beginning I knew family medicine was where I belonged, having formed excellent relationships with my family docs growing up and witnessing the vast array of opportunities open to those in family practice. During medical school I was fortunate to spend three months in a small town in rural Eastern Oregon (so rural it is considered “frontier”). While there I loved getting to start the day performing Medicare annual visits, counseling on contraception at lunchtime, performing join injections in the afternoon, and finishing the day at the hospital next door delivering a baby whose Mom I had cared for over the course of my time there. It was amazing and only served to confirm that full scope family medicine is how I want to spend the rest of my career.

I chose to attend UCFMR for the full scope training, the connection I formed with the program director, the relationships I saw between residents at social hours, and the opportunity to try something new… moving to Colorado. While there is a certain level of anxiety from being so far from the nearest ocean, I’ve loved every moment thus far in Denver. From the food and brewery scene to having the Rocky Mountains at our fingertips, my partner and I have enjoyed constant opportunities to explore and try new things (and the frequent sunshine has been a plus as well).  Outside the clinic or hospital, you can find us trying new breweries, hiking with our dog Benny, playing board games with friends, playing golf (poorly), or chilling on the couch watching a good movie.

Alyssa Hill, MD

University Health Track

Education: BA, Harvard College; MD, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Hometown: Sherborn, MA

Hello to everyone! My name is Alyssa (she/her), and I am so excited that I get to stay in Colorado to do my residency in Family Medicine with UCFMR! I grew up in a small town outside of Boston that no one has heard of: Sherborn, home to a Dunkin Donuts and a wine shop. I stayed in the area for college and attended Harvard, where I studied Human Evolutionary Biology. After college, I worked a lot of odd jobs including server at a ranch in Montana, camp counselor in the Adirondack Mountains, road bike tour guide all around New England, and bartender at a distillery. I finally decided I wanted to venture outside of New England and chose Denver because I had a close friend living out here who seemed to always be exploring the mountains. I began working as a scribe, which is when I discovered my passion for primary care and helping people to achieve their health goals. I spent some time working as a research coordinator for an asthma study at Children’s Hospital Colorado, and then started medical school at University of Colorado.

In medical school, I continued to pursue my interests in primary care, and started spending time with a preceptor who was primarily providing gender-affirming care for her patients. During my third year, I fell in love with Family Medicine when I was able to build longitudinal relationships with patients since I was in a longitudinal program. I also got to practice the impact that Family Medicine physicians can have on the community when I helped my Family Medicine Preceptor build a Suboxone Clinic in Colorado Springs. I have many interests within Family Medicine including working with underserved populations, adolescent health, LGBTQ health and addiction medicine. UCFMR seemed like the perfect place for me to learn how to be the best primary care physician while also pursuing these specific interests.

Martin “Marty” Keil, MD, PhD

University Health Track

Education: BA, Yale University; MD, University of California San Diego School of Medicine; PhD, Stanford University

Hometown: Guilford, CT

Hey there! I grew up as a Nutmegger in the lovely state of Connecticut for most of my early years. I decided to stick around for college, where I majored in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at Yale. My field research focused on the evolutionary dynamics between hookworm parasites and Ghanian schools’ de-worming programs. During my time in Ghana, I became fascinated by the intersection between education, health, and community.

After college I joined Teach for America as a high school science teacher in the West Bronx. For two years, I helped design new health-focused biology curriculums that encouraged students to understand their own health as well as that of their community. Students redesigned sustainable parks, sampled their own water quality for contaminants, and recorded Diabetes PSAs for their community. Looking to make a broader impact and better understand how education could be used to improve health, I next pursued a PhD in Learning Sciences and Technology Design. While at Stanford, I collaborated on projects focused on both patient and doctor education. My thesis examined how technology could be used to assess and improve the quality of feedback residents receive.

While in medical school, I became deeply involved in the UCSD Student-Run Free Clinic, acting as a summer intern, general manager, and continuity provider. Working with a wonderful community of family physicians to improve the healthcare of underserved populations, I developed a keen interest in being a family doc myself!  And while living in San Diego I made sure to surf at a least couple of times each week with my trusty longboard.

I am now thrilled to be joining UCFMR! This residency provides me the opportunity to engage with communities, develop longitudinal relationships with my patients, and pursue my research/policy interests in medical education. I love all things family medicine, but I am extra excited about school-based health clinics, adolescent medicine, palliative care, sleep medicine, and geriatrics. While not in clinic, you can find me outside most days, either playing tennis, trail-running, or backpacking. And during the winter I’ve traded my surfboard for skis and snowshoes. I also love county fairs, gameshows, gardening, and working on my herbarium. 

Julia Murphy, MD

University Health Track

Education: BA, Swarthmore College; MD, MA Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Hometown: Denver, CO

Hello! After graduating from Swarthmore College, a small liberal arts school outside of Philadelphia, I returned to the Rockies and worked as a ski patroller at Deer Valley Resort in Utah for three winters and a sea kayak guide in Washington’s San Juan Islands. I checked off my final time zone in the continuous US by going to medical school in Chicago at Northwestern.

While there, I found a community in our chapter of Medical Students for Choice. I also earned my Masters in Bioethics and Medical Humanities during my four years of medical school. I am passionate about end-of-life care, patient autonomy, and using the humanities to learn about ourselves and our patients.

I am thrilled to be training at University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency. I am especially interested in OB, clinical ethics, gynecologic care, geriatrics, inpatient medicine, and LGBTQ healthcare.

Emily Nepomuceno, MD

Denver Health Track

Education: BS, University of Illinois at Chicago; MD, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford

Hometown: Bourbonnais, IL

Hi everyone! My name is Emily (she/her), and I am thrilled to be making my first move out of state to be with UCFMR! I grew up in small-town Bourbonnais, IL. I made the move to Chicago to major in Neuroscience and minor in Music at UIC. I finished my northern Illinois circuit at UICOM-Rockford for medical school.

In medical school, I was one of the founding members of the Student Committee on Diversity & Inclusion, amplifying the student voice and having critical ongoing conversations with leadership about improving campus culture. I also served as an Anti-Racism Curriculum tutor for UICOM's pilot program. In my fourth year, I collaborated with students, the Department of Family Medicine, and Med Ed to begin the groundwork for a Community Medicine curricular track. For wellness, I was the director for our school's a capella group "The Ultrasounds," and hosted workshops for our Dance Club.

I fell in love with Family Medicine during medical school while rotating at an FQHC, and being able to appreciate the power of a longitudinal relationship on not only an individual's health, but the health of the family and of the community. I have many interests in family medicine including serving underserved populations, community medicine, pediatric and adolescent health, LGBTQ health and gender-affirming care, and sports/performing arts medicine. UCFMR was the perfect fit for pursuing these interests while also emphasizing social justice and health equity.

Outside of medicine, I am a dabbler of all kinds of art, dance and music, lover of what I call "outside time," explorer of board games, self-proclaimed foodie, and a fiend for ice cream. I enjoy spending time with my partner by experiencing Colorado together for the first time, challenging ourselves at the gym, and sharing a meal (or dessert) with my co-residents.

Sarah Torres, MD

Denver Health Track

Education: BS, California State University, Fullerton; MD, Medical College of Wisconsin

Hometown: Anaheim, CA

Hola! I was born and raised in Anaheim, CA (Disneyland anyone?). I earned my BS in Health Science with an emphasis in Health Promotion at California State University, Fullerton. As a first-generation Mexican-American, my background and upbringing influenced my passion to serve medically underserved and historically disadvantaged communities like the one I grew up in.

I have had a variety of experiences and roles that have allowed me to pursue my passion and commitment to improving health outcomes and equity. One of my most meaningful roles was as a diabetes medical group visit coordinator for the Coalition of Orange County Community Health Centers. In this role, I worked alongside family physicians in FQHCs, serving predominantly Spanish-speaking patients to develop and provide a culturally and linguistically sensitive diabetes management curriculum. Becoming the first college graduate and physician in my family would not have been possible without the instrumental mentorship I have received. Aside from providing mentorship to others, I strive to increase diversity in the physician workforce. Most recently, I created a podcast, I Look Like a Doctor, which is dedicated to sharing the stories of physicians underrepresented in medicine to inspire the next generation of students.

I chose the UCFMR-Denver Health Track for several reasons. The opportunities at UCFMR allow me to serve Spanish-speaking patients and other underserved populations and receive training in my areas of interest (leadership/faculty development, addiction medicine, LGBTQIA+ health, integrative/lifestyle medicine). Additionally, the culture at UCFMR have made me feel seen and valued as a resident physician. I know that in this program, I will be appreciated for my contributions, supported by the passionate faculty & residents, and receive all the training I desire to become the physician I want to be.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my husband and fur babies (dog and cat), hiking, kayaking, reading, gardening, and thrift shopping.

Meghan Wallace, DO

Rural Training Track

Education: BA, University of Colorado Boulder; DO, Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Hometown: Fort Collins, CO

Hi! I’ve lived in Colorado almost my entire life, and I’m so excited to be staying for residency. I grew up in Fort Collins, moved to Boulder for college at CU and lived there for 5 more years while I worked in reproductive healthcare. I went to medical school at Rocky Vista University where I had the opportunity to volunteer with Immunize Colorado and participate in 9 News Health Fairs and then rotate at clinics and hospitals all over the Denver metro area. Gynecology and public health are still important interests of mine, but UCFMR has so many opportunities to explore as my interests grow.

It’s no secret that Colorado is a great place to live with plenty to do outdoors in every season. My favorites are biking on the Cherry Creek Trail, kayaking, and trying out new breweries and restaurants.

Everyone at UCFMR has been so welcoming and great to work with already! I look forward to spending another year in Denver and Aurora before joining another Colorado community in Fort Morgan and learning all about rural medicine.

Jacob Weiss, MD

University Health Track

Education: BA, Colorado College; MD, University of Vermont College of Medicine

Hometown: Bethesda, MD

Hello everyone! I was born and raised around Washington, DC, but lived for three years in Kisumu, Kenya due to my father’s work in the Navy. I received my BA in Sustainable Design and International Studies at Colorado College in Colorado Springs and afterwards worked for two years in residential energy efficiency. I then worked for the National Outdoor Leadership School teaching leadership and outdoors skills on wilderness expeditions, instructing courses in wilderness medicine, and volunteering as an EMT in rural Wyoming before applying to medical school.

While studying at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, I became very interested in addiction medicine, mental health, and value-based care. I volunteered at a student led harm reduction clinic for people suffering from substance use disorders, helped found a mentorship program for struggling fathers, and completed a year-long community health project striving to improve alcohol use disorder treatment in central Vermont.

I feel so fortunate to be returning to Colorado for my family medicine residency at CU! In addition to becoming the most well-rounded physician I can be, I hope to become especially comfortable in treating patients suffering from mental illness and substance use disorders, providing women’s reproductive healthcare, and becoming a more effective advocate for the populations I serve.