Our Residents

If you would you like to connect with our residents, please use this inquiry form and we will get back to you.

Fourth Years


Samantha Robin, MD - University of North Carolina School of Medicine

Samantha RobinAbout Sam:
Sam was raised in the small town of Sparta, NJ and moved to North Carolina in 2010 to study at Duke University. She then attended medical school at the University of North Carolina. In medical school, she discovered her passions for medical education through curricular development roles as well as her interest in quality improvement and systems-level work within healthcare. After residency, she would like to be either a med-peds hospitalist or do critical care fellowship. She plans to keep medical education and QI parts of her career moving forward. 

Outside of the Hospital:
Despite her time as a Tar Heel, Sam has remained a loyal Duke basketball fan. She has a passion for music--she sings, plays the saxophone and piano, has directed several musical theater productions in college, and taught music in China. During residency, she loves to go running or on walks in the trails right outside her front door. There's a place she likes to run to on top of a hill where you can get an amazing view of the mountains for probably 100 miles north and south. Some of her favorite spots in CO are the Sky Pond Hike in RMNP and Cerebral Brewery in Denver. During quarantine, she learned how to yoga handstand (!), and if she were a tree, it would be sassafras because that’s what they use to make root beer. 

Why University of Colorado Med-Peds: 
“As a newer Med-Peds program, I felt like the Colorado Med-Peds program and its leadership were brimming with excitement about new program initiatives and resident projects. The program had clearly been shaped with lots of resident input, and the program leadership showed incredible resident support both for resident wellness as well as mentorship to help residents develop and pursue their own unique interests. The residents I met were kind, smart, and engaging and demonstrated passion both for their work in medicine and their interests outside of medicine. I liked that the program provided training opportunities in a variety of academic and community settings and felt like it was truly connected to and served the local population. Now that I’m here, my favorite part of our program is the people including our fearless med-peds leadership team that is always looking out for the residents, finding ways to improve our program and best support Med-Peds residents and our wellness, as well as my down-to-earth supportive co-residents who inspire me every day.” 

Contact me for: 
Moving from the east coast, fun outdoor things in CO, helping your spouse from Georgia with buying his first ever winter coat, hospitalist or crit care career interests, great hikes, teaching your spouse how to ski, having pets in residency


Lynne Rosenberg, MD - Weill Cornell Medicine

Lynne RosenbergAbout Lynne:
Lynne was born and raised in Southern California and completed her undergraduate training at UC Berkeley. She spent a year conducting clinical research at the UCSF Memory and Aging Center before attending medical school at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. While there, she was involved in a number of research projects in the pediatric intensive care unit. In addition, she worked extensively with the Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights and Physicians for Human Rights to provide free medical evaluations for asylum seekers. She has a variety of Med-Peds interests, including pediatric oncology and survivorship, critical care, ID and palliative care. At this time, she plans to do fellowship after residency, although undecided on which one, and plans to be involved in medical education long term.

Outside of the Hospital:
When not in the hospital, you can find Lynne playing spikeball or pickleball in a park, decorating a cake, or solving a crossword with a cup of coffee. If she had to choose between CO winters or summers, she would choose summers given amazing hiking that requires fewer layers than skiing and park time for grilling and lawn games. Her medical band name would be N’syncope, and if she could go anywhere in the world right now it would be Iceland to see the Northern lights. 

Why University of Colorado Med-Peds?
“I was looking for a place with stellar categorical programs, opportunities for medical education, and a supportive family environment. University of Colorado provided all three and then some! Now that I’m here, my favorite thing about Colorado med-peds is the people, including my co-residents and med-peds faculty.” 

Contact me for: 
Moving to a place where you don't know anyone, double applying (and myth busting! There are a lot of false assumptions about MP out there), leaning toward fellowship, moving from a bigger city (LA, SF, and NYC before this!), pickleball


David Scudder, MD - Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

David ScudderAbout David:
David grew up in Nashville and then headed west to California to study at Stanford University. He started his career as a high school science teacher. After college, he moved to Johannesburg, South Africa to join the inaugural faculty of the African Leadership Academy. After fours years in Joburg, David and his wife Hannah moved to Denver and taught together at the Denver School of Science and Technology. When David decided to pursue medicine, they moved to Nashville where David attended medical school at Vanderbilt. Still a teacher at heart, David is passionate about medical education, and he was drawn to Med-Peds where he can learn and teach it all. He is undecided on his final career path but knows teaching medical students and residents will be a part of it. 

Outside of the Hospital:
In his free time, David can be found hiking or camping in the mountains, running with his wife, and throwing impromptu dance parties with his daughter. He and his family love biking around Cherry Creek Reservoir, and one of his favorite spots in CO is James Peak Wilderness. He is also a fan of Lakeside - a historic amusement park in Denver and favorite date night spot, where the antiquity of the roller coasters adds to their thrill! His medical hero is Francis Collins, and his spirit animal is a golden retriever.

Why University of Colorado Med-Peds?
“Colorado impressed me across the board. The people are amazing. The program offers training at a diverse set of hospitals and a stellar clinic experience at Federico F. Peña. I also love being part of a newer program as it shapes the Med-Peds identity in Denver. We are happy to be back near the mountains, and to raise our daughter around a large extended family.”  

Contact Me For:
Bike commuting, being married and a parent in residency, medical education, Christian churches


Helena Villalobos, MD - Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Helena VillalobosAbout Helena:
Helena was born in Denver, Colorado and raised in Midland, Texas. She completed her undergraduate degree at Stanford University (Go Card!). In college, she was a photographer for the Stanford Daily and spent time abroad working with the NGO Mothers Unite in Cape Town, South Africa. She attended medical school at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City.  During medical school, she was active in the student-run free clinic, Students for Equal Opportunity in Medicine, the Latino Medical Student Association, and conducted environmental health research. After residency, she would like to practice primary care at a FQHC.

Outside of the Hospital:
When not in the hospital Helena can be found outside spending time with family and friends! She loves Colorado winters and learned to ski her intern year; however, does love hiking and swimming in lakes during summer. During quarantine she bought more plants. If she won the lottery, she would buy vacation for her family and Nespresso coffee machines for all of the call rooms.

Why University of Colorado Med-Peds?
“The Med-Peds continuity clinic in Southwest Denver was a huge selling point as I am interested in primary care, working with underserved populations, and caring for medically and socially complex patients, and since being here, it truly is my favorite part of the program. The strong categorical programs and diversity in training sites were also a given. The community is tight-knit and leadership is incredibly hands-ons and invested in the success and wellness of their residents.”

Contact me for:
Moving from a big city, primary care, race in medicine, diversity in Colorado, advocacy projects 

 

Third Years


Oliver Bawmann, MD - University of Colorado School of Medicine

Oliver Bawmann

About Oliver:
Oliver grew up in Denver, Colorado but left home to attend Santa Clara University where he completed undergrad and also worked as an EMT. He spent a year working in the Bay Area and then returned home to Colorado for medical school. At CU he was involved with the student government, serving as a Class President his first three years, and Medical Student Council President his fourth year. He is passionate about advocacy and worked with the student run free clinic, and the CUSOM LEADS track to bolster these skills. He also pursued his passion for supporting fellow medical students while researching the connection between gratitude and medical student burnout. He is still undecided about his future career plans but is leaning toward fellowship training. He is passionate about med ed, mentorship, and teaching and hopes to work in an academic setting.

Outside of the hospital:
Oliver loves playing pretty much any sport (especially basketball!), bouldering, cooking, reading and spending time with friends. His favorite spots in Colorado are a basketball court with friends or hosting people at his home and cooking together.

Why University of Colorado Med-Peds?
“As a medical student here at CU, I was blown away by the caliber of the Med-Peds residents and faculty here at Colorado. They were among the best teachers I encountered in the hospital, and immense kindness and competence seemed to be ubiquitous in everyone I met. It’s what inspired me toward med-peds. I hit the interview trail looking to find a program with very strong categorical programs, and a med-peds culture whose pillars were compassion, excellence, and care for one-another. Ultimately it turned out Colorado was the perfect place to provide all of these things in an exceptional program! I am so happy to be here for residency!”

Contact me for:
The perspective of someone who is from Denver originally. Advice from someone who loved everything and is still interested in several different fields


Erika Becerra-Ashby, MD - University of Illinois College of Medicine - Peoria

Erika Becerra-AshbyAbout Erika:
Erika was born and raised in the small town of Arcola, Illinois. She graduated from Michigan State University and went on to work in several jobs within the healthcare field. It was her time in case management where she discovered her passion for addressing health disparities. This drove her to pursue a career in medicine. She returned to Illinois to attend medical school at the University of Illinois College of Medicine. She would love to work as an adult congenital cardiologist doing outreach to small rural communities in the US and globally with some public health sprinkled in, looking at disparities in care for underserved communities and ways to improve access and care outcomes.  

Outside of the hospital: 
Erika enjoys running with her husband, hiking, reading, trying new recipes/restaurants, camping, salsa dancing, and binging a great series. Some of her favorite spots include Wash Park in Denver and the beautiful drive to Aspen. If she could go anywhere in the world right now it would be Japan. The song that best describes her work ethic is “Don’t Stop Believing”. 

Why University of Colorado Med-Peds?
“The program’s strong emphasis on caring for underserved populations and integrating that goal within its educational curriculum was a big draw for me. The strong categorical programs and diversity of training sites made me feel that I could be ready for practice in any setting. Additionally, I knew I would be supported throughout my residency after seeing the kindness and collaboration residents and leadership showed during my interview. It also didn’t hurt that my husband is from Denver and was definitely selling the mountains and year round sunshine. What’s not to like!”

Contact me for: 
Wanting to go into congenital cards, moving from out of state, general questions about Denver


Sutton Higgins, MD - Perelman School of Medicine at the Univ. of Pennsylvania

Sutton HigginsAbout Sutton:
Sutton grew up in Wayzata, Minnesota. She attended Dartmouth College for undergrad. After college, she spent a year living in Wyoming, and ultimately returned to the east coast for medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. During medical school, she worked at Covenant House Philadelphia, a crisis center and homeless shelter for adolescents, and conducted research with the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia on intergenerational health and teen pregnancy. Sutton is interested in adolescent medicine and primary care. She plans to be involved in advocacy/health services research work long-term in either a rural setting (like IHS) or an academic medical center.

Outside of the hospital: 
Outside of the hospital, you can find Sutton hiking, biking or skiing in the mountains, or at home attempting to befriend her roommate’s cat! Some of her favorite spots include Crested Butte and Steamboat Springs. If she could go anywhere in the world right now, it would be Nepal! (A trip planned for the end of her 4th year of med school but cancelled; yet, still on her to-do list in the future!) 

 Why University of Colorado Med-Peds?
“I was drawn to Colorado for its strong primary care training, commitment to caring for underserved populations, and emphasis on individualized mentorship. On my interview day, I was especially struck by residents’ and program leadership’s commitment to introspection and improvement, in both the residency curriculum and the care provided to patients. The compassion is evident within the program - for one another and for patients - and strong sense of community sealed the deal for me (and proximity to the mountains certainly didn’t hurt!).”

Contact me for: 
Moving from the east coast, wanting to go into general things (primary care, hospitalist, etc), being single in residency, interest in advocacy/social justice in medicine


Maggie Kuusinen, MD - University of Colorado School of Medicine

Maggie KuusinenAbout Maggie:
Maggie was raised in Ski Town USA--Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Maggie is a FOREVER BUFF--she went to CU Boulder for undergrad, CU SOM and was lucky enough to stay for residency. Before starting medical school, she worked at the Boulder Shelter for the Homeless and is really passionate about urban underserved care. Her research is in improving transitions of care in adolescents and young adults aging out of the foster care system.

Outside of the Hospital:
On her days off you can find Maggie skiing, mountain biking, hiking, and river rafting! She loves to travel and has lived abroad in both Slovakia and Tanzania. When she isn't playing outside, she enjoys knitting, sewing, painting, and reading.

Why the University of Colorado Med-Peds?
“I have always been passionate about working with urban underserved populations and wanted ample opportunity to serve medically and socially complex patients. The Denver Health system is a fantastic safety net hospital and it was a huge draw that our continuity clinic is in one of their many FQHC's. It was also important for me to find a residency with a welcoming culture, supportive community, and focus on wellness. I love that at Colorado we are seen as people first and residents second. Finally, it's ColoRADo! It is hard to pass up all the adventure that living in a city at the foot of the Rocky Mountains has to offer!” 

Contact me for: 
Questions about living in Colorado, knitting advise, interest in transitions of care or urban underserved care

 

Second Years


Kathryn Hawrot, MD - Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Kathryn HawrotAbout Kathryn:
Kathryn grew up in Rhode Island and attended Brown University for undergraduate. She worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA at a clinic serving uninsured and undocumented folks in Rhode Island and then moved to San Francisco and worked in the health tech industry before attending the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. While at Penn, Kathryn helped lead the Homeless Health Initiative, which was a program to provider primary and urgent care to families living in emergency housing. She was also involved in global health research in Botswana. Kathryn is interested in providing care to historically under-served young adults, and she is currently interested in primary care, addiction medicine, and infectious diseases. She hopes to be involved in public health work and promote health equity throughout her career.

Outside of the Hospital:
You can find Kathryn tending to her beloved plants, trying to figure out baking at altitude, hosting friends for pizza nights, hiking and canoeing with her partner and dog, enjoying a funky sour beer, and doing yoga.

Why CU Med-Peds?
"It was important for me to find a program where I felt I could become a strong Med-Peds provider while also being part of a warm and supportive training environment. I was impressed by the unified appreciation of and dedication to health equity, social justice, and care of the underserved within the CU family. I valued the diversity and strength of training opportunities in rotating at a community hospital, VA, academic hospital, and children's hospital. As someone interested in primary care, it was important to me to have a dedicated Med-Peds clinic which was also a FQHC. The strong sense of being part of a Med-Peds family and clear co-resident love made me feel that this would be a place where I could become a strong physician while also creating community."

Contact me for:
Moving from the East Coast, having a partner not in healthcare, gardening, wellness in medicine, primary care, social justice/underserved medicine.


Ian Lawrence, MD - University of Colorado School of Medicine

Ian LawrenceAbout Ian: 
Ian grew up all over the country, but considers Iowa City, Iowa home. He attended the University of Iowa for undergrad and the University of Colorado for medical school.  After undergrad, he taught high school physics and chemistry in Richmond, California through the Teach for America program. He also worked in immunology research at the University of Chicago before moving to Denver. During medical school he was involved in educational outreach to area schools and in global health, spending two months working in Bolivia. He is interested in hospitalist or critical care work in a setting that allows for involvement in global health and medical education. 

Why Colorado Med-Peds: 
"I was fortunate to spend two months of clinical rotations during medical school at the Pena clinic working with Med-Peds residents and attendings. I was tremendously impressed by the kind, brilliant, and supportive people involved in the program who were committed to their patients and community. That, combined with strong categorical programs, a diverse array of training hospitals, and Colorado’s outdoors made staying at CU an easy choice." 

Outside of the hospital: 
Ian enjoys getting outside and running, hiking, camping, skiing, fly fishing, and playing basketball. He also enjoys binge watching TV, reading, and cooking. 

Contact me for: 
General questions about Denver, questions about moving from the Midwest, interest in global health, medical education, and/or hospitalist/fellowship support in the program.


Samuel "Gus" Ruchman, MD - Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Gus RuchmanAbout Gus: 
Gus grew up in Connecticut and attended Harvard for undergrad and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City for his MD. Prior to matriculating in medical school he worked in the Office of the UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Health in Agenda 2030 and for Malaria on global health governance. During medical school he helped lead the Mount Sinai Human Rights Program and co-founded its tele-mental health network to expand access to forensic evaluations for asylum seekers in detention facilities and remote geographies. He also conducted research with AMPATH in Kenya on community-centered models of prevention and care for cardiovascular disease. Gus has diverse interests in clinical and public health, including high-acuity care, care for medically complex children and adults, infectious disease, immigrant health, and global health delivery systems. 

Outside of the Hospital: 
Gus loves spending time with his incredible partner, Sarah Rose. Together they hike and camp, cook and bake food from around the world, and read Calvin and Hobbes. Gus also enjoys listening to, singing, and composing classical music and having friends over for a big pot of mac ‘n’ cheese. 

Why University of Colorado Med-Peds? 
"Even via Zoom, I could tell that the University of Colorado Med-Peds program is filled with residents and faculty who are passionate advocates and thoughtful physicians uniting clinical and population health. I was confident that I would get excellent training in both categorical programs and have a clinic to call a true home in caring for an underserved population. I was excited about the local and global opportunities in public health and was eager to join the family of innovators emerging from the Med-Peds program." 

Contact me for: 
Moving from the East Coast, global and public health, medical human rights, culinary adventures 


Jonathan Taylor-Fishwick, MD - Eastern Virginia Medical School

About Jon:Jon Taylor-Fishwick
Jon grew up in Virginia, attending undergraduate at the University of Virginia and medical school at Eastern Virginia Medical School. In the summer between undergrad and medical school, he spent time in Guatemala helping build an EMR and improving his Spanish. This experience lit a passion in Jon for global health and underserved communities, which he carried into medical school. There, he established a pediatric free clinic for Latinx patients and a Medicaid enrollment program to help free-clinic patients enroll in Virginia’s recently expanded Medicaid. Jon is excited to explore the range of opportunities Colorado Med-Peds has to offer on his way to becoming a cardiologist. He's also looking forward to expanding on his interests in global health, underserved care, and health advocacy while at Colorado!

Outside of the hospital:
When not in the hospital, you can find Jon outside exploring the many parks, bike paths, or hiking trails Colorado has to offer with his partner, Mary Elizabeth, and their dog, Honey Bee. He's also an avid soccer fan and enjoys watching and playing soccer (even as an unfortunate England fan) as well as re-acclimating to running at 5000+ ft after so many years running at sea level!

Why CU Med-Peds?
"Colorado first came on my radar as a program where any opportunity seemed possible. As someone with lots of interests, but who wasn’t yet ready to commit to a specific path, the strong categorical programs, a variety of great training sites, and an abundance of resources to pursue any extracurricular made Colorado feel like the place where I could shape my future career however I wanted to. The strong leadership support and focus on advocacy and underserved populations only sealed the deal from me. However, above all of the opportunities, the family feel and abundance of support, both inside and outside of medicine, that I’ve constantly felt since joining this program continue to reinforce how fortunate I am to join this family!"

Contact me for:
Moving to a state you've never visited before, outdoor activities in Colorado, relocating with a partner not in medicine, pursuing fellowship.

 

First Years


Troy Kincaid, MD - University of Colorado School of Medicine

KincaidAbout Troy:
Troy grew up in Lindenhurst, Illinois, a small suburb (pretty far) outside Chicago. He attended Washington University in St. Louis for undergrad where he majored in Chemistry and Spanish – perhaps foreshadowing his Med-Peds training! He played football and volunteered as an EMT there as well, and he left the Midwest for milder winters and attended the University of Colorado for medical school. Here, he sought opportunities to engage with passion and to collaborate with generous people. His most proud work was organizing an effort with several student leaders to assess cultural humility during the School of Medicine’s interview day with the aim of cultivating the school’s diversity and inclusivity. While he is uncertain about the setting in which he hopes to practice, he aspires toward teaching and working in an underserved area.

Outside of the Hospital:
Troy loves playing team sports – especially basketball, pickleball, and volleyball (despite not making the sixth-grade team!). He has also attempted baking, hiking, coffee-shopping, and reading – most with sixth-grade-volleyball levels of success. Most important to him is spending time with family and friends doing what they love.

Why CU Med-Peds?
"The inspiring, humble, and fun people that drew me to Med-Peds are the same reason why I hoped to stay at the University of Colorado. The synergy between the program’s social and educational missions epitomizes what I sought in residency. It is not lost on me how lucky I was to begin my medical training here! The approach to teaching and quality of life is incomparable."

Contact me for:
The ice cream scene in Denver, interest in medical education research or teaching, the social mission of being at a place like CU or Denver Health, or just what med-peds even means! 


Helen Queenan, MD - Howard University College of Medicine 

QueenanAbout Helen:
Helen was born in Easton, Maryland where she lived until she moved with her mother to Wellesley, Massachusetts. She attended Smith College for undergrad, and took a few years off after college to explore interests in public health research and complete her post-baccalaureate at Brandeis University. She attended Howard University College of Medicine for medical school in Washington, D.C. Helen has a commitment to working with resource limited communities, and as the Co-Vice President of Community Service she organized and participated in a variety of community service projects which included a mobile health clinic fair, Back to School Drive for elementary schools, and a clothing drive for patients in the Emergency Department. After residency, Helen is interested in pursuing a health equity fellowship and ultimately practicing primary care at an FQHC.

Outside of the Hospital:
Helen is most likely enjoying a kickboxing/boxing class, or trying out a new restaurant around town especially a breakfast restaurant with real Vermont Maple Syrup. One of her favorite breakfast restaurants is Snooze! Other activities include watching new Netflix series, dancing, and hanging out friends and family..

Why CU Med-Peds?
"I found the program to be very supportive and committed to the success of the med-peds residents. The residents are truly a cohesive unit, and care about each other. I was interested in training at a program with strong categorical Internal Medicine and Pediatric programs, and that afforded opportunities to work at diverse training facilities. I was excited to work with underserved populations at a truly unique continuity clinic. These opportunities were possible while also experiencing the outdoor activities that Colorado has to offer. Of course, I can’t forget the fact that there are 300 days of sunshine!"

Contact me for:
Moving from the east coast, new restaurants, kickboxing/boxing classes, interest in health equity research. 


Elizabeth Stein, MD - University of Washington School of Medicine 

SteinAbout Elizabeth:
Elizabeth completed her undergraduate studies at Brown University in Public Policy and French Studies where she became passionate about the intersection of health and policy, and simultaneously became grounded in the humanities. She subsequently worked at Seattle Children’s and Children’s National in clinical research, studying the longitudinal impacts of trauma, refugee health, and rheumatic fever in low-resource settings respectively. As a medical student at University of Washington School of Medicine, she became passionate about reimagining medical education to be more humane, reflective, and competency-based. She helped design an anti-racism curriculum which was disseminated nationally and internationally, facilitated reflection sessions on professional identity formation in the Internal Medicine clerkship, and served on the Program Evaluation and Assessment Committee. She plans to combine her interests in health equity and humanities through a career in adolescent/young adult oncology.

Outside of the Hospital:
you can find me trail running in the foothills, at a bakery, reading fiction, at an art gallery, or in a pool (or better yet, open water) swimming. 

Why CU Med-Peds?
"The University of Colorado Med-Peds program stood out amongst programs around the country as a place that best aligned with my values where I could thrive as a person and a physician. Taken together, the collaborative academic medical ecosystem engendered by the Anschutz Medical Campus, two exceptional categorical training programs across internal medicine and pediatrics, human-centered ethos around patients and trainees alike, emphasis on finding balance in/outside of medicine, robust primary care training in an FQHC clinic, and genuine commitment to justice and health equity made this program my top choice. Most importantly, I thought I would be happy training in Colorado surrounded by supportive peers and leadership alike with the ability to recharge outside. In this environment, I could maximize my growth, and therefore be best equipped to care for patients, advocate on their behalf, and lead transformational change in medicine."

Contact me for:
Dual applying, applying to med-peds from a medical school without a med-peds program, research, medical humanities, trail running.


Joaquin Alfonso Villaruz, MD - University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

VillaruzAbout Joaquin:
Joaquin was born in Manila, Philippines before immigrating to the U.S. at age six and ultimately ending up in Kenosha, WI. A Badger through-and-through, he completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison then attended the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Prior to medical school, he served as a behavioral therapist for children with autism and acted as a research specialist for an autism imaging-genetics study. During medical school, Joaquin became a class co-president and dedicated his tenure to advocating for a more inclusive, anti-racist learning environment and securing opportunities to support student wellness. He was also invited to join the TRIUMPH program, an urban medicine and public health track that allowed him to complete his clinical rotations in Milwaukee while conducting a public health project with a local community partner. Through this work, he explored how cultural/societal stigmas may act as barriers to early diagnosis and intervention of autism in Milwaukee’s communities of color. Inspired by his younger brother, Joaquin pursued Med-Peds to become a provider for individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities across the lifespan. He has special interests in pediatric complex care and transitional-age care for affected patients within underserved communities.

Outside of the Hospital:
Joaquin is a hip-hop dancer, amateur baker, and “plant dad” who loves exploring new restaurants/bars with friends and hanging out in local coffee shops while listening to his favorite R&B or 80’s tracks. He is constantly looking for some friends to join a volleyball or bowling league!

Why CU Med-Peds?
"CU was on my radar since before medical school when I learned from fellow therapists that the state avidly supports autism efforts and has a plethora of child development resources. When I researched CU Med-Peds further, it became strikingly apparent that both categorical programs offered equally exceptional training, a rarity that I highly valued as an aspiring transitional care provider. On top of its academic rigor, the Med-Peds family’s dedication to community-centered care and serving underserved populations through a lens of cultural humility was incredibly palpable. After meeting the humanistic and outstanding program leadership, I knew that CU was a place that deeply cared for its residents, provided ample opportunities to pursue any dream, and had a solid foundation for DEI initiatives. I knew they would value what I had to offer and eagerly accept me for who I am."

Contact me for:
Interest in community-asset-based and equity-focused care; Working with developmental populations; Becoming a first-generation physician; Residency as an underrepresented minority; Music and Asian restaurant recommendations.