Leira Joy Lew, MD

Where are you from?    
I was born in TN, lived in OR, VA, FL, and then came to Phoenix, AZ when I was 10 years old. 
I flew off to West Michigan for the past ten years for undergrad and med school. 
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine?   
1) I was drawn by the strong mission and commitment to:
- cultural humility and diversity programming by the FMR and GME as a whole here.
- social justice and disability medicine
- global health in their own backyard. This was huge to me.
2) It also happened that in my fourth year, I was exposed to a lot more integrative medicine and so it seems it was meant to be! 
3) Lastly, my family is in Phoenix!
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson?   
1) Where do I start?! – This is the first place I have studied as an adult in a drivable distance (2 hours to Phoenix) to my family, so I’m excited to reconnect more frequently after many years away. 
2) I confess I did not take the City of Gastronomy title seriously when I first heard of it, but have been blown away by the amazing food adventures here and the hippy dippy nature of Tucson!
3) The sun!  It is so good for mental health, as much as I loved my time in Michigan.
What are your interests or hobbies outside of Medicine?   
I love martial arts, camping, watching soccer, and cooking with friends at our homes!  Our intern class has grown tight and I’m so grateful to have them in my life.
What are your professional interests within Medicine?    
Global health (shout out to SNMA global health fellows!), disability medicine, ADHD research, diversity programming.
Favorite way to spend a day off?   
1) Lately, it has been to drive 16 miles into Mount Lemmon in Tucson and hiking its green forests, incredible mountain range vista points, and fish-able lakes!  It feels like a temperate, Michigan forest up there in the middle of the summer!
2) To cook together and share a meal at a coworker’s house.  The interns and upperclassmen/paired mentors have been nothing but supportive and welcoming!
Top item on your "Bucket list"?
1) Take some friends to the Heard Museum in Phoenix!  It is an incredible place to learn about the history and culture of indigenous communities in Arizona.
2) Stargaze at night in Sabino Canyon