Rachel Baca, MD
Where are you from?
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine?
Ever since I discovered the concept of integrative medicine about 8 years ago, I knew that I wanted to train at UA in some capacity. UA Family Medicine offered everything and more that I was looking for—academic and community setting training, lots of clinic time, dedication to underserved populations, great schedule, and located in an awesome city not too far away from home.
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson?
I am excited to check out all the hiking and biking trails, explore the food scene here, spend time by the pool (with SPF of course), and Arizona sunsets.
What are your interests or hobbies outside of medicine?
I love to stay active through lifting weights, spin and hot yoga classes, hiking, going on walks, playing pickleball with friends, and mountain biking. I also enjoy cooking/baking healthy meals and treats!
What are your professional interests within medicine?
Integrative medicine, sports medicine, lifestyle medicine, adolescent medicine, and chronic disease management.
Favorite way to spend a day off?
Go on a hike with friends or my partner followed by an afternoon beer at a brewery or hanging by the pool.
Top item on your "Bucket list"?
Spending time in at least 6 of the 7 continents. Halfway there!
Jaylee Caruso, MD
Where are you from?
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine?
I chose UA Family Medicine because of its holistic view of health, commitment to social justice, and integration within the community it serves. Being from New Mexico, I was hoping to continue my training in a border state and to provide access to care to historically oppressed populations. I am excited to learn from faculty whose values align with my own, and be part of a program that is supportive and will help me grow as a family medicine physician and a person.
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson?
I’m excited for all the sunshine and I look forward to spending time in nature. I can’t wait to explore the city and try all the awesome food!
What are your interests or hobbies outside of medicine?
I enjoy hiking, camping, and tending to my house plants. I love traveling and learning languages, I speak Spanish, Portuguese, and hopefully more when I have the time. I also like to read, and my favorite genre is historical fiction.
What are your professional interests within medicine?
Asylum medicine and refugee health, community medicine, advocacy, global health, preventive and integrative medicine
Favorite way to spend a day off?
On my days off, I love going for hikes, spending time with my family and pets, and checking out local coffee shops and breweries.
Top item on your "Bucket list"?
Visiting every country in Latin America
Hannah Emerson, MD
Where are you from?
I was born and raised here in Tucson, AZ!
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine?
I chose UA Family Medicine for its commitment to the Tucson community and underserved patients. The UA Family Medicine program is also highly supportive of residents’ wellness and educational goals.
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson?
I love Tucson winter weather and Mexican food.
What are your interests or hobbies outside of medicine?
I enjoy gardening, exploring new restaurants and coffee shops, playing Nintendo Switch games, and watching Netflix.
What are your professional interests within medicine?
I am interested in women’s health and obstetrics, addiction medicine, LGBTQIA+ medicine and community medicine.
Favorite way to spend a day off?
(Other than sleeping) I enjoy hiking Mt. Lemmon, walking my dog (Eli), and biking the loop trail.
Top item on your "Bucket list"?
I hope to travel to all seven continents!
Stephanie Jones, MD
Where are you from?
I moved around a lot, so I consider myself to be from a few places! I partially grew up in a city outside of Los Angeles called Chino Hills, but I also consider myself to be from Columbus, Ohio where I spent my teenage years.
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine?
I felt that the program was a good fit in terms of culture and strong opportunities for career development, in addition to allowing me to serve a diverse patient population to make me a well-rounded family physician. I was also looking for a beautiful place where I would be happy to live!
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson?
All the hiking, watching the spectacular sunsets every night, and the amazing Mexican food!
What are your interests or hobbies outside of medicine?
I enjoy working out at the gym, going on hiking daytrips, going to the movies, touring museums and zoos, baking, and trying new restaurants!
What are your professional interests within medicine?
Sports medicine, women’s health, and adolescent health
Favorite way to spend a day off?
Either going for a long hike and spending the rest of the day lounging by the pool or going on an adventure to somewhere I’ve never been before!
Top item on your "Bucket list"?
Visit every continent in the world
Danielle Kulpins, MD
Where are you from?
I’ve lived my whole life in the Midwest until this point. I grew up in a suburb of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and I completed my undergraduate and medical school training in Cleveland, Ohio.
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine?
Aspects that excited me most about the program included the 2+2 program (repetition is key to longitudinal learning), the focus on integrative medicine, and the Spanish language/Healthcare Disparities Track. I also couples matched with my partner, so you may run into him in the Emergency Department!
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson?
The sunshine, hiking, trying new food
What are your interests or hobbies outside of medicine?
Hiking, camping, running, rock climbing, cooking and baking with my fiancé
What are your professional interests within medicine?
Sports medicine, adolescent medicine, working with Spanish-speaking patients, prevention and lifestyle medicine
Favorite way to spend a day off?
Wake up early, go for a trail run or hike, take a midday nap, enjoy the afternoon reading a book or hanging out with friends, and finish with a home-cooked meal
Top item on your "Bucket list"?
Hike the “O” in Patagonia
Benjamin Lombardo, MD
Where are you from?
New York, NY
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine?
I chose UA Family Medicine because I was drawn to the emphasis on outpatient care and integrative medicine. I feel that here I will have the support I need to find my own unique path in medicine.
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson?
I love the mountains and the communities around Tucson. I am a bit of a hippie, so you may catch me singing, dancing, or doing yoga and tai chi around town!
What are your interests or hobbies outside of medicine?
I am really into yoga, meditation, tai chi, acupuncture, and anything that moves and expresses the ineffable within us. I also like to play guitar, ski, hike, and dance.
What are your professional interests within medicine?
I am a firm believer in the body’s ability to heal, and our own power as individuals to align ourselves with that innate healing potential. It is my wish to help empower my patients to this understanding as well. To me, mind-body techniques are a great way to discover this for oneself, and I am fascinated by the research that is continually emerging on this subject.
Favorite way to spend a day off?
Spa day, hiking, or having an adventure with friends
Top item on your "Bucket list"?
Self-mastery
Kevin Ruaro, MD
Where are you from? Chalan Pago, Guam
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine? I chose UA Family Medicine for the well-rounded training, 2+2 curriculum, commitment to underserved populations, and integrative medicine. During my interview day, I could feel how enthusiastic the residents were, and the massive support they received from the faculty, both personally, and professionally.
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson? Year-round sunshine, learning the stories and cultures of its people, and the terrific food!
What are your interests or hobbies outside of medicine? Salsa dancing, playing guitar, cake decorating, running on “The Loop” around sunset.
What are your professional interests within medicine? Full-Spectrum Family Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Addiction Medicine, Palliative Care, Diversity in Medicine
Favorite way to spend a day off? Waking up slow, cooking a sweet and savory breakfast, playing with my dog, nap in the afternoon, then dancing with friends or playing video games in the evening.
Top item on your "Bucket list"? to drift a car.
Robert Woodruff, DO
Where are you from?
I grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas, and graduated from the University of Arkansas in 2010. However, I spent the last few years in Oregon for medical school.
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine?
I chose UA Family Medicine specifically because the people I worked with were kind, hardworking, and very good physicians. I like that Tucson is a mid-sized city with a huge amount of diversity. I also like the emphasis placed on integrative medicine.
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson?
The nearby mountains, good food, and long sunny days.
What are your interests or hobbies outside of medicine?
I enjoy almost anything that gets me outside, from road biking to day hikes. I am always happiest when I can balance work and still find time to be outside.
What are your professional interests within medicine?
My dream would be to live and work in a small active mountain town with a community-focused practice. That said, I also enjoy working with athletes and the unique nature of solutions they require to continue functioning at a high level in any given sport. Being a DO has taught me the utility of medicine being more active and following that up with a focus in sports medicine would be exciting.
Favorite way to spend a day off?
Hanging out by the pool and going for a quick walk up Tumamoc Hill
Top item on your "Bucket list"?
Rafting a river in Northern Alaska and seeing the northern lights.