Karissa Wasiak, MD, MPH

Where are you from? Las Vegas, Nevada
Why did you choose UA Family Medicine? I chose UA Family Medicine because on my interview day the residents, faculty, and staff made me feel like I fit right in! I was also excited about the clinic immersion scheduling, research opportunities, and emphasis on underserved populations. Plus, I wanted a program that allowed me to practice and improve my Spanish skills.
What are you most excited about for life in Tucson? Coming from Las Vegas, I’m a fan of warmer weather, so I’m excited to experience a new desert climate. I’m really looking forward to exploring all the mountains and trails of the area with my husband and my dog. I’ve also heard a lot about the great rock climbing around the area and am looking forward to conquering some of it!
What are your interests or hobbies outside of Medicine? I love to bake bread, train with my dog, hike, rock climb, try new board games, puzzle, and try new places to eat.
What are your professional interests within Medicine? Broadly, public health and working with underserved populations. I have a lot of other potential interests, like sports medicine and academics, but I’ll have to see where residency takes me.
Favorite way to spend a day off? My dream day off is hiking a new trail with my husband and our dog in the morning, finding a great lunch spot, and then relaxing with friends playing board games or trivia in the evening.
Top item on your "Bucket list"? I think it would be so fun to host a pop-up restaurant or bakery one day with my husband, but more realistically I really want to become fluent in Spanish.