Mariah Mthembu, MD

Where are you from? I grew up in Berkeley, California, and did undergrad in Colorado and medical school in Utah.

Why did you choose the College of Medicine – Tucson Pediatrics Residency Program? I loved the variety of opportunities, both inpatient and outpatient, to work with children with developmental disabilities (my passion). I was also excited about the variety of different continuity clinics we offer and how much resident learning is prioritized.

What are your current professional interests and career goals? I am going to do a fellowship in developmental pediatrics.

What are your personal interests and hobbies? I love going out to eat, having friends over for dinner and going for hikes. I had my son during my second year of residency, so things have turned out to be more focused around spending time with my family, but food continues to be a driving force in my life.

What is your favorite thing about Tucson? I love all the restaurants. When I moved here, the program had told me that the food was good, but, man, have I been impressed. Plus, there are always festivals and new restaurants opening.

What are your nonmedical goals during residency? One of my goals was to have a kid, so I am proud of that. A big part of why I chose residency here was that I wanted a program to see me as a person first and a doctor second. I have kept this mindset throughout residency.