Kelsey Tunison, MD

Where are you from?

I was born and raised in Boise, ID, headed off to Virginia for college and then returned West to Seattle, WA for medical school. My “home base” throughout medical school was North Carolina where my other half was living, and now is Colorado where he has moved and where we own a home.

What are your personal interests/hobbies?

Mostly eating, drinking beer and sleeping. I also probably love my cat and my partner an uncomfortable amount. Don’t worry I like doing all of the other normal EM doc things too.

What are your professional interests?

This is embarrassing, but I kind of want to have a second job contracting as an EM doc with a government agency like the CIA or FBI on the side. I also want to become a boss with an ultrasound, not be afraid of sick children and to explore the field of critical care.

Why did you choose UA EM?

UA trained my most adored mentor and role model and had everything I was looking for in my training and more (volume, acuity, great pediatrics exposure, mixed clinical environment, diverse patient population, etc.). It was also the program that just felt like my “fit” even though it was my last (zoom) interview. I got off of all of the happy hours telling my guy “I just really want to be around these people.”

Favorite activity in Tucson, or what attracted you to Tucson besides the residency program?

I love sun, heat and desert scenery and from what I hear I think I am going to love the food, drink and nearby adventures that Tucson has to offer even more. The opportunity to relearn Spanish is also something I am very excited about.

What are your non-medical goals during residency?

My #1 goal is and always has been to maintain my health and relationships while giving my all to this career. I’d also love to become fluent in Spanish again, get better at shooting, take a bartending class and maybe inspire my partner to finally marry me. I should also probably buy sunscreen for the first time.