Welcome Back Dr. Sanchez-Rotunnno

After recently welcoming back Dr. Jahanara Graf as a full-time general and trauma surgeon, Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital also welcomed back Dr. Maya Sanchez-Rotunno as a full-time OB/GYN at the beginning of May. Dr. Sanchez-Rotunno had worked within the Specialty Care Clinic last year for six months and has spent the previous six months working in Hawaii. "I just loved the patients and the co-workers when I was here, so when they offered me to come back for good, I had to say yes!," exclaimed Sanchez-Rotunno.

She grew up in and around the Houston area, attending college in Lubbock, Texas, medical school at the University of Texas in Houston and then completed her residency at the New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, N.Y. After graduating in 2015, she worked at a private practice in Clear Lake, Texas, a suburb of Houston, for six years. She credits the 2020 pandemic as being the catalyst in helping her shift geographic location.

"There is just nothing outdoorsy in the Houston area. It's such a big city, and I was getting burned out because of the pandemic so we decided to move around," explained Sanchez-Rotunno. She loved Montana from vacations she had taken, so decided to try out Glasgow and work at FMDH from May to October 2021. She then moved to Hawaii and worked there for six months. "While working in Hawaii, I really missed Glasgow, the patients and my co-workers. There is just so much small town charm here," she stated.

Her journey to becoming an OB/GYN started her third year of medical school when she did a rotation within the OB/GYN department. "My family laughs at me, because I wanted to be a surgeon when I started school," reflected Sanchez-Rotunno. "When I did the rotation, I realized I can do lots of things within the field and still be able to do surgeries. I am able to fix what's going on and it feels good to be able to completely fix a problem the patient is going through. Though I love the ER, I also love being able to have patients talk to me!," she laughed.

She finds helping patients regain confidence and lead normal lives rewarding by helping to fix problems such as incontinence and helping women who are struggling to get pregnant. She also loves welcoming new lives into the world by delivering babies. "When you see a doctor, it's usually because it's a difficult time in your life. I am able to be there for a patient's happiest time of their life," Sanchez-Rotunno stated. She also enjoys the relationships she is able to build with her patients. "I have treated generations of families, from grandmothers, to mothers to their daughters. It's nice to be able to be that person where others feel comfortable talking about uncomfortable topics to."

Her husband, John, is an oil and gas geologist and they share a fur-baby Max who is a blue merle border collie. In her free time, she enjoys spending time outdoors, including scuba diving, mountain biking, hiking and skiing. She also loves seeing new places and escaping to new places by reading. "I just love to be in nature and there is just beautiful nature here," she stated.

Since coming back, she has enjoyed the area she will now call home, though she admits the winter season will be her biggest challenge. "Everyone is so friendly and welcoming. I really like the ability to provide services that have been lacking. A lot of patients have already started to thank me for being able to treat them here instead of them having to travel," reflected Sanchez-Rotunno.

Dr. Sanchez-Rotunno is now seeing patients at the Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital Speciality Care Clinic, Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 406-228-3536.