Carolyn Cottrill, MD

(she/her/hers)

Carolyn joined CU Boulder as a Pre-Health Advisor in Summer of 2023. She is excited to be working with pre-health students to help them grow, explore career paths, and become the best health professions candidates possible!

Carolyn has a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and received an MD from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. After several years of working with patients in a clinical research setting, she took a long break to raise her two children, who are both proud CU Boulder graduates! She has spent the past 13 years as a secondary science instructor and has experience teaching chemistry, biology, AP biology, forensic science, and anatomy & physiology. Carolyn’s favorite part of being a high school teacher has always been making connections with students and getting to know them personally. After working with high school students for over decade, she is very excited to transition into working with students in higher education. She feels that strong personal relationships strengthen her ability to help students navigate challenges, make decisions, and achieve their goals. She is happy to say that she is still in touch with many students who were in her classes a decade ago, and she is grateful for the opportunity to forge meaningful relationships with pre-health students at CU!

Carolyn is a NYC native but has adored the Colorado landscape and vibe since she first visited in 2009. In her free time, she can be found taking advantage of the many beautiful hiking trails in the Front Range, checking out the shops in Estes Park, or hanging out in Nederland. She is a huge animal lover and lives with a spirited Dutch Shepherd mix, Duke, a very old but still lively Beagle named Prosper, and a gorgeous, loving Siamese cat, Patchy. She is an avid reader (Stephen King is a favorite) and dedicated baseball fan. Carolyn dreams of getting an RV and travelling around the country with her husband, Rich, visiting every major league ballpark there is!