Sarah Sobotka

Treating children who have developmental disabilities and providing advocacy and support for their families fills much of Sarah Sobotka’s day. A Fellow in developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the University of Chicago, Sarah has devoted many months of her life providing pediatric medical care in India, Africa, Haiti and Nicaragua. Locally, she organizes events for vulnerable families as vice president of the One Hope United auxiliary board.

A story from Sarah’s nominator and fiancé Elliott Riebman (whom she met at a YLD event) says it all:

“One example of how Sarah has made a difference is a story from when she volunteered with Project Medishare in Port-au-Prince, Haiti last summer. Sarah was treating a young  girl with a serious lung condition for which surgery was necessary. The hospital did not have proper medical equipment.Upon returning to Chicago, Sarah connected a local pulmonologist with an individual who had offered to donate funds to support individuals in Haiti, and coordinated funding for the specialist’s trip., The surgery was a success!”

Sarah can sing, too – she is a former member of the University of Chicago Medical School a cappella group aptly named, “Say Ahh!”

Age:
31

Primary gig:
Fellow in Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, University of Chicago

On the side:
Cooking, running, ultimate Frisbee, yoga and these days, planning a wedding!

Relationship status:
Engaged

How do you give back?
I have the privilege and pleasure of a career serving and advocating for families of children with disabilities. My role over the last several years with One Hope United Auxiliary Board has been devoted to the volunteer committee. We’ve organized events to support, entertain and educate vulnerable families in and around Chicago.

Celebrity doppelganger or Who would you play in a movie:
Why, Meryl Streep, of course! We don’t look alike—but she can play anybody!

How do you Jew in Chicago?
After meeting my fiancé at a Jewish United Fund Young Leadership Division event, I will be forever indebted to JUF and the events that bring young professionals together! In medical school, I was chair of our Jewish Medical Student Association at the University of Chicago. These days, I’m going to services on special occasions and I’m involved with the JUF Physicians and Surgeons Division

Passions:
Traveling to faraway places that require mosquito nets, enjoying live music and new restaurants with close friends, cooking and entertaining at home.

If time and money were limitless, I would:
Keep my job as a developmental pediatrician, but never work on the weekend or past 4 p.m. I’d travel more and bring family and friends along! 

Chicago's Jewish community in 10 years:
Chicago’s Jewish community in 10 years, as we always have, will continue to meet the needs at home and abroad in order to support Jewish people and families to live healthy, happy, productive lives.

Me in 10 years:
A working mom preparing to celebrate my 10-year wedding anniversary with a fabulous trip somewhere