Hailing from Taos, New Mexico, Sophie received her MD from the University of New Mexico in 2007, and completed her OBGYN residency in Florida in 2011. She received her CPA in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University in 2024. She is currently studying with the UNM Arts-In-Medicine program as well as completing training as a Physician Peer Coach.

She has a strong background in dance performance, creative writing and the humanities, as well as natural health practices and a holistic approach to her medical practice.

She currently practices part-time OBGYN in various New Mexico hospitals, both urban and rural. She also spends time raising two crazy boys, organizing one crazy husband, and feeding seven crazy hens at her home in the Rio Grande Valley in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Who is the (H)Arts in Medicine Team?

Sophie Peterson, MD, FACOG

CPA, Narrative Medicine

Founder and Director

Retreat and workshop lead

Leah N’Diaye, MA, PCC

Certified Co-Active Coach

ICF Professional Certified Coach

Founder, Lion’s Tooth Leadership Consulting, LLC

Retreat lead and consultant

Leah Shagam N’Diaye is an executive coach, consultant, and retreat facilitator who helps high-capacity individuals reconnect with clarity, purpose, and vitality. Raised in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque, New Mexico, she brings both a grounded presence and a global perspective to her work. Early in her career, Leah lived and studied abroad, earning a master’s in Human Resources and Organizational Science from Université Paris Dauphine IX. She later led leadership development for global teams in Silicon Valley, designing learning experiences across cultures. With a background in cultural anthropology, she leads with curiosity and a deep respect for context.

Leah also holds an MA in French Literature and is a Certified Co-Active Coach, an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and a Gallup Strengths Coach. She brings over 20 years of experience in leadership development, mindset coaching, and organizational effectiveness.

A passionate photographer and fluent French speaker, Leah spends summers in rural France with her husband’s family. She lives in Albuquerque with her husband and middle-school twins, where she juggles family life, multiple ventures, and her mission to make work and life better for others.