LAS CRUCES, N.M., Oct. 6 – After an extensive search, the New Mexico Primary Care Training Consortium is pleased to announce the appointment of Mary Alice Scott, Ph.D., as its new executive director. Having served in the interim role since January, Scott’s leadership and dedication to the consortium’s mission have ensured the ongoing success of the organization.
“I am really honored to have been selected as the executive director for the NMPCTC. I look forward to supporting the mission of NMPCTC to improve the quality of primary care health services in our state through developing and supporting primary care residency programs, especially in rural and underserved areas,” Scott said. “I am also excited to work with our board to expand the way that we think about how we support health equity work in the state and collaborating with other organizations who are doing similar work.”
Since 2018, Scott has been the associate program director for the Southern New Mexico Family Medicine Residency Program in Las Cruces. She has been instrumental in advancing the program’s social medicine initiatives, including creating training curricula emphasizing population health.
“My role as associate program director at SNMFMRP gave me experience in a leadership role within graduate medical education and gave me the opportunity to learn in depth about daily administration of a residency program,” Scott said.
Since 2011, she has been a professor of anthropology at New Mexico State University, specializing in medical anthropology. Recently, Scott led the Research and Education About Cancer and Health Disparities Core, funded by the National Cancer Institute, aiming to diversify the cancer research community.
Scott is also active in the community, advising two local nonprofits: the Doña Ana Wellness Institute and Junt@s Vamos. The institute acts as the health council for Doña Ana County, while Junt@s Vamos, based in Ciudad Juarez, supports underserved community members, especially women, facing challenges like accessing affordable health care or navigating migration processes.
“I am genuinely delighted to welcome Dr. Scott as our new Executive Director,” said William Bowen, M.D., NMPCTC Board President. “She brings a depth of experience and innovative thinking that will undeniably steer the NMPCTC to greater heights, and make us a more effective, robust and impactful organization.”
Scott will also continue as the consortium’s Director of Social Medicine and Education, a position she’s held since 2022.
About the New Mexico Primary Care Training Consortium
Founded in 2013, The New Mexico Primary Care Training Consortium’s mission is to promote access to healthcare for the residents of New Mexico by improving the quality of essential health care services and the primary care workforce in the state. Through the support and development of new and innovative training opportunities for primary care residents and providers throughout the state, the NMPCTC and its partners are able to provide all New Mexicans with high quality healthcare.
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