NMPCTC – Page 2 – New Mexico Primary Care Training Consortium

Join Our Emerging Leaders Group!

Are you a medical student or resident in NM who’s interested in networking and collaborating to build essential leadership skills and make a lasting impact in healthcare? Then join our Emerging Leaders Group!

Join us on Friday, January 24, 2025 from 5-6 pm MST for our call out meeting and help shape the future of this exciting new program! Your ideas will guide key decisions on meeting frequency, location, program goals, and overall structure; plus you’ll get a chance to learn about our current faculty development schedule and the STFM Emerging Leaders scholarship opportunity!

Contact Lezley Alba and Amanda Castillo for more info!

Press Release: Scott Departs as NMPCTC Executive Director

LAS CRUCES, NM – It is with both sadness and gratitude that we announce the departure of Dr. Mary Alice Scott as Executive Director of the New Mexico Primary Care Training Consortium (NMPCTC). Dr. Scott has accepted a new role as Director of GME Development with the NCGME Technical Assistance Center at the University of North Carolina Sheps Center for Health Services Research.

Dr. Scott’s leadership has been instrumental in advancing NMPCTC’s mission for the equitable development and sustainability of quality primary care residency programs in New Mexico. She first served as the organization’s Director of Social Medicine and Education before becoming Interim Executive Director in January 2023. In October 2023, she officially assumed the role of Executive Director, overseeing key initiatives to support and strengthen primary care residency programs across the state. These included the successful rollout of the new Medicos de El Centro Family Medicine Residency Program in Española, and the development planning of new primary care residency programs in Las Cruces, Farmington, and Las Vegas, NM.

Reflecting on her time with NMPCTC, Dr. Scott said:

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time working with NMPCTC to support access to high-quality primary care in New Mexico through supporting excellent training programs. I have learned so much from our partners, staff, and board and really appreciate all the time they have spent with me strengthening our organization and what we can offer to programs throughout the state. While I am sad to be leaving this position, I am excited about the new opportunities I will have to work with programs serving rural and underserved communities in North Carolina and nationally. I feel very confident that our incredible staff and board will continue to build and strengthen our organization in the years to come.”

Although Dr. Scott’s departure marks the end of her tenure at NMPCTC, as an organization we remain committed to our mission and vision of fostering a high-quality primary care workforce that meets the diverse health needs of all communities across New Mexico.

The staff and board extend their deepest appreciation to Dr. Scott for her leadership, dedication and vision, and we and wish her all the best as she takes on this exciting new role.

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 aim to provide all New Mexicans with high quality healthcare.

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Download Press Release (PDF)

Request for Applications: NM HCA FY2026 GME Expansion Grant

NM Health Care Authority Now Accepting Applications for FY2026 GME Expansion Grant

The New Mexico Health Care Authority (HCA) invites eligible institutions and residency programs to apply for the FY2026 Primary Care Physician Training Expansion Grant. This funding supports the creation of new First-Year GME residency positions in primary care or psychiatry by establishing or expanding residency programs in New Mexico.

Key Highlights:

Available Funding: $1,000,000 total.
Awards: Dependent on number of applications received, requested amounts, and the amount of funding available.
Eligibility: Open to institutions, including hospitals and federally qualified health centers, interested in creating or expanding primary care or psychiatric GME programs.
Deadline: Applications are due by February 21, 2025, at 1:00 p.m.

Complete details, including full eligibility requirements and program development priorities, can be reviewed on the application page or by downloading the RFA Document linked below. For those who missed the RFA information webinar hosted by the NM Primary Care Training Consortium (NMPCTC), you can access a copy of the presentation’s slides on the NMPCTC’s website.

For additional information or assistance, please contact Elisa Wrede at elisa.wrede@hca.nm.gov; or Nicole Mandall at nmandall@nmpctc.org.

Download RFA Document

Register and Apply for HCA’s GME Residency Expansion Funding

Faces of Family Medicine: Karen Vaillant, MD

Gandhi once said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” In this month’s article, Faces of Family Medicine has the honor of sharing the story of someone who exemplifies this sentiment daily, Dr. Karen Vaillant.

Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, Dr. Vaillant spent her weekends in the small rural village where her grandparents resided. It was there that she witnessed firsthand how the power of community can be a source of strength and resilience. This belief continued to grow as she watched her mother, a nurse with the Ontario Health System, launch the first mobile clinic and meal support service for unhoused patients in their area. By witnessing her mother provide not only healthcare but also essentials like food and clothing to those in need, Dr. Vaillant saw the profound healing that medicine can bring to underserved patients. These experiences planted the seed of medicine as an act of service, a principle that continues to guide her in her multiple roles as a rural and academic family medicine physician.

Dr. Vaillant took an unconventional path to becoming a physician. She devoted ten years to nursing, where she provided compassionate care, but felt a strong drive to contribute even further. At twenty-nine, without any family or close friends in medicine, she boldly decided to pursue her goal of becoming a doctor. Although it was not easy- returning to university, she juggled part-time nursing shifts on weekends to support herself, while taking extra courses in the summer to finish her degree a year early. Through late nights and rigorous coursework she persevered, knowing that her hard work would pave the way for her future patients and her acceptance to medical school.

Upon graduating university, Dr. Vaillant went on to earn her medical degree from the University of Western Ontario School of Medicine and completed her residency at the McMaster Family Medicine Residency Program. After residency, she excelled as a private practice family physician. However, she soon felt called to extend her service beyond the confines of her clinic—and even beyond her home country. Recognized for her expertise and dedication, Dr. Vaillant was invited to become a founding member and Program Director of the Eastern New Mexico Family Practice Residency Program in Roswell, New Mexico. For 18 years, she wholeheartedly embraced this role, guiding resident physicians through the unique demands of rural medicine and encouraging them to become integral parts of their communities. Under her leadership, the program graduated over forty-five family medicine physicians, many of whom chose to stay and serve rural areas of the Southwest, inspired by her mentorship and the strong foundation she built within the program.

The challenges of practicing medicine in rural settings are not for the faint of heart. More often than not, Dr. Vaillant was the first and last line of defense for her patients. Whether managing chronic diseases in her clinic or rushing to the hospital in the middle of the night for emergencies, she faced each challenge with courage and skill. What truly sets Dr. Vaillant apart, however, is her deep connection with her patients.

As a dedicated lifelong learner, she acknowledges the vast amount of knowledge that family medicine physicians, especially those in rural areas, must continually seek. When a patient once needed access to a neurologist but was unable to travel due to financial limitations, Dr. Valliant took it upon herself to undergo further training in basic neurological diseases, ensuring her patient received the care they needed. Her legacy of trust, compassion, and commitment to serving rural populations was even commemorated by a tree and plaque placement at the Eastern New Mexico Medical Center.

Dr. Vaillant’s career stands as a testament to the idea that physicians in rural areas can continue to advance professionally. She has been an active member and leader in several New Mexico state and county medical societies, including the New Mexico Academy of Family Physicians and the Dona Ana County Medical Society. Today, Dr. Vaillant serves as the Assistant Dean of the Eastern New Mexico Regional Academic Center and the Family Medicine Clerkship Director at Burrell College. Two roles in which she teaches future doctors not only clinical skills but also the importance of being trusted advocates in their communities.

While this article only highlights a fraction of her work, her journey as a family medicine physician reminds us that medicine is not just about treating illness; it’s about building relationships, fostering community, and, above all, caring deeply for the people you serve.

What is National Rural Health Day?

National Rural Health Day is a celebration founded by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health that highlights the impact and achievements of rural healthcare providers. Rural physicians develop deep connections within the local community often being the sole life-line for many patient’s health needs. To learn more about national rural health day at: https://powerofrural.org/

About the Authors

Anamaria Ancheta is a first-year medical student at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Cell Biology from UC San Diego in 2021 and is passionate about increasing educational and mentorship opportunities for other Latinas through her involvement as a college mentor for MANA de San Diego and Vice President of the Burrell Latino Medical Student Association. As the daughter of two farmer workers turned military veterans she is dedicated to increasing access to healthcare services to those in rural and underserved communities as a future family medicine physician.

With her maternal family having resided in the Mesilla Valley of New Mexico for over 80 years she was greatly inspired to serve as a New Mexico AHEC scholar. Through which, she has been able to share about her research on investigating the underlying factors of high cesarean section rates and adolescent pregnancies amongst Latinas in the border region. As an osteopathic medical student she believes in the healing power of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) and serves as the president of the Burrell Student American Academy of Osteopathy Organization. In her free time, Anamaria enjoys capturing memories as a photographer.

Marc James Thor Uy, a New Mexico AHEC scholar, is deeply committed to making a meaningful impact in healthcare. He is a second-year osteopathic medical student at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine, driven by a dedication to holistic wellness and community-centered care. With a master’s in public health nutrition from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s in microbiology from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, Marc James has a diverse academic background that enriches his understanding of health from various perspectives.

Marc James’s professional expedition has mirrored this diversity, encompassing roles such as Medical Assistant and Research Project Coordinator, alongside his volunteer work within healthcare settings. He has had the privilege of contributing to research endeavors focused on elucidating and enhancing child nutrition and family health behaviors. Outside of studying, Marc James finds fulfillment in community service and music, being trained in classical Opera and Broadway styles. His aspiration is to practice full-spectrum Family Medicine, advocating for its importance in addressing diverse healthcare needs. Through his dedication, Marc James aims to advance Family Medicine as a cornerstone of healthcare.

Faces of Family Medicine: Amanda Provencio, MD

Dr. Amanda Provencio’s journey in medicine highlights that no matter the obstacles we face we are capable of thriving and succeeding in medical school and our careers. From a 2.0 GPA in high school to being inducted in the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical School Honor Society, Dr. Provencio’s life demonstrates that we too can overcome impossible odds.

While her story is unique, her story highlights many common obstacles faced by underrepresented and first-generation students. Coming from a low income single parent household, Dr. Provencio lacked financial and educational support in her early years especially in college requiring her to work full time. As a first generation student, she struggled to learn how to study leading to a low GPA in which advisors pointed to as a supporting fact for her to not apply to medical school. Despite these roadblocks, Dr. Provencio never lost sight of her goal to become a physician.

Dr. Provencio’s life leads to the core pillars of family medicine: advocacy, social justice, and community. Her initial interest to pursue medicine was sparked from witnessing her grandmother’s experience with diabetes. Dr. Provencio watched helplessly as a young child at how a lack of preventative care and affordable medication ultimately led to her grandmother’s early death from an extremely treatable disease. As the Associate Program Director for the Southern New Mexico Family Medicine Residency Program, she plays a vital role in guiding the program’s success, ensuring it meets ACGME standards while fostering a safe and supportive learning environment. With thirty residents in the program, she oversees their development, helping them grow into skilled and compassionate healthcare providers. Through her leadership, she not only shapes the future of healthcare in the region but also inspires residents to carry forward the values of community care, compassion, and clinical excellence. Her dedication to the program ensures that each resident receives the education, guidance, and support they need to thrive in their careers, making a lasting impact on the lives of the patients they serve. Dr. Provencio is able to not only educate residents about social determinants of health but incorporate solutions for patients that she was unable to provide for her own family. Her focus on social justice and community medicine has shaped her practice as a physician to go far beyond treating her patients’ illnesses. She meets them where they are, often acting as their advocate, health navigator, and, for many, their last lifeline. From working with asylum refugees to uninsured patients, Dr. Provencio has worked to improve their lives from requesting free wound care visits, assisting patients in applying for insurance, and looking for more affordable but still high quality medications to meet patients financial limits and health needs.

As one of the two percent of Latina physicians in the United States, she is a beacon of light for other underrepresented and non-traditional students. Her passion for addressing the intersectional health needs of her home community is at the heart of family medicine and echos the dreams of many family medicine physicians determined to address the gaps in healthcare that affected our loved ones due to decreased access in rural areas, lack of financial stability to afford healthcare services, or worry of deportation.

Her success as physician is equally leveled with her role as an amazing mother. Her academic achievement in medical school while cultivating a family illustrates how we do not have to choose between being a great physician or being a wonderful mother. In fact Dr. Provencio’s academic achievements nod to the immense and vast knowledge required to be a family medicine physician and accurately navigate a patient’s care, an often overlooked and underappreciated fact that has been misconceived by students pursuing family medicine. Family medicine has allowed Dr. Provencio to practice a breadth of medicine she thought was impossible. Through family medicine, she built lasting relationships with both her patients and their families—helping with everything from delivering babies to providing support during palliative care.

What is National Latino Physician Day?

National Latino Physician Day (NLPD) celebrates the contributions of Latino and Latina physicians, who make up just 6% of the U.S. physician workforce despite Latinos comprising 19% of the nation’s population. NLPD aims to raise awareness about this disparity, advocating for systemic change and encouraging the next generation of Latino physicians. The mission of NLPD is driven by the health disparities disproportionately affecting the Latino community, including challenges faced by non-English speaking and undocumented patients. The COVID-19 pandemic has amplified these issues, highlighting the urgent need for greater Latino physician representation. More information on the NLPD movement can be found on their website here.

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Faces of Family Medicine is a biopic project founded by Osteopathic Student Doctors, Anamaria Ancheta (OMS-I) and Marc James Thor Uy (OMS-II). Dedicated to uplifting the untold stories of the diverse workforce of family medicine, this biopic project strives to inspire the next generation of family medicine physicians.

If you are interested in sharing your story please reach out to them via email at familymedicinefaces@gmail.com.

About the Authors

Join Lezley Alba for Border Breakfast!

Don’t miss out on this month’s Border Breakfast series, where Lezley Alba will be presenting a comprehensive review of New Mexico’s critical physician shortage crisis and NMPCTC’s vital role in addressing this challenge.

Lezley’s presentation will offer valuable insights into how strategic expansion and development of residency programs are crucial for fostering healthcare provider recruitment and retention in our state. Plus, she’ll share actionable strategies for community involvement and how you can contribute to making a difference.

Border Breakfast is a monthly series where groups from the area come together to discuss common border issues, including health and wellness.

This month’s meeting takes place August 7 at 7:30 am, so click this Zoom meeting link and join us for this informative session with Lezley!

2024 Didactic Series: Charlie Alfero

NMPCTC founder Charlie Alfero leads our next didactic lecture with an oral history of rural health care development in New Mexico. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Charlie share insights from his nearly 50 years of experience working in rural health policy and systems development in NM!

After participating in this session, attendees will be able to:

Understand the evolution of access to health care in underserved New Mexico communities through data-supported storytelling.

The NMPCTC Didactic Series is FREE to attend and open to all, particularly primary care residents and health care providers in New Mexico!

Faces of Family Medicine: Jessica Dauphin, MD, MBA

Dr. Jessica Dauphin’s path to becoming a physician is one of pure grit and perseverance, fueled by a passion to not only care for her community but forge the way for others like her to follow. Born and raised in south Florida, her journey was filled with many challenges, rejections, and moments of self-doubt. However, through sheer determination and an unwavering passion for medicine, she has overcome these obstacles to become a compassionate and dedicated family medicine practitioner.

From a young age, Dr. Dauphin was drawn to the field of medicine through her love of science and the human body. She was further encouraged and inspired to pursue a career in healthcare by her family after witnessing her father complete medical school in the United States after his academic credits from an international medical school were not accepted. Early in her pre-medical career, Dr. Dauphin faced numerous setbacks, including rejection from post-bacc programs and struggling with standardized tests like the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). However, Dr. Dauphin never wavered in her determination to become a physician. Her journey took an unconventional turn when she pursued her medical education at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara in Mexico. Despite the challenges Dr. Dauphin experienced as an International Medical Graduate (IMG) returning to the United States to practice medicine, she shares how grateful she is for the experience. She recalls how her difficulties presenting patient cases to attending physicians in Spanish during medical school developed her ability to address the need of Spanish speaking physicians here in New Mexico. A skill that has allowed her to complete full visits with Spanish-speaking patients during her residency program which has fostered language inclusive environments for patients and reduced the workload on hospital translators. As an IMG, she remembers her frustration and hardships obtaining licensure in the United States. Dr. Dauphin details how she took the heartbreak she experienced after failing a United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) board exam to propel her forward in her academic efforts to where she now serves as a tutor to help students succeed in their board exams.

One of the pivotal moments in Dr. Dauphin’s journey was her decision to specialize in family medicine. Her draw to family medicine stemmed from the ability to have a diverse scope of practice and provide holistic care to patients of all ages. A decision that has been solidified during her residency program where she has thrived, serving as the residency program’s previous social medical coordinator and member of the wellness committee. Her dedication to fostering community extends from her fellow residents to her patients, often being found visiting patients who have been admitted to the hospital and callings to check in with patients during the weekend.

As a firm believer in paying it forward, Dr. Dauphin actively engages in volunteer work, providing medical services to underserved communities and mentoring aspiring physicians, especially those from underrepresented backgrounds. Her commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in her efforts to inspire the next generation of physicians, particularly those who, like her, have had to overcome significant obstacles to pursue their dreams. She recounts her own experiences during her undergraduate years feeling sidelined by academic advisors to pursue a different career. An experience that drives her to provide resources to underrepresented and low socioeconomic students who do not have a support system to navigate becoming a physician. Currently, Dr. Dauphin provides mentorship to medical students through volunteering with local student organizations such as the Black Health Education Alliance and Family Medicine Interest Group at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Looking back on her journey, Dr. Dauphin offers valuable advice to her past self and aspiring physicians. She highlights the importance of perseverance and self-reflection. As well as a willingness to step out of one’s comfort zone with her phrase “be comfortable with being uncomfortable”. She encourages medical students interested in family medicine to explore the diverse opportunities within the field and not limit themselves to traditional outpatient settings.

Dr. Dauphin also acknowledges the challenges and sacrifices inherent in the medical profession, from the demanding workload to the emotional toll it can take. Yet, she finds solace and fulfillment in the relationships she builds with her patients and the impact she makes in their lives. As we close our article we leave you with Dr. Dauphin’s advice for the incoming interns, “Remember where you came and why you’re here! It is not easy and your mental, emotional, and physical capacity will be challenged. But if you keep your eyes on the prize, this too shall pass.”

Congratulations to the incoming intern class of family residents, we cannot wait to see the positive change in the world you will make!

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If you are interested in sharing your story please reach out to them via email at familymedicinefaces@gmail.com.

About the Authors

2024 Didactic Series: Ashten Duncan, MD, MPH, CPH

Dr. Ashten Duncan, Medicos de El Centro Family Medicine Residency core faculty member, and 2024 graduate of the UNM-Santa Fe Family Medicine Residency Program, joins us to share his expertise on public health theoretical frameworks and their practical application to primary care challenges in New Mexico!

After participating in this session, attendees will be able to:

Define public health and list its ten essential services.
Describe the various components of the public health infrastructure of New Mexico.
Identify several common theoretical frameworks in public health, including the social-ecological model, health belief model, and social cognitive theory.
Apply the aforementioned frameworks to common primary care challenges in New Mexico.

The NMPCTC Didactic Series is FREE to attend and open to all, particularly primary care residents and health care providers in New Mexico!

Faculty & Staff Development: Allison Casola, PhD

Join us on June 26 as Dr. Allison Casola, Assistant Director of the Primary Care Research Fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA, leads a presentation designed to equip attendees with the knowledge needed to recognize different types of publishable work, identify areas for personal growth in writing and publishing, and explore ways to enhance their writing productivity.

The NMPCTC Faculty and Staff Development Sessions are FREE to attend and open to all, especially primary care residency program faculty and staff in New Mexico! Current primary care residents interested in learning more about developing residency program faculty leadership skills are also encouraged to attend!