EQUITY - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Multimedia Services Manager
Job Titles:
- Member of the Clinical Operations Leadership Team
- Vice President for Academic Affairs
Amy Levi, PhD, is the Albers Endowed Professor of Midwifery at the UNM College of Nursing and was selected as the Director for the Office of Interprofessional Education at UNM Health Sciences Center effective July 2016. She has undergraduate degrees in Nutrition from Hampshire College (1975) and in Nursing from Widener University (1985).
Her MSN (1986) and PhD (2000) are from the University of Pennsylvania. Prior to her appointment at UNM in 2012, she was engaged in full scope midwifery practice and on the faculty at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, the University of Vermont School of Medicine, and the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine.
Dr. Levi's research and professional interests encompass interprofessional care in sexual and reproductive health, unintended pregnancy management, and midwifery education. She developed an interprofessional education program in obstetrics at the San Francisco General Hospital before relocating to New Mexico. Recent publications address the development of competencies in sexual and reproductive health, patient-centered miscarriage management, and updating the annual gynecological exam.
She is a Fellow in the American College of Nurse-Midwives and the American Academy of Nursing.
Job Titles:
- Distinguished Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the University of New Mexico
- Leadership
- Vice President for Community Health
Leadership
Office of the Executive Vice President
HSC Leaders
Richard Larson, MD, PhD
Michael Richards, MD, MPA
Amy Levi, PhD, CNM, WHNP
Valerie Romero-Leggott, MD
Arthur Kaufman, MD
Kate Becker, JD, MPH
Robb McLean, MD
Jamie Silva-Steele, RN, BSN, MBA, FACHE
HSC Committee
Homeless Coordinating Council
Strategic Plan
Biography
Dr. Kaufman is a distinguished Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the University of New Mexico. He received his MD from the State University of New York, Brooklyn in 1969, and completed his residency in Internal Medicine at St. Vincent's Hospital in New York in 1974.
He served in the U.S. Indian Health Service in South Dakota and New Mexico, before joining the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of New Mexico in 1974. Dr. Kaufman helped initiate the Primary Care Curriculum in New Mexico, which became an international model for change by innovative track in traditional medical schools. He is the Director of New Mexico's WHO Collaborating Center. In 1999, he was elected Secretary General for the Network: Towards Unity for Better Health-- a WHO-affiliated, NGO. He received national and international teaching awards including the "5 Star Doctor Award" from WONCA in 2008. In 2015, he was elected to the National Academy of Medicine/Institute of Medicine.
He has over 70 publications, has written four books, and has received numerous federal and private foundation grants.
Dr. Kaufman's specialties and certifications include:
Internal Medicine
Family Medicine
Job Titles:
- Senior Advisor to the Dean and Professor
Job Titles:
- Communications & Outreach Specialist
Job Titles:
- Marketing Manager, UNM School of Medicine
Job Titles:
- Brand Manager
- Graphic Designer
Job Titles:
- Communications Manager & News Media Contact
Job Titles:
- Executive Administrative Assistant to the Executive Vice President for Health Sciences, CEO, UNM Health System
Job Titles:
- Administration
- Professor and Interim Executive Vice Dean
Dr. Carolyn Montoya, Professor and Interim Executive Vice Dean at the UNM College of Nursing, received her bachelor's degree from the College of Nursing, University of New Mexico; master's degree from Yale University; and PhD from the University of New Mexico as a Fellow of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Nursing and Health Policy Collaborative. She has had a progressive career of teaching at the undergraduate and graduate levels and served as Chair of the Practice Team and Coordinator of the Family and Pediatric Nurse Practitioner concentrations. Prior to her administrative appointments, Dr. Montoya maintained a clinical practice as a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner. Dr. Montoya is a past president of New Mexico (NM) Nurse Practitioner Council, the American College of Nurse Practitioners (now a part of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners) and a past president of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. The NM Center for Nursing Excellence selected her as the 2020 Distinguished Nurse of the Year. Dr. Montoya remains active in regards to influencing policy issues concerning scope of practice as well as children's health. She completed a four-year appointment on the U.S. Health and Human Services Rural Health Committee and currently serves on the NM Medicaid Advisory Board as well as the NM Board of Nursing Advanced Practice Advisory Committee.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Clinical Operations Leadership Team
- Executive Vice President for Health Sciences, CEO, UNM Health System
Job Titles:
- Member of the Clinical Operations Leadership Team
- Senior Vice President for Clinical Affairs at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center
Leadership
Office of the Executive Vice President
HSC Leaders
Richard Larson, MD, PhD
Michael Richards, MD, MPA
Amy Levi, PhD, CNM, WHNP
Valerie Romero-Leggott, MD
Arthur Kaufman, MD
Kate Becker, JD, MPH
Robb McLean, MD
Jamie Silva-Steele, RN, BSN, MBA, FACHE
HSC Committee
Homeless Coordinating Council
Strategic Plan
Biography
Dr. Mike Richards is Senior Vice President for Clinical Affairs at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center. He is also currently serving as the Interim Dean of the UNM School of Medicine.
Dr. Richards has a background as both an administrator and physician, having served as Director of the UNM Center for Disaster Medicine and Medical Director of the EMS Bureau at the New Mexico Department of Health. He is also a professor and former chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine and former Chief of Staff at UNM Hospital.
Job Titles:
- Nexus Award, 2020, National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education, for Montgomery County, MD Interprofessional Team Care Clinics
Job Titles:
- Assistant Dean of Professional Graduate Programs
Gina C. Rowe, PhD, DNP, MPH, FNP-BC, BC-ADM, PHCNS-BC, FNAP, is a clinician educator - associate professor and Assistant Dean of Professional Graduate Programs at the University of New Mexico (UNM) College of Nursing. She previously taught in graduate and undergraduate nursing for 19 years at four other universities in Texas, South Dakota, and Maryland and has practiced as a family nurse practitioner (FNP) for 16 years in multiple community settings, including school-based wellness centers, federally qualified health centers, hospital-affiliated community clinics, home health, retail care, and two mobile clinics, caring for underserved populations. She has precepted over a hundred FNP students in clinical rotations, co-designed interprofessional clinical experiences with other health professions faculty (pharmacy, dentistry, dietetics, and social work), and precepted interprofessional students in team-based care. Her research interests stem from her practice and include interprofessional care to manage chronic conditions, potentially preventable hospital and emergency visits, and place-based health inequities. She has received funding to develop interprofessional clinical experiences for health professions students, including after-school education programs for pediatric obesity prevention and interprofessional team care for complex patients with diabetes and other co-morbidities. Dr. Rowe and colleagues have gained national recognition for demonstrating that patients receiving team-based care can experience significant improvements in health outcomes. She is a Fellow of the National Academies of Practice. Her philosophy of education is based in adult-centered learning concepts and recognizes the importance of problem-centered learning.
Dr. Rowe earned a PhD, DNP and post-masters FNP certificate from the University of Maryland School of Nursing and a Master of Public Health, Master of Science in community nursing, and Bachelor of Science in nursing from the Johns Hopkins University Schools of Public Health and Nursing. She served for two years with the U.S. Peace Corps in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Co - Chair
- Chairman of Committee
- New Mexico and the Senior Partner
Jack L. Fortner is an attorney in Farmington, New Mexico and the Senior Partner in the Firm of Fortner & Beckstead, LLC.
Fortner grew up in Farmington, New Mexico and graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1978 and obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree. While at UNM he was a student senator and a member of the NMPIRG Board. He was also a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. Fortner then obtained his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Michigan in 1981.
Regent Fortner was appointed to the Board of Regents by Governor Michelle Lujan-Grisham for the term of January 2021 through December 2026. Regent Fortner was first appointed to the Board in 1998 by Governor Gary Johnson to a six year term of 1998 to 2004. In 2004, Governor Bill Richardson re-appointed Regent Fortner to the Board of Regents for a term from 2004 to 2010. Governor Susanna Martinez re-appointed him from 2010 to 2016. Regent Fortner is the only person in New Mexico to ever be appointed to four terms , on the Board of Regents for UNM.
Jack Fortner served as President of the Board in 2005, and has also served as President for the years 2011-2012, 2012-2013, 2013-2014 and 2014-2015.
Job Titles:
- Leadership
- President and CEO, Sandoval Regional Medical Center
Leadership
Office of the Executive Vice President
HSC Leaders
Richard Larson, MD, PhD
Michael Richards, MD, MPA
Amy Levi, PhD, CNM, WHNP
Valerie Romero-Leggott, MD
Arthur Kaufman, MD
Kate Becker, JD, MPH
Robb McLean, MD
Jamie Silva-Steele, RN, BSN, MBA, FACHE
HSC Committee
Homeless Coordinating Council
Strategic Plan
Biography
Jamie Silva-Steele has over 35 years of progressive experience in an academic healthcare environment. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of New Mexico, she began her career as a pediatric nurse and worked in the general and sub-acute nursing units at the University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH).
As her career progressed, she obtained her Master's in Business from the University of Phoenix, and moved into leadership roles within the organization, taking on director positions and serving as an Administrator for Ambulatory Services at UNMH.
In 2013, Ms. Silva-Steele joined UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center (SRMC) as its interim Chief Operating Officer and has been serving as its President and CEO since 2014.
She was a National Association of Public Hospitals (NAPH) fellow from 2011-2012 (now known as America's Essential Hospitals). She participated in the Disparities Leadership Program through the Disparities Solution Center of Massachusetts General Hospital from 2009-2010 and was a recipient of The Disparities Leadership Program Award for "Recognition of Excellence in Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care." In addition, in 2014 she received the Governor's New Mexico Distinguished Public Service Award for her work in addressing disparities in health care while serving at UNM Hospital. Ms. Silva-Steele is board certified as a Fellow of the American College of Health Executives (FACHE).
Ms. Silva-Steele has served on the Hospital Services Corporation (HSC) Board of Directors since 2014, the New Mexico Hospital Association (NMHA) Board of Directors since 2015 and the New Mexico Healthcare Executives (NMHE) Board of Directors since 2016.
Job Titles:
- Director of Strategic & Enrollment Services
Schneider received a Doctor of Philosophy in nursing and health science, as well as a Master of Science in Nursing with a family psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner concentration from the University of Rochester. She received a Master of Arts in Counseling from Western New Mexico University, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Columbia University and a Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College.
Job Titles:
- Public Relations Specialist
Job Titles:
- Director of Health Sciences Rio Rancho Nursing
Job Titles:
- Chief Executive Officer
- CEO, UNM Hospitals
- Leadership
Leadership
Office of the Executive Vice President
HSC Leaders
Richard Larson, MD, PhD
Michael Richards, MD, MPA
Amy Levi, PhD, CNM, WHNP
Valerie Romero-Leggott, MD
Arthur Kaufman, MD
Kate Becker, JD, MPH
Robb McLean, MD
Jamie Silva-Steele, RN, BSN, MBA, FACHE
HSC Committee
Homeless Coordinating Council
Strategic Plan
Biography
Kate Becker joined UNM Hospitals (UNMH) as Chief Executive Officer in July 2018. UNMH, home to the State's only Level 1 Trauma Center, annually manages more than 71,000 emergency visits, 7,000 trauma cases, 20,000 surgeries, and 530,000 outpatient visits. UNMH is the State's only academic medical center and is the primary teaching hospital for the UNM School of Medicine. UNMH cares for a large, diverse population with complex and urgent health needs, providing more than $44 million of uncompensated care per year.
Kate came to UNMH from SSM Health, in St. Louis, Missouri. During her years with SSM Health, she served as President of SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital, the primary teaching hospital of Saint Louis University; interim President of SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital; and President of SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital.
Before joining SSM Health, Kate was the CEO of SLUCare, the faculty practice plan of Saint Louis University.
Kate currently serves on the boards of America's Essential Hospitals, the New Mexico Hospital Association, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, and Lobo Energy. She also serves on the Tocqueville Campaign Committee of the United Way of Central New Mexico. Kate received her bachelor's degree, and her master's degree in public health, from Saint Louis University. She received her Juris Doctor degree from the Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Clinical Operations Leadership Team
- CEO, UNM Hospitals
Job Titles:
- Interim Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
Job Titles:
- Nurse - Midwifery Program Coordinator
Job Titles:
- University Marketing Representative
Job Titles:
- Social Media Content Specialist
Job Titles:
- Senior Marketing & Communications Director
Job Titles:
- Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Education
- University of New Mexico College of Nursing As an Associate Professor
Dr. Tinkle joined the University of New Mexico College of Nursing as an Associate Professor in 2010 and is the Chair of Research and PhD Studies. She was at the National Institutes of Health where she served for about a decade as Research Training Director for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) and as Scientific Review Officer for the Center for Scientific Review. Her clinical and research background over the past 30 years has been in health promotion in the community, particularly working with women and underserved populations. Dr. Tinkle has particular interest in genetic nursing scholarship, with specific training at the NINR Summer Genetics Institute (SGI), both as an attendee and as SGI Program Director for 6 years. She has served in leadership roles on several national nursing initiatives directed at building research skills in genetics among nurse scientists as well as increasing genetic knowledge and skills in nursing education. Dr. Tinkle is actively involved in the University of New Mexico Clinical and Translational Science Center in the Community Engagement and Research Core and with UNM Comparative Effectiveness Research initiatives.
Job Titles:
- Direct Admission BSN Program Director / Lecturer II
- Lecturer II
Mitch Irvin, MSN, RN, is a Direct Admit Option Director and Lecturer II for the University of New Mexico, College of Nursing. He received his Master of Science in Nursing degree from Eastern New Mexico State University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from the University of New Mexico. Prior to joining the UNM College of Nursing early 2021, Irvin worked as a Clinical Educator for several years at the Central New Mexico Community College.
Job Titles:
- External Communications Manager
Job Titles:
- Associate Dean for Research & Scholarship and Professor
Paul B. Roth, announced his plan to retire in 2020. Learn more about his contributions.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Clinical Operations Leadership Team
- Leadership
- Vice President for Research, HSC
Leadership
Office of the Executive Vice President
HSC Leaders
Richard Larson, MD, PhD
Michael Richards, MD, MPA
Amy Levi, PhD, CNM, WHNP
Valerie Romero-Leggott, MD
Arthur Kaufman, MD
Kate Becker, JD, MPH
Robb McLean, MD
Jamie Silva-Steele, RN, BSN, MBA, FACHE
HSC Committee
Homeless Coordinating Council
Strategic Plan
Job Titles:
- Member of the Clinical Operations Leadership Team
- CEO and President, UNM Medical Group
- MHCM
Robert L. Schwartz is the Henry Weihofen Professor of Law Emeritus at the UNM School of Law. After joining the UNM law faculty in 1976, Schwartz focused his research and teaching in the emerging field of Health Law and has gone on to become a nationally recognized scholar in the area of bioethics, bringing this expertise into School of Medicine classrooms.
Schwartz has co-authored several textbooks on health law and has served on the editorial boards of the Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, Journal of Contemporary Health Law and Policy and the Medical Law Review. Through the World Health Organization, he has worked as a consultant on health legislation in Cambodia, Tonga and Vietnam.
Schwartz has previously served as General Counsel for the New Mexico Human Services Department and the Chair of the New Mexico Health Policy Commission. Schwartz holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
Job Titles:
- Accelerated BSN Program Director
Job Titles:
- Professional Graduate Programs
Job Titles:
- Communications & Outreach Specialist
Job Titles:
- Leadership
- Vice President and Executive Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer, HSC
Leadership
Office of the Executive Vice President
HSC Leaders
Richard Larson, MD, PhD
Michael Richards, MD, MPA
Amy Levi, PhD, CNM, WHNP
Valerie Romero-Leggott, MD
Arthur Kaufman, MD
Kate Becker, JD, MPH
Robb McLean, MD
Jamie Silva-Steele, RN, BSN, MBA, FACHE
HSC Committee
Homeless Coordinating Council
Strategic Plan
Biography
Dr. Romero-Leggott is a first-generation college student and native New Mexican Hispana with strong roots in her cultural heritage. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University and her medical degree from the University of New Mexico (UNM) School of Medicine. Dr. Romero-Leggott serves as Vice President and Executive Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer for the UNM Health Sciences Center, as Professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine, and as the UNM HSC Endowed Professorship in Equity for Health. She also serves as Executive Director of the Combined BA/MD Degree Program, a unique program that promotes the recruitment and retention of a diverse group of New Mexico high school seniors interested in practicing medicine in New Mexico's areas of greatest need.
She has been a primary care provider on the forefront of treating populations burdened by socio-economic, racial and ethnic disparities; and has extensive experience teaching cultural competence, developing educational pipeline programs for underrepresented youth, building a diverse health workforce, and providing mentorship and career development opportunities and guidance for diverse faculty, residents, students and staff locally and across the nation.
She has been awarded grants totaling over $11M to enhance Diversity, Equity & Inclusion from middle school through professional degrees for underserved and underrepresented youth. These include serving as PI for New Mexico Health Careers Opportunity Programs (HCOP) Academy as well as PI for the New Mexico Workforce Diversity Center of Excellence.
Dr. Romero-Leggott is a role model for young, female learners and professional women in the health sciences and has had a profoundly influential career advocating for women of color. She values time with her family and enjoys the peace and beauty of New Mexico's mountains.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Dean of Clinical Affairs
- Assistant Dean of Clinical Affairs and Clinician Educator, Associate Professor
Van Roper, PhD, RN, FNP-C, is a clinician educator - associate professor and the clinical medical director of Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) Primary Care AHEC ECHO Clinic and the Psychiatric Mental Health NP ECHO Clinic at The University of New Mexico College of Nursing. He has been in clinical practice for more than 25 years, primarily in rural, frontier and urban underserved populations, ranging from Georgia, Alaska, Oregon and Arizona, including at the Mexico border. In 2014, he established and continues to direct the first primary care and exclusively nurse run ECHO clinic by launching the Primary Care ECHO Clinic at the University of New Mexico (UNM), Project ECHO Institute. The most recent innovation includes a collaboration between the Primary Care ECHO Clinic and the New Mexico Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) funded Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) creating a virtual central hub to support rural clinicians and health sciences students in interprofessional healthcare statewide. Dr. Roper has extensive experience in rural health care both as a clinician and administrator on a national and international level.
Dr. Roper received his Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing from the University of Arizona in Tucson, his Master of Science in Nursing from Georgia State University in Atlanta and his Associate's Degree of Nursing from Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia.
Victoria Yu, DNP, JD, RN, is a clinician educator assistant professor at The University of New Mexico (UNM) College of Nursing. Dr. Yu has had a varied career in Nursing, Risk Management and Medical Legal Consulting as well as program development. Her nursing experience is medical surgical, case management, home health and nursing education. She has been involved in nursing education since 2005, focusing on medical legal issues, nursing administration, medical- surgical nursing and community health. She forged her knowledge of medical legal issues in risk management and served as a testifying witness as well as an advocate for patient related issues especially patient safety and health care compliance. Her medical legal consulting was in domestic violence as well as child maltreatment issues. She consulted on cases in the district and federal court. She was part of the UNM CON initially as part of the VA Nursing Academic Partnership (VANAP) in order to work collaboratively with UNM CON and the New Mexico Veteran's Administration HealthCare System. Dr. Yu has returned to the UNM CON to further the excellent education of future and present nurses.
Bill Payne was raised in Albuquerque, and following completion of undergraduate and graduate degrees at the University of New Mexico, entered the Navy in 1975. During his first 11 years of active duty, he served in Underwater Demolition Team ELEVEN, SEAL Team ONE, the U.S. Naval Academy, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Naval Special Warfare Unit ONE. Additionally, the Navy sent Bill to Georgetown University where he earned an MA in Government and a certificate in National Security Studies, eventually earning a Navy designation as a Middle East/Africa/South Asia Politico/Military sub-specialist.
Returning to Albuquerque from active duty in 1986, Bill completed his JD degree at the University of New Mexico School of Law where he was Associate Editor of the Natural Resources Journal. He is currently licensed to practice law in New Mexico and the District of Columbia.
Bill was made an Honorary UNM Letterman in 2012, and was recognized by the UNM Alumni Association with the Higher Education Distinguished Legislator Award in 2013.
Bill eventually became the first career reserve Navy SEAL to be promoted to Rear Admiral. He served in the Navy for nearly 35 years of active and reserve service including multiple
recalls to active duty before retiring in October of 2009. Among his senior level positions, he served as Deputy Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy at United States Central Command, Director of Operations at United States Special Operations Command, and Deputy Commander, United States Navy Special Warfare Command.
First elected to the New Mexico Senate in 1996, Bill was the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, a member of the Energy Council, a Commissioner of the Uniform Law Commission, and the recognized leader for utility, veteran/military affairs, and natural resource issues in the Senate. He served as Minority Whip for 12 years.
Bill is married to Deborah Payne, a retired Commander U.S. Navy, and a retired manager at Sandia National Laboratories.