Submit your concerns, questions and suggestions to appear on our monthly agenda.
505-272-5849
The HSC Committee meets to discuss the research, clinical, operational, financial and educational aspects of the UNM Health Sciences Center and UNM Health System. The committee makes recommendations to the Board of Regents on issues such as:
Members also review all HSC medical center reports on accreditation, patient care, quality assurance and licensure. For a full scope of committee responsibilities, please view the Regent’s Policy Manual.
Any member of the public with an interest in the HSC may attend meetings. To submit an agenda item, please email the Executive Administrative Assistant to the Executive Vice President & CEO, Jessica Santana-Price at jsantanaprice@salud.unm.edu or call 505-272-5849.
Attend an HSC Committee meeting. View the executive calendar for upcoming dates, times and locations.
Copies of upcoming agendas will be available in the HSC Public Affairs Office at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Agendas for the last year can be downloaded below:
Past agendas dating back to 2011 are located on the UNM Digital Repository.
Meeting minutes will be posted as soon as possible after each meeting. Previous meeting minutes can be found below or on the UNM Digital Repository.
Attend an HSC Committee meeting. View the executive calendar for upcoming dates, times and locations.
Copies of upcoming agendas will be available in the HSC Public Affairs Office at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. Agendas for the last year can be downloaded below:
Past agendas dating back to 2011 are located on the UNM Digital Repository.
Meeting minutes will be posted as soon as possible after each meeting. Previous meeting minutes can be found below or on the UNM Digital Repository.
HSC Committee members are chosen by the President of the Board of Regents each year. The co-chairs of the committee are responsible for preparing the agenda for the committee meetings.
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.
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.
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.
Term Ending: 12/31/2026
For recommendations on broader UNM issues, we invite you to connect with the UNM Board of Regents.
