Office of Development & Alumni Relations
La Tierra Sagrada, Spanish for "The Sacred Earth," was established in 1996 by Paul Roth, MD,
Dean of the UNM School of Medicine, and is a member-driven organization dedicated
to medical education, research, and healing. In creating this giving society, Dean Roth focused on bringing
together members of the UNM medical community, it's partners, and the public to pool membership funds for greater impact.
The Society's mission is to promote the excellence of the UNM School of Medicine within our community
and to provide financial assistance, fellowship, and volunteerism through membership.
Competitively Selected Community Grants
Annual contributions of the society's members support exceptional programs and/or cutting-edge research at UNM School of Medicine - all
selected through a competitive review process.
Programs have the potential to impact health and health care across the state, the nation, and throughout the world.
Each selected project advances the relations between the School of Medicine community and the public communities it serves; provides
outreach; improves health/health care; may support an innovative research project; actively involves medical students.
In addition, the project describes how its community-based partner(s) will be involved, and what resources the partners will contribute
to the project.
Honoring the 2009 Community Grant Recipient
La Tierra Sagrada Society is proud to announce this grant is sponsored and fully funded by Posada Consulting, Inc,
MarieAnn North, CEO, with a 100 percent match from the society.
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School Influenza Immunization Program
for Bernalillo, Sandoval & Valencia Counties
Awarded $35,276
Lance Chilton, MD
Associate Professor of Pediatrics - UNM SOM
Anna Pentler, MPH, MBA
Ex. Dir. NM Immunization Coalition
Office of Community Health
UNM Health Sciences Center |
Following the recent CDC recommendation to immunize all school-aged children against influenza, a 2008-2009 collaboration of
school and public health nurses, immunization activists, a UNM physician and a Kirtland Air Force Base physician developed a school
immunization plan for New Mexico.
Highly successful, it immunized 35 percent of the child population at 76 schools statewide, including eight schools and 1,500
students in Albuquerque. It involved several medical and nursing students and community volunteers among the many dedicated to
protecting children.
In this second year, 2009-2010, we plan to markedly expand the program in the Albuquerque metro area — three counties, 43 schools
and 30,000 students — again involving medical, nursing, and pharmacy students. The educational component for students and site staff
is essential to the program design. Vaccine is provided by the New Mexico Department of Health. Funding directly supports this effort
at community solidarity and education for the all-important coordination of the numerous participating volunteers and providers.
2009 Scholarship Recipients
Providing Scholarship Funds to Retain Our Brightest Students
La Tierra Sagrada Society Dean’s Endowed Scholarship
Heidi Hillesland          Class of 2010          $5,000 
La Tierra Sagrada Society Dean’s Endowed Scholarship
Heidi is a native of Silver City, NM.
“Currently applying for internal medicine residency, I anticipate I will be completing a fellowship in infectious diseases
following residency. I intend to become a physician scientist who works both as a clinician and researcher on a disease that
disproportionately afflicts the poor.”
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La Tierra Sagrada Society Member-Sponsored Scholarships
As a benefit of his LTSS Gold Level Member, Vance Masci, MD is the scholarship sponsor for Laura Caragol and Elaina Sandoval. Dr. Masci
has been a member of the society since 2004.
Laura Caragol          Class of 2012          $2,500 
Sponsored by Vance Masci, MD
Originally from eastern Pennsylvania, Laura has called Edgewood, NM, home since she was eight years old.
“My aspiration is to be an ophthalmologist. In the future, I seek to open an eye clinic for the medically underserved in
Albuquerque. In addition, I hope to teach young, aspiring doctors, and medical professionals to educate their communities about
eye health, and be involved in improving limited ophthalmology medical access around the state.”
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Elaina Sandoval          Class of 2012          $2,500 
Sponsored by Vance Masci, MD
A native of Albuquerque, Elaina’s family is one of the founding families of Old Town.
“Having my own children and seeing the many health issues that plague our young generation, I am moved to integrate more
preventive medicine into our schools. One project involves a nutrition program that integrates healthy eating and
exercise as a primary means of teaching math, reading, colors, and more. This would provide young children with a
better foundation for health.”
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La Tierra Sagrada Society Scholarships
Mary Seiler          Class of 2012          $2,500 
LTSS Scholarship
Mary is a native of Taos, NM.
“I want to work in an environment that values health care equality — where people with nothing are treated as well as people with
everything. I want to remember that I do not have to be a prisoner to policy, but I can help create it. Every one of my patients
should feel that I provided them with the best care I could.”
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Jessica M. Valdez          Class of 2011          $2,500 
LTSS Scholarship
Jessica is a native of Española, NM.
“While volunteering at Camp Enchantment — a camp for children who have ever had cancer — an experience shaped my idea of medicine. I
witnessed the excitement of kids running up to physicians like Dr. Stuart Winter with their arms open, giving and getting huge hugs.
It made me realize just how important it is to be compassionate, intelligent, hard working, and caring. These are the qualities that
make up a great doctor.”
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Jamie R. Ruiz          Class of 2012          $2,500 
LTSS Scholarship
Jamie is a native of Albuquerque, NM.
“This year I organized the El Salvador Outreach Project with a group of six medical students interested in the global demand
for medicine. Our travels will take us to rural El Salvador, participating in public health initiatives, youth sports outreach,
and HIV education. This type of work makes me feel like I belong in the medical field, and I enjoy sharing my passion with other
students so that they may come to care deeply about people in need.”
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Jesse Y. Howell          Class of 2011          $2,500 
LTSS Scholarship
Jesse is a native of Las Cruces, NM.
“I hope to return to my roots in southern New Mexico and work in a specialty, such as dermatology, radiology, or ENT. After
completing medical school, I look forward to practicing in that area of our state and continuing medical research activities as
well as giving back to the community by volunteering time at St. Luke’s Health Clinic, which serves homeless and indigent populations.”
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Using 100% of annual membership donations, La Tierra Sagrada Society, directly benefits the School of Medicine
through medical student scholarships and seed money for community research partnership grants, which can include new equipment
and technology to keep our patient care and education programs at the cutting edge of science and medicine.
Since 2003, La Tierra Sagrada Society has contributed more than $398,000 in support of medical student scholarships
and community-based grants.
How to Join
For more information about becoming a member, please call
Joanne Branyon-Ward, Associate Director of Development, at 505.272.8413 or e-mail
JBranyon-Ward@salud.unm.edu.
2009 - 2010 Officers and Board Members
Jamie Ricci, President, CPA
Deborah Helitzer, ScD, President Elect
Jeffrey Griffith, PhD Immediate Past President
Board Members
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Holly Shipp Buchanan, EdD
L. Ben Curet, MD
Jeff Doll
Diane Klepper, MD
Chris Merchant, MD
Scott Obenshain, MD
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Jettie Omdahl
William Rayburn, MD
Richard Shoberg, MD
Holly Traver
Agnes Walker
Tom Williams, MD
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