University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center

INTERNATIONAL HEALTH

Department Affiliated with International Organizations
The University of New Mexico Department of Family and Community Medicine plays an important role internationally in innovations in medical education and community health services. Department faculty are in leadership roles in international organizations which serve as non-government organizations affiliated with the World Health Organizations and with non-profit organizations helping health and economic improvement in developing countries. Dr. Kaufman is Secretary General of The Network: Towards Unity for Health, Dr. Heffron is on the Executive Committee of the World Federation of Family Doctors, and Dr. Tomedi is on the Board of PeaceCraft.

North-South Axis University
The University of New Mexico is a “North-South Axis University,” meaning it has special relationships with Latin American universities. Thus, the institution encourages residents to travel abroad, especially to Central and South American countries and when UNM Family Medicine residents spend elective months studying and providing service in Latin America, they continue to receive their salary.

Family Medicine Residents Abroad
Over the years, UNM Family Medicine residents have spent elective months in many countries in Latin America including Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Uruguay, Chile and Brazil. They have spent time in other developing countries as diverse as Kenya and Vietnam. We always ask of our residents who go abroad to be ambassadors of our department, to share their experience in family medicine with their hosts and to bring back to our program what they learn abroad. UNM Family Medicine residents have participated in annual, international meetings of The Network, and in rural research and development projects in Latin America.

For more information  If interested in finding out more about resident participation in international programs, please contact Art Kaufman, MD, Chair at akaufman@salud.unm.edu