Meet the Team

Melissa Romine
Sr. Marketing & Communications Director
Office phone: (505) 925-2418
mromine@salud.unm.edu

Operations

Marketing

Looking to market or promote your program? Our team is here to help. Our priority is to provide you with strategic marketing and design that achieve your goals. Tell us your objectives and ideas. We’ll listen, suggest options and talk deadlines. You’ll get the best from experienced professionals.

Start by submitting a request form.  We’ll review your idea as soon as possible and get back to you with any questions. Once we collaboratively develop a plan, we will open a project and begin working. You’ll be asked to review drafts and provide feedback before it’s finalized.We can assist you with a variety of creative and brand services. Work with us to keep your materials on-brand, strategize a marketing plan, support research and maximize your marketing budget.”

Communications

The UNM Health Sciences Communications team is responsible for external and internal communication, UNM Health Sciences headshots, photography and video production.

Our team can help you with preparing news releases, writing and reviewing feature stories, responding to media queries, handling interview requests as well as setting up news conferences and media events. Internally, our team creates the Health Sciences Connects weekly email newsletter, send out special announcements and organize Town Hall meetings.

The Communications team is on-hand to answer your inquiries. Reach out to one of team members below to start working with us. On weekends or after hours, call the UNM Hospital switchboard at 505-272-2111 and ask the operator to page the Health Sciences Communications on-call representative. Please leave your phone number, and we will return your call as soon as possible.

Kandace Donaldson
School of Medicine Academic Communications Specialist
kaedonaldson@salud.unm.edu

Patient Communications Disclosure

For patients involved in newsworthy events, the Health Sciences Communications on-call representative can provide the patient's condition, if available. The conditions used by UNM Hospital are:

• Critical—Immediate threat to life: Patient may be conscious or unconscious. Vital signs are unstable and indicators may be unfavorable. Patients are on life support.
• Serious—Possible threat to life: Patient is acutely ill and may be conscious or unconscious. Vital signs are stable. Indicators are questionable.
• Satisfactory/Stable—No Probable Threat to Life: Patient may be uncomfortable, but is conscious, alert, awake and able to communicate with staff. Patient is not intubated. Vital signs are stable and within normal limits. Indicators are favorable.

Under the federal privacy law, it is required that you provide a patient's full name when requesting a condition. To avoid confusion and wrong information, the communications on-call representative will not be able to provide a condition without the patient's name.

Social Media

All social media channels of The University of New Mexico Health Sciences are maintained by designated staff members. We follow the university's core values and uphold the brand. 
Read our social media policy and social media managers guide to learn more. 

If you have an announcement, event or other information to share on one or more of our social media outlets, we are here to help.  

Michelle Nichols
Social Media Content Specialist
MGeissler@salud.unm.edu

Create Your Post  

When considering a post to your department’s social media, please follow these guidelines: 

• Keep patient information confidential
  We adhere to The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), which means we do not release confidential information without consent of the patient.
• Consider your audience
  Think about who is on each social media channel and where your message will resonate most when requesting a post. 
• Be trustworthy 
  Building a strong social following is best built on trust. We understand that you may want to get a message out and attract people's attention. However, sharing our story should never be embellished with misleading information. 
• Be respectful 
  Always include copyrights and credits when applicable. Get written permission before using photos or posting quotes. 
• Maintain branding 
  Use the Health Sciences Style Guide to follow brand tone and language. 
• Ask for help 
  We can advise you on the best way to convey your message.