Biography
Dr. Diaz completed a BA in Psychology at Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. She earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific. She subsequently completed her residency in General Psychiatry at the University of New Mexico and practiced psychiatry across New Mexico during consecutive fellowships in Geriatric Psychiatry followed by Sleep Medicine, at the University of New Mexico.
Personal Statement
Throughout her training, Dr. Diaz became increasingly aware that disturbed sleep contributes to myriad medical and mental health disorders. She was compelled to pursue a fellowship in sleep medicine during her exploration of ways to address delirium and insomnia in the geriatric population, and has often quipped that she loves improving lives by prescribing air. She strives to promote wellness rather than treat illness by helping others prioritize and optimize their sleep to improve physical and mental health. Dr. Diaz enthusiastically teaches a wide range of topics to a broad and varied audiences. From patients, to learners at different points in their medical training, from people in our community, to healthcare workers across the country who participate in various Project ECHOs (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) programs, Dr. Diaz is passionate about empowering others to use newly acquired knowledge to help themselves and others improve their quality of lives.
Areas of Specialty
Behavioral Sleep Medicine, Clinical Education, Facilitation of addiction medicine, ECHO
Certifications
Adult Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, a member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties. Geriatric Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, a member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties. Sleep Medicine, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, a member Board of the American Board of Medical Specialties.
Gender
Female
Languages
- English
Courses Taught
Sleep Physiology, Pharmacology and Sleep Disorders Neuroscience Block, UNM Medical Student Year 1. 2017-2020. Didactic seminars for psychiatry residents PGY 1-4, and sleep medicine fellows covering topics including normal sleep, sleep disorders, sleep in the elderly, effects of psychotropic medications on sleep, sleep and mental health disorders, sleepiness and fatigue during medical training, and board review preparation. 2016- present. Case-based facilitation in Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine for for Project ECHOs including: FAME (Facilitation of addiction medicine echo), IHS HIV ECHO, IHS HCV ECHO, and as a guest speaker for other ECHOs. In addition to weekly ECHO faculty facilitation, a sample of presentations and panels include: - Alcohol Use Disorder Part 1. Presenter, Facilitation of Addiction Medicine ECHO (FAME) Session. Re-occurring in 16 week intervals 2017-2020. -Alcohol Use Disorder Part 2. Presenter, Facilitation of Addiction Medicine ECHO (FAME) Session. Re-occurring in 16 week intervals 2017-2020. - IHS Clinical Readiness and Patient Care: Resiliency. Panelist, IHS COVID-19 TeleECHO Session. 5/14/2020. - HIV and Sleep. Presenter, HIV IHS ECHO. 9/11/2019 - Providers for PLWH: Feeling the Burn of Burnout. Presenter, NMAETC HIV ECHO. 8/27/2019. - Presenter, Managing Bipolar Disorder. Behavioral Health and Addiction (BHA) ECHO. 8/9/2019. Community Presentations include: - Twired: A Yawn for Insomnia. Community Behavioral Health Telehealth Seminar, 11/18/2019 and Sandia National Laboratories Annual Health Fair, 8/22/2018. - The Scoop on Sleep. Albuquerque, NM. La Vida Llena Retirement Community, 11/15/19, and The OASIS Institute, Albuquerque OASIS Center, 9/26/2018. - The Symphony of Sleep: Sleep and the Brain. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. Albuquerque, NM. 4/12/19 - Questions and Answers About Sleep. UNM Health Hour, KKOB Radio Show. 9/9/2018. - “Your Dazzling Brain: A Symphony of Sleep.†UNM SOM Brain Awareness Week, Annual Community Event. Albuquerque Academy, 3/13/18.
Research and Scholarship
Diaz S.V., Brown L.K. Is Idiopathic Central Sleep Apnea a Separate Entity? Commentary on: Javaheri S, McKane S. Transvenous phrenic nerve stimulation to treat central sleep apnea. [published online ahead of print, 2020 Sep 18]. J Clin Sleep Med. 2020; jc-20-00157. doi:10.5664/jcsm.8802