Biography
Eve Espey, MD, MPH, is Distinguished Professor and immediate past Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of New Mexico. A past President of the Society of Family Planning, the Council of University Chairs of OB-GYN, and current Chair of the ACOG Contraceptive Equity Expert Work Group, she has been nationally recognized for her leadership in advancing reproductive health. Dr. Espey received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Family Planning (2024), the Rashbaum Award for Excellence in Family Planning (2013), the Margaret Sanger Award from Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains (2014). She has delivered the ACOG Irvin Cushner Memorial Lecture twice, addressed the United Nations on intimate partner violence in Native American women, and was instrumental in achieving ACGME subspecialty status for Complex Family Planning. A prolific educator and mentor, she has won annual medical student teaching awards throughout her 28 year career at UNM and has twice been named Best Clinical Faculty by graduating students, while also leading statewide initiatives to expand access to contraception and improve maternal health outcomes in New Mexico.
Personal Statement
I have worked in New Mexico for 34 years—first as a staff physician at the Gallup Indian Medical Center for six years and, for the past 28 years, as a faculty member at the University of New Mexico. It has been a privilege to serve in this state and to learn alongside colleagues, staff, learners, patients and community members. My career has focused on education and mentoring, particularly of medical students, as well as research on contraception, postpartum contraception, and advocacy for reproductive health, rights, and autonomy, with a strong commitment to birth
equity and safe maternity care. In my clinical practice, I care for women and people throughout reproductive age spectrum with a primary focus on family planning, including contraception and abortion care.
Areas of Specialty
Complex Family Planning
Miscarriage and abortion care, including medically complicated care
Basic and complex contraception
Family Planning service implementation
Care through Metropolitan Detention Center
Education
6/1997 - 6/2002 Master of Public Health University of Washington, Seattle, WA Public Health
7/1987 - 6/1991 Certificate of Postgraduate Medical Training University of California, Irvine, CA Resident in Obstetrics & Gynecology
7/1983 - 6/1987 Doctor of Medicine University of California, Irvine, CA Medicine
9/1981 - 5/1983 Bachelor of Science University of California, San Diego, CA Biology
9/1979 - 5/1980 Northwestern University, Chicago, IL Undergraduate Studies
9/1977 - 5/1978 Harvard University, Boston, MA Undergraduate Studies
Certifications
American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Certified 1993, #30653
Recertified yearly from 2004 through 2013 #917935
ACLS certification current, 2013
Fellow, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, 1/1/1995-Present
Achievements & Awards
Medical Student Teaching Award, UNM Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1997-2025
Lifetime Achievement Award, Society of Family Planning, 2024
Gender
Female
Languages
- French
- English
Courses Taught
Complex Family Planning fellowship didactic curriculum
Research and Scholarship
Palm H, Degnan J, Reese A, Biefeld S, Espey E, Hofler LG. Implementing immediate postpartum LARC in rural New Mexico. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2020;222(4S):S911.e1-S911.e7.
Espey E, Yoder K, Hofler L. Barriers and solutions to improve adolescent intrauterine device access. J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol 2019;32(5s):s7-13.
Hofler LG, Cordes SD, Cwiak CA, Jamieson DJ, Kottke M. Implementing immediate postpartum long-acting reversible contraception programs. Obstet Gynecol 2017;129(1):3-9. Featured article.
Hofler LG, Hacker MR, Dodge LE, Schutzberg R, Ricciotti HA. Comparison of women in department leadership in obstetrics and gynecology with other specialties. Obstet Gynecol 2016;127(3):442-447.
Hofler L, Hacker MR, Dodge LE, Ricciotti HA. Subspecialty and gender of obstetrics and gynecology faculty in department-based leadership roles. Obstet Gynecol 2015;125(2):471-476.