Biography
Dr. Valerie Romero-Leggott received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University in Cambridge, MA in 1982. She attended the University of New Mexico, School of Medicine, receiving her Medical Degree in 1992. Since completing her Family Medicine Residency, she has been a primary care provider for many years on the forefront of treating populations burdened by socio-economic, racial and ethnic disparities. Dr. Romero-Leggott is a leader in adolescent medicine, serving diverse populations. She has forged important bridges between the health sciences and New Mexico community groups, and has served as a trailblazer in creating cross-disciplinary programs. She currently serves as Vice Chancellor of Diversity in the Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at the UNM Health Sciences Center (HSC), Professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine, and as the UNM HSC Endowed Professorship in Equity for Health. Additionally, she serves as Executive Director of the Combined BA/MD Degree Program, a unique program created to promote the recruitment and retention of a diverse group of New Mexico high school seniors interested in practicing medicine in New Mexico?s areas of greatest need. Dr. Romero-Leggott has extensive experience in teaching cultural competence, developing educational pipeline programs for underrepresented youth, building a diverse health workforce, and providing mentorship and career development opportunities and guidance for diverse faculty, residents, students, and staff across the nation. She has been awarded grants totaling over $5.8 M to enhance diversity from middle school through professional degrees for underserved and underrepresented youth in the health professions. As a nationally recognized leader, Dr. Romero-Leggott has acted in numerous advisory and leaderships roles at the institutional, state, regional, and national levels; including as a past member of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Minority Health, and as President of the Hispanic Serving Health Professions Schools. She currently serves on the Executive Board of Building the Next Generation of Academic Physicians (BNGAP). She is a role model for young, female learners and professional women in the health sciences, and has had a profoundly influential career advocating for women of color. She values time with her amazing family and enjoys the peace and beauty of New Mexico?s mountains.
Personal Statement
I have a passion for and commitment to improving the health and well-being of our communities. My life has been a testament to what my mom and dad instilled in me and my siblings from an early age. I am a first generation college student, and Native New Mexican Hispana with strong roots in my cultural heritage. My parents graduated from high school, went into the workforce, got married, and had 5 kids in 7 years. Both of my parents worked hard to make ends meet. They taught us the values of hard work, education, being good to each other and others, and doing our best at whatever we tried. We were taught that our individual successes are a collective effort and that we stand on the shoulders of those who come before us. We all have someone or somebodies who have supported, challenged, pushed, mentored, loved and believed in us. It may be a family member, a teacher, a friend, a child, a coach, or a mentor. I too have these people in my life. In addition to my hard working, supportive parents, I have 4 siblings. We are a very close family and close extended family. I have also been blessed with a true partner in my husband, and my three children give me hope for the future. I have a 3rd family as well: the Health Sciences Center and the exceptional Office for Diversity team. I understand being underrepresented and the value of role modeling and mentoring. I have first-hand experience understanding the inequities that some populations suffer, and have witnessed the resilience and strengths that they have. We face challenging health disparities in this state, but our assets, the people of New Mexico, help us overcome these deficits with their strengths developed through connections with each other, stories, culture, and, critically, through education. My personal story and values have translated to a life-long career of honoring collective effort, and working to help open doors, and keep them open for those who follow. The HSC Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion runs extensive pipeline programs for students and faculty: education pipeline programs that create opportunities for our youth from middle school into the health professions. While these programs are aimed at health professions, the fundamental objective is for students to continue in their education, whether it be in law, business, engineering, social work, teaching, etc. Growing our own and supporting underrepresented populations to improve their education and reach their full potential is critical to the future development and well-being of communities. https://hsc.unm.edu/diversity/
Areas of Specialty
Health Workforce Diversity/K-20 Education Pipeline Programs for Underserved Populations Pre Faculty Development & Faculty Development Adolescent Health Health Equity & Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Unconscious Bias and Cultural & Linguistic Competence
Certifications
Licensed to Practice Medicine in New Mexico (1994-Present) Diplomate American Board of Family Practice (1997-2014)
Achievements & Awards
UNM HSC Endowed Professorship in Equity for Health, 2020 Valor and Excellence Award in Education, League of United Latin American Citizens, 2019 Women of Influence, Albuquerque Business First, 2019 New Mexico Women of STEM Award, Supercomputing Challenge Program, NM Women of STEM, 2019 UNM SOM Leonard M. Napolitano Award, 2015 Hispanic Health Leadership Award, National Hispanic Medical Association, 2012 Fellow, 2010-2011 Class of the Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM), 2011 Chavez Y Chavez Award, ?Walking the Talk?, Hispano Round Table of New Mexico, 16th Annual Tribute to Hispano Legislators, 2010 African American Community Diversity Award, State of New Mexico Office of African American Affairs, 2009 De Colores Leadership Award in Health, De Colores, Inc., Hispanic Culture Festival, 2008
Languages
- English
Courses Taught
Diversity of the Human Experience: Culture and Cultural Bumps, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine Diversity of the Human Experience: Culturally Responsive Communication, University of New Mexico, School of Medicine