The voting membership of the HSC Inclusive Excellence Council is comprised of its leadership; Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) Executive Officers (EOs); and At-Large Representatives.
At-Large Representatives are selected by application by the HSC Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. They are appointed for 2-year terms to represent various stakeholder groups within the HSC including Learners, Staff, Faculty, and Alumni.
DEI Executive Officers (EOs) are appointed by the Dean/CEO/Highest-Level Executive of each of the ten entities that comprise the UNM Health Sciences Center. EOs are directly responsible for leadership on matters of DEI within their entity and act as a liaison between their entity’s executive and the IEC. Complete DEI EO Roles and Responsibilities can be found here.
Valerie Romero-Leggott, MD
She, Her, Ella
Chair, Inclusive Excellence Council
HSC-VicePresidentDEI@salud.unm.edu
Dr. Romero-Leggott is a first-generation college student, native New Mexican Hispana with strong roots in her cultural heritage. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard University and her medical degree from the University of New Mexico (UNM) School of Medicine. Dr. Romero-Leggott serves as Vice President and Executive Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer for the UNM Health Sciences Center (HSC), as Professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine, and as the UNM HSC Endowed Professorship in Equity for Health. She also serves as Executive Director of the Combined BA/MD Degree Program, a unique program that promotes 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. She has been a primary care provider on the forefront of treating populations burdened by socio-economic, racial and ethnic disparities; and has extensive experience teaching cultural competence, developing educational pathway 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 locally and across the nation. Dr. Romero-Leggott is a role model for young, female learners and professional women in the health sciences and has had a profoundly influential career advocating for people of color. She values time with her family and enjoys the peace and beauty of New Mexico’s mountains.
Lindsay Smart, PhD
She, Her
Vice Chair, Inclusive Excellence Council
LSmart@salud.unm.edu
Lindsay Smart, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor and Clinical Psychologist in the UNM Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She is also the Training Director for the American Psychological Association (APA) Accredited Clinical Psychology Internship Training Program. Dr. Smart received her B.A. degree in Psychology at the University of Portland and her M.A and Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Denver. During her time as a graduate student at the University of Denver, Dr. Smart was an American Psychological Association Minority Fellowship Program Fellow and participated in a Leadership Academy to Address Disparities in Mental Health Care. Dr. Smart completed her Pre-Doctoral Clinical Psychology internship here in New Mexico at the Children’s Psychiatric Center and her post-doctoral training was completed with the UNM Division of Community Behavioral Health. She is also a graduate of the UNM School of Medicine Medical Education Scholars Program.
Fabián Armijo
He, Him, Él
UNM Hospital
fjarmijo@salud.unm.edu
Fabián J. Armijo serves as the Executive Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion for the University of New Mexico Hospital. This role includes responsibility over the hospital’s Interpreter Language Services department, Native American Health Services, as well as the brand new office of Community Engagement. Fabián, a native of New Mexico, worked as a trilingual (Portuguese-Spanish-English) professional medical interpreter & translator as well as a licensed interpreter trainer for UNMH. Before beginning his career in health care, Fabián worked for the Spanish Ministry of Education as a primary school teacher in Galicia, Spain where he taught Science. He has also studied at the University of Palermo, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the University of São Paulo, in São Paulo, Brazil. Although Fabián has traveled, studied and worked abroad, his passion lies in addressing the needs of his community and home state of New Mexico. He has served the Albuquerque community in his volunteer roles as a reading tutor to unsheltered women and children at the Barrett House and as a Medical Apprentice at Casa de Salud in the South Valley where he worked in harm reduction efforts. Continuing his studies locally, Fabián is currently enrolled in the Masters of Health Administration (MHA) at the University of New Mexico’s School of Public Administration.
Gurdeep Singh, DO
He, Him, Él
Sandoval Regional Medical Center
gusingh@salud.unm.edu
Dr. Gurdeep Singh completed his undergraduate studies at the University of New Mexico. He received his Doctorate of Osteopathy from Andrew Taylor Still University in Arizona and completed his Internal Medicine residency at Good Samaritan Regional Center in Oregon. Dr. Singh is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician whose clinical efforts are focused as a Hospitalist at Sandoval Regional Medical Center (SRMC). Since 2017 Dr. Singh serves as SRMC's Clinical Services Chair of Medicine.
After serving as the Interim Chief Medical Officer (SRMC) in 2021, Dr. Singh was appointed as the first Chief Diversity and Wellness Officer for SRMC. Dr. Singh participates in Big Brother and Big Sisters of Central New Mexico and is President for the Society of Hospital Medicine's state chapter among other engagements with community and professional organizations.
Pilar Sanjuan, PhD
She, Her, Hers
UNM Clinical and Translational Science Center
psanjuan@salud.unm.edu
Dr. Sanjuan is a clinical psychologist and a scientist-practitioner focused on improving health equity and clarifying the underlying processes of substance use disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and the intersection between stress/PTSD and alcohol/other substance use disorders (AUD/SUD) and on improving SUD and PTSD treatments, especially for pregnant and parenting people.
Dr. Sanjuan’s leadership roles include serving as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Executive Officer for the UNM HSC Clinical and Translational Science Center (CTSC). Her current research program branches in two related directions. The first branch harnesses neuroimaging to examine neural contributions to the PTSD and emotion regulation/stress/AUD relationship. Better understanding how PTSD and substance use problems are interrelated can help guide interventions and help patients understand their feelings and behaviors. The second branch of her research focuses on perinatal PTSD and substance use and maternal outcomes. This research utilizes ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine temporal associations between PTSD, parenting emotions, and SUD. It is critical to identify and understand established and novel interventions that help pregnant and parenting people to manage mental health challenges (e.g. doula support, prenatal yoga/mindfulness, mobile health technology).
Dr. Sanjuan is the psychology expert for the Improving Perinatal Health (IPH) UNM teleECHO Program, and a member of the National NIH, Healthy Brain and Child Development Consortium: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee.
Ingrid Hendrix, MILS
She, Her, Hers
UNM Health Sciences Library & Informatics Center
ihendrix@salud.unm.edu
Ingrid C. Hendrix, MILS, is the Division Head for Research, Education and Clinical Information Services at UNM HSC's Health Sciences Library and Informatics Center. In addition to her primary appointment in HSLIC, Ms. Hendrix has secondary appointments in the College of Nursing and the Occupational Therapy Graduate Program. As a medical librarian for over 30 years, she has extensive teaching, literature searching and knowledge management experience. Her areas of research interest in library science include information needs of bedside nurses, information literacy competencies, and information seeking skills of health professional students. As an individual with a disability, she has given numerous presentations on caring for patients with disabilities at primary care conferences, women's health conferences and to medical and nursing students and residents. She is a member of the Medical Library Association, UNM's Facilities Access Committee, The New Mexico Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Action Coalition for People with Disabilities and a past board member of the Assistance Dogs of the West in Santa Fe.
Helen Nielsen
She, Her, Hers
UNM Medical Group
hvnielsen@unmmg.org
Helen Nielsen joined the UNM Medical Group in June 2020 as the Executive Director for Human Resources. She has nearly 30 years of Human Resources Experience in a variety of industries such as telecommunications, construction and healthcare. She has over 10 years in Healthcare Human Resources. She is a strategic business partner who values collaboration to achieve goals. Helen has improved metrics such as employee engagement, recruitment and turnover. She has built successful HR teams over the course of her career. She is a trusted advisor and enjoys mentoring others.
Helen is a native New Mexican and has roots in the community. She is invested in the community and ensuring it's focus on diversity and inclusion. She earned her bachelor’s degree from UNM. She has also studied law and Public Administration. She has served on the Board of Directors for the American Red Cross and was a surveyor for the Quality New Mexico organization. Helen was a finalist in 2019 for the SHRM-NM Human Resources Professional of the year. Helen is married with 4 children and 4 grandchildren.
Lisa M. Taylor, DNP, RN, FNP-BC
She, Her
College of Nursing
LiMTaylor@salud.unm.edu
Krista Salazar, PharmD, PhC
She, Her, Ella
College of Pharmacy
krsalazar@salud.unm.edu
Dr. Salazar is an Associate Professor at the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy. She has co-pioneered many learner-centered academic programs that promote critical thinking through active learning strategies within the doctor of pharmacy program and the interprofessional program. She has extensive training in motivational interviewing, relationship centered communication framework, de-escalation training and developing active learning curricula in both academic and the practice settings. The patient population she serves are experiencing homelessness and she works with them to manage their diabetes diagnosis through medication management and life style modifications. Many of the patients Dr. Dominguez-Salazar works with have co-morbidities of mental health diagnosis, substance use disorder or have been recently released from incarceration. She is a licensed advanced practice pharmacist with prescriptive authority and has provided team-based care with nurse practitioners, physicians, paramedics, licensed counselors, and registered nurses.
Dr. Salazar is a pharmacist serving a vulnerable population. She has developed an appreciation for the vital role empathy has in patient care, its translation to behavior change and the desired outcomes as determined by patient. As faculty, she has extensive skills development to build strategies to intentionally imbed learning activities for facilitating student-pharmacist learning that will transfer into their clinical practice, individually and working in teams.
Allyson Hoag, BS
She / Her
Post-doc/ Graduate Student Representative
ahoag@salud.unm.edu
Allyson Hoag is a current PhD student in the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (BSGP). She originally hails from Michigan and completed her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at the University of Michigan – Dearborn. Moving to New Mexico for graduate school, has allowed her to not only continue her education, but has also given her the opportunity to get involved in various leadership and community outreach positions. Her research focuses on the mechanisms of DNA repair in the context of genetic disorders and chemotherapeutic resistance in different cancer types. Through collaborations with many labs and departments, there is a variety of work to be involved in. She serves as an executive member of the Biomedical Sciences Graduate Student Society (BSGSS), a mentor in the BSGP Peer Mentoring Network (PMN) and Project Short, a Graduate Teaching Assistant, a trainee ambassador for the Cancer Biology Training Consortium (CABTRAC), and as a participant in various panels, the program interviews, and recruitment events. She plans on continuing to contribute to her community and program in the upcoming years and being an advocate and ally to the best of her ability.
Amy Bachyrycz, PharmD
She / Her
Faculty Representative
abachyrycz@salud.unm.edu
Associate Professor of Community Pharmacy and Director of Community Outreach at the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy. She has partnered on many co-curricular activities that impact the students, patients, and New Mexican communities. She is an Interprofessional Education Champion and co-founded the Vax Scholars group, an interprofessional group within the Health Sciences Center to facilitate learning and application of CDC preventable vaccinations and patient care. She has extensive involvement in gaining legislative advancement in the profession of pharmacy and creating regulation change that would allow for pharmacist opportunity to improve gaps in care. The patient population she serves are uninsured, underinsured, and those that need have a need specific to patient advocacy. She trains pharmacists and pharmacy students in pharmacist prescribing, especially in areas of public health need throughout the state.
Kathleen Lopez Reyes, MD, MSCR
She / Her
Faculty Representative
kreyes@salud.unm.edu
Kathleen (Katie) Lopez Reyes, MD, MSCR, is an associate professor in the Obstetric Anesthesiology Division and was the inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine. She currently serves as Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the School of Medicine. She was the recipient of a LoboWings Patient Safety Guardian Award and was part of the multidisciplinary team that received the Dynamic Dyad Award for the Obstetric Anesthesiology Division and the Center of Excellence Designation for UNMH Obstetric Anesthesia. She has served on numerous SOM and HSC committees, including the UNM Interdepartmental Women’s Health DEI Committee and the Human Research Review Committee, and co-chaired the UNM Anesthesiology Faculty Recruitment Committee.
Within her department, Dr. Reyes started the first DEI Work Group and Committee, worked to create the DEI website, and co-created the Anesthesiology & CCM DEI Speaker Series. She was invited to moderate a Special Workshop on the AMA-AAMC Guide to Advancing Health Equity: A Guide to Language, Narrative and Concepts. Dr. Reyes has a strong and enduring interest in teaching and supporting her community and is passionate about supporting other faculty members and learners and promoting DEI initiatives. A true lobo she completed medical school, the Anesthesiology Residency Program, and her master’s degree in Clinical and Translational Research at UNM. Dr. Reyes was born and raised in Albuquerque. She received her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College where she majored in Studio Art, received Honors in Native American Literature and Painting, and also played Division I tennis. She studied at separate universities in Curitiba, Brazil, and Salvador, Brazil. She is a single mother to four amazing children.
Marcus Garcia, PharmD, MA
He / Him
Alumni Representative
marcgarcia@salud.unm.edu
Marcus Garcia is a native New Mexican born and raised in Las Vegas, a town rich in heritage and traditions. Marcus graduated from the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy in 2020. Before this, he completed a Master of Arts in Human Performance and Sports-Management, and a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Chemistry from New Mexico Highlands University. While at the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy, he developed a solid background in toxicological research, publication, presentations at multiple national/international scientific conferences, a balance of pharmacy and clinical practice, and dedication to service and leadership both on campus and within the community. He completed a Clinical Research Fellowship with TriCore Reference Laboratories/Rhodes Group, where he provided support in unique research and patient care initiatives involving pharmacy and the clinical laboratory.
Having spent his formative years in Las Vegas, Marcus cultivated a deep sense of empathy towards people from all walks of life. His experiences in this diverse community instilled a strong desire to promote understanding, respect, and inclusivity among individuals. These early lessons fueled his commitment to advocating for diversity and inclusion as he pursued his academic and professional journey at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center (UNM HSC). Marcus also serves as a proud member of the Hispano Philanthropic Society and the Young Leaders Society in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he is committed to positively impacting our community and beyond.
Mentorship and family have played a significant role in his life. He feels that with his accomplishments comes a responsibility that he wholeheartedly embraces – to inspire and guide the next generation, particularly his nieces and nephews. He wants to show them that, irrespective of their background or circumstances, they, too, can dream big and reach new heights by demonstrating the value of education, hard work, and dedication.
As a proud individual of Hispanic heritage, Marcus finds profound meaning in the cultural tapestry that weaves together his identity. He proudly carries his Hispanic heritage, ready to share its richness with others and contribute to a more interconnected, compassionate, and harmonious world.
In a world that is becoming increasingly interconnected and diverse, he believes it is essential to understand and appreciate each individual's unique perspectives and backgrounds. By fostering an environment of empathy and understanding, we can collectively create a society that is inclusive and enriched by its diversity.
As an Inclusive Excellence Council (IEC) member at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, he is committed to fostering a campus environment where diversity, equity, and inclusion thrive. By advocating for initiatives that celebrate our unique backgrounds and experiences, he aims to empower every individual to reach their fullest potential. Together with the council, He aspires to create a more inclusive academic community that uplifts and supports every member, leaving a lasting legacy of positive change.