The Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine is full of people with diverse experiences and backgrounds. We support each other in our mission to advance health care to the people of New Mexico.
Role: Assistant Professor, Director of the Acute Pain Service, Assistant Program Director of the Regional Anesthesia and Acute Pain Medicine Fellowship, Director of Social Media, Fellowship 2017-2018
I am proudly the daughter of Hispanic parents and several generations of lifelong New Mexicans. I attended NMSU for undergrad and UNM for medical school then completed residency at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago before returning to UNM for a fellowship in Regional Anesthesia. I wanted so badly to leave NM after medical school to help broaden my personal and clinical perspective, but what I also gained was a deep appreciation for the diversity, culture, and inclusivity that NM offers. As a Hispanic, queer female I have found continual encouragement at UNM, both in medical school and in my career within the Department of Anesthesiology. I think NM offers a unique environment for many reasons including the fact that half of the population is Hispanic, the highest percent of any state. Additionally, being allowed to provide care for our Native American population is a privilege not afforded other parts of our nation. I am equally enthused that as a same sex couple, my wife and I have started a family here with nothing but love and support from my colleagues. I am thankful now to serve as a role model and advocate for medical students and residents who may relate to being a minority of any kind in the medical field.
Role: Assistant Professor (Research)
I am half Sri Lankan. I have spent almost an equal amount of time living in Canada, Sri Lanka and the UK. These experiences have definitely shaped my perspectives of research and academia within different cultures. Being half Sri Lankan and growing up there has also helped me to see the world differently and help better understand those from different backgrounds.
When I first interviewed for my current position at UNM, I could see that New Mexico is an extremely diverse and unique place. I also noticed that the Anesthesiology department is full of people from different countries and backgrounds. This influenced my decision to take the job and I'm happy I did!
Role: Faculty 2016-present, Assistant Professor, and Medical Director of Main Operating Room
As a Native New Mexican, having the opportunity to serve my community as a physician and educator has been a dream come true. I am proud of the department of anesthesiology for consistently making a genuine effort to support, cultivate and retain diversity on all levels.
Role: Resident, Class of 2023
I am a former United States Marine, and service connected injury combat veteran. Our Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine has supported diversity, equity, and inclusion by providing several opportunities to work with the nearby VAMC which is very important to me to give back to my brothers and sisters in arms. They have also hired an other military veteran, our own Department Interim Chair, Dr. Chris Arndt, former US Navy. I have been able to use this unique opportunity to connect with my veteran patients, many of whom have a distrust that medicine and medical professionals will understand their often unique history and injuries. I appreciate the opportunities provided by my department to grow in this area, express myself freely, and help veterans feel less marginalized in medicine.
Role: APP 2016-Present, Anesthesiologist Assistant Student Clinical Coordinator 2019-Present
Some may not know I am half Hispanic. My grandmother and grandfather are immigrants from El Salvador, which was the first of many journeys that created the future of me being a certified anesthesiologist assistant at the University of New Mexico. I have been able to continue my department’s support of diversity, equity, and inclusion through my position as the anesthesiologist assistant student coordinator by welcoming students of all genders, race, and backgrounds to partake in a senior rotation at UNM and allow the diverse Anesthesiology and Critical Care staff to provide every student with a phenomenal educational experience.
Role: Residency Class of 2013, Faculty 2013 -present, Kathleen Lopez Reyes, MD, MSCR Associate Professor and Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Program, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Division of Obstetric Anesthesiology, Department of Neurosciences Affiliated Faculty
I am a native New Mexican, artist, division I athlete, and single mother. I completed my medical school and residency at UNM, and have been supported by the department in advancing my career, including obtaining my Master’s in clinical and translational research.
Role: Professor; Residency class of 2001; Faculty 2001-present
Born in the former Soviet Union to a German mother and a Hungarian father, who were medical students at the time, I became a physician in Hungary and practiced there for a few years before I moved to the US with my family. In 1997, I matched with UNM anesthesiology residency program. When I received an offer to stay on as a member of the faculty, I happily accepted. Our department is diverse and inclusive because our faculty comes from many different places with very different backgrounds. I have been able to support diversity and equity by getting involved early with the residency application process. As assistant program director for ten years, I was able to advocate for international applicants. Our residency welcomes all qualifying applicants. Foreign medical graduates seek us out for visiting rotations and residency. This diversity enriches everybody's experience.
Role: Assistant Faculty, MD, 2016-2018, 2019-present
Our Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care medicine has supported diversity, equity, and inclusion by hiring and supporting women in leadership positions within the department, hospital, and school of medicine.