Natasha James, MD, FAAP
Program Director

Education

• Undergraduate: Cornell University – 2001
• Medical School: University of New Mexico School of Medicine – 2006 – 2010
• Pediatric Residency: University of New Mexico School of Medicine – 2010 – 2013
• Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship: University of New Mexico School of Medicine – 2013 – 2016

Biography

• I was born on the beautiful Caribbean island of Trinidad and spent much of my childhood in Trinidad and St. Vincent before my family immigrated to the East coast of the United States. After finishing my undergraduate degree in Ithaca NY, my husband and my daughter and I moved to New Mexico where we have now lived for over 19 years. It has been a great journey to raise three children and enjoy the state of NM. I enjoy the outdoors, music, traveling and learning about cultures from around the world.

Teaching Interests

• Simulation
• Bedside Teaching
• Medical Education
• Appendicitis

Center/Laboratory/Program Affiliations

• Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Sara Skarbek-Borowska, MD, FAAP (she/her/hers)
Associate Program Director

Education

• Undergraduate: Duke University
• Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
• Pediatric Residency: Vanderbilt University
• Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship: Brown University

Biography

• Originally from the Midwest, I completed my fellowship in pediatric emergency medicine at Brown University and was subsequently drawn to the people, culture, cuisine, and natural beauty of New Mexico.  I have thoroughly enjoyed serving as the Associate Program Director for our Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship for the past several years.  I feel incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such an amazing group of colleagues, fellows, residents, and medical students. It is an honor to be able to care for our diverse patient population. Outside of work, I love spending time with my husband and my three children. My other passions are running, hiking, traveling, reading, and baking. 

Teaching Interests

• Point-of-Care Ultrasound
• Simulation

Center/Laboratory/Program Affiliations

• Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Ana Sanchez-Barrera

Program Coordinator

• Demographics
  • Hometown: Durango, Mexico; Los Angeles, CA
  • Undergraduate: University of New Mexico
    
    
• Bibliography

  • I was born in Durango, Mexico and moved to Los Angeles at the age of one. I spent most of my childhood in L.A. before my family moved to Albuquerque around the time I was about to go into middle school, and I have been here since then. I graduated from UNM with a bachelors in Psychology and Spanish in the middle of the pandemic. I am currently taking a gap year but plan to receive my masters in Mental Health Counseling and give back to my Hispanic community where seeking mental health help is still seen as a big taboo. I am a cat mom and big fan of music; I am willing to listen to anything except Screamo, and based on my 2020 Spotify Wrap, my favorite music artists are BTS, One Direction, MoonMoon, Jenni Rivera and EXO. 

Our fellows receive training to become effective educators, supervising during shifts and providing didactics to emergency medicine residents and pediatric residents. Fellows also have opportunities to teach in the community with local EMS, tribal emergency services, ski patrol, and search-and-rescue teams. 

Research education and mentoring is a primary focus of our fellowship. Over the course of three years, fellows learn the fundamentals of research to facilitate a career in academic medicine. 

Wellness is paramount for our fellows, and living and training in New Mexico is unmatched for achieving this goal. In addition to the breathtaking backdrop of mountains and deserts, Albuquerque is a vibrant city, rich with culture, museums, festivals, breweries, artisans, farmer’s markets, and sports teams. Outdoor activities, for all seasons, are readily accessible, just in the backyard of the city. There's always something new here to experience - come and try it out for yourself! 

Want to find out more about what New Mexico has to offer? 
https://www.newmexico.org/

A day in the pediatric emergency department is never the same. Sure, it always starts the same - with a brilliantly sunny, bluebird sky. After all, you are in New Mexico! And yes, you’ll probably still see asthma and constipation, but that’s where the routine ends and the envenomations, rodeo injuries, and even pig bites, begin. That’s what makes the University of New Mexico Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship a delightfully unique place to train. 

The Fellowship is uniquely part of the Department of Emergency Medicine, housed with Disaster Medicine, Emergency Medical Services, and Wilderness Medicine, offering amazing opportunities across the board. We are an active Level 1 Trauma Center. As such, a dedicated trauma month is not part of our curriculum as we see these patients daily. Marshaling people, resources, and plans for multiple trauma resuscitations on top of an already-busy census is not an uncommon scenario. Given the acuity seen at UNM, opportunities for procedures abound. Additionally, as the tertiary referral center for a large catchment area, taking calls from community emergency departments, telemedicine consults, and transport considerations are a regular aspect of our training.

At this point, you’re probably thinking this all sounds pretty similar to other programs, so what’s it like at the University of New Mexico? Full disclaimer: I have no idea what other training experiences are like - probably similar to you, I have only experienced one acting internship, one residency, and now, one fellowship. A sample size of n=3 is probably not very useful for comparative descriptions, so I will abstain. 

What I can share, beyond a doubt, is that I am supported here. Each day, I am supported by a clinical team truly dedicated to taking care of the health and wellness of the children of New Mexico. I am supported by attending physicians who encourage exploring approaches and techniques that differ from what they might do themselves. I am supported by a division with strong leadership that has a clear and collaborative vision for where this program is headed. And most of all, I am supported when voicing my wants, needs, concerns, and preferences. 

What I can share, beyond a doubt, is that I am valued here. My expertise in pediatrics is valued by my peers, trusted by my attending, and called upon to educate residents. My role as a PEM fellow here is one that is bestowed with appropriate responsibility. In this institution, my role is welcomed at all faculty, division, and departmental meetings. Education and research opportunities with community EMS, medical students, and residents abound because we are valued. Equally important is that my education is valued as a priority of the department. The directorship actively listens and responds to fellows’ requests to best maximize our learning. In just the last year, shift schedules have been adjusted, rotations have been improved, and incredible learning adjuncts such as ImageSim have been added to contribute to our education. A fellows’ office, access to all of the UNM Health Sciences Center facilities, and a state-of-the-art simulation center serve as some of our other resources.

Most importantly, I can share that I am incredibly happy here. Wellness is the latest buzzword in graduate medical education, but a work-life balance is baked into the very fabric of living and training in New Mexico. Not only is it breathtakingly beautiful in New Mexico, but Albuquerque itself is a vibrant city with opportunities that span all interests. With a diverse community, the city is rich with culture, full of museums, festivals, breweries, farmer’s markets, sports teams, and outdoor activities for every season. I get to take my dog trail running and skiing, grow carrots and kale in my backyard, dig for fossils, build exhaustive spreadsheets of the best taco trucks, and learn all my Spanish from minor league soccer chants. The cost of living and opportunity for adventures and explorations of the greater southwest are second to none. Also, nobody, and I mean nobody, gets better sunsets than we do. 

However, it’s not just life outside of the hospital that is joyous. The patients and the families that I get to take care of, the nurses and residents and staff, my co-fellows, and all the members of the department - these are the faces that make going to work each day so enjoyable. More than anything, I am grateful and fortunate to be part of the University of New Mexico Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship.

Benny Chen, MD

The role of the fellow in the PED during the first year is mainly direct patient care with a focus on procedures, trauma, and medical resuscitations. Fellows during their second and third year will continue to provide direct patient care, supervise residents, and become proficient at running the pediatric ED. Fellows will also take referral calls and manage the transport of critically ill patients.

Rotations, electives, block schedule, and areas of special focus:

Year 1

Pediatric Trained Fellows
Orientation – 0.5 BlockPediatric Emergency Medicine/Research – 7 BlocksUltrasound/ Toxicology - 1 BlockPediatric Critical Care - 1 BlockPediatric Anesthesia - 1 BlockAdult Emergency Medicine - 1 BlockTrauma - 1 BlockChild Abuse Response Team – 0.5 BlockVacation – 3 weeks per year

Emergency Medicine Trained Fellows
Orientation/ Pediatric Anesthesia - 1 BlockPediatric Emergency Medicine/ Research - 7 BlockPediatric Critical Care - 1 BlockPediatric Clinics - 1 BlockNeonatal ICU/ Inpatient - 1 BlockChild Abuse Response Team – 1 BlockElective - 1 BlockVacation – 3 weeks per year

Research and Peds ED blocks are combined. The number of shifts required per month is fewer in the 2nd and 3rd years to allow for research.

Year 2

Pediatric Trained Fellows
Pediatric Emergency Medicine/Research – 9 BlocksAdult Emergency Medicine - 1 BlockOrthopedics - 1 BlockEmergency Medical Services - 1 BlockElective – 1 BlockVacation – 3 weeks per year

Emergency Medicine Trained Fellows
Pediatric Emergency Medicine - 7 BlocksPediatric Emergency Medicine/Research - 1 BlockPediatric Outpatient Subspecialty Clinic - 1 BlockNeonatal ICU/ Inpatient - 1 BlockElective - 1 BlockVacation – 3 weeks per year

Year 3

Pediatric Trained Fellows
Pediatric Emergency Medicine/Research – 11 BlocksAdult Emergency Medicine - 1 BlockElective – 1 BlockVacation – 3 weeks per year

Examples of electives: radiology, cardiology, orthopedics, dermatology, ultrasound, procedures, toxicology, wilderness medicine 

Examples of pediatric outpatient clinics: urgent care clinic, cardiology clinic, outpatient continuity clinic, dermatology clinic, developmental clinic

Fellow-driven educational sessions are held every Wednesday.  The key elements of our curriculum include the following: 

• PEM longitudinal ultrasound curriculum

• Longitudinal research curriculum  

• Monthly simulation  

• Procedural training  

• Board preparation 

• Annual airway and sedation course, annual pain course 

• Certifications in: Neonatal Resuscitation Program, Advanced Trauma Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Fundamentals of Critical Care

Teaching Opportunities

PEM fellows hold monthly simulation sessions and give morbidity and mortality presentations at EM resident conferences. They provide one PEM lecture per year to EM and pediatrics residents. All fellows participate in the UNM Residents as Educators Course. Fellows may also take classes and workshops through the UNM Office of Continuous Professional Learning. 

Community Outreach

PEM fellows have the opportunity to teach at several conferences throughout New Mexico. Fellows have lectured at the Enchanted Circle EMS Conference, Santa Fe Ski Area Conference, the Navajo Nation EMS Conference, and others. 

International Opportunities

Our PEM Fellows have provided educational sessions with our partner hospitals in Japan and St. Vincent.

Wellness/Retreat

The wellness of our PEM fellows is extremely important to us.  We schedule an annual all-day retreat for our PEM fellows. Fellows have 2 wellness days off per year. We host periodic wellness lunches as a group off-campus.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Emergency Medicine

The Department of Emergency Medicine is dedicated to advancing a diverse and inclusive workforce that can lead clinical, educational, research, and service excellence and drive equitable care for our diverse patient populations. 

First-Year Fellows (PGY4)

Year one is spent adapting to the new hospital environment before adapting to supervising trainees. This can be a challenging time for some fellows as they transition from life as senior residents or even attendings in some cases. They will focus on learning and doing as many procedures as possible, learning how to manage pediatric traumas, medical emergencies and adult resuscitations.

Second Year Fellows (PGY5)

In Year Two, the PEM Fellow begins the transition from caring for patients directly to becoming the supervising physician in charge of the entire ED. These parallel shifts are designed to provide the year II fellow with experience supervising, handling referral and transport calls, and running the ED under the direct supervision and assistance of a PEM attending.

Third Year Fellows (PGY6)

In year three, the fellows will become proficient in running a pediatric ED. This includes caring for patients, taking referral calls, and maintaining an effective working relationship and communication with nursing and other members of the health care teams. They also supervise residents and medical students. Year three clinical responsibilities offer the fellows the opportunity to develop their own PEM practice with continued support.

Salary for 2023-2024 

• HO IV – $69,272

• HO V – $72,273 

• HO VI – $74,932

Salary is subject to change. 

• Health care coverage for house staff and their dependents is available through Blue Cross/Blue Shield. Care or referrals obtained from UNM primary care providers at the UNM Health Sciences Center require no deductible or co-payment for most services, including hospitalizations. 
• Dental insurance
• Life Insurance 
• Long term disability insurance  
• Professional liability Insurance (“per occurrence” type) 
• Meal allowance for on-call days 
• University of New Mexico graduate student classification, including a UNM ID card and reduced prices for athletic and cultural events.   
• Dedicated office based for PEM fellows
• 3 weeks paid vacation each year 
• 6 weeks parental leave each year 
• 1 week of education leave per year with funding available to attend conferences 
• 5 days of professional leave per year for interviews
• Annual GME educational funds available ($750 per year)
• Tuition remission for academic credit towards a degree (e.g. masters' in health related field)

Our PEM Fellwoship participates in the National Residency Match Program (NRMP)

NRMP Program ID 1962114F0 (Pediatrics Trained)

NRMP Progam ID 1962114F1 (Emergency Medicine Trained)

The deadline to submit a completed application in ERAS is July 26th.

You will need to submit the following in ERAS (AAMC Program ID 1143421023):

1. Application with CV
2. Personal Statement
3. Three Letters of Recommendation
4. USMLE Step 1, 2, 3
5. Medical School Transcript
6. Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)/Dean’s Letter

In addition to the ERAS application, the program is requesting a letter of interest by July 26, 2024.

1. Please state why you are interested in our program. 
2. Send letter of interest directly to Ana Sanchez with "UNM PEM Letter of Interest" in the subject line. 

This fellowship program considers applicants who are completing or who have completed a pediatrics or emergency medicine residency.

Applicants will be notified of their selection status and related interviews in mid August. Interviews are held each Thursday in September and the first week of October. All interviews and activities will be conducted virtually. For more information on benefits, salary, contracts, policies and procedures, please visit our Benefits section on this page, and also visit the UNM website's Graduate Medical Education section.

Our UNM PEM Fellowship Graduates

• Neehar Kundurti will soon join Children’s Hospital New Orleans, New Orleans, LA  
• Brittany Ebbing, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ  
• Lauren Thorp, Children’s Hospital New Orleans, New Orleans, LA  
• Benny Chen, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO  
• Danielle Mascarenas, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM  
• Ashley Davis, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM  
• Matthew Gunderson, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM  
• Philip Sosa, The Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY  
• Iluonose Amoni, University of Minnesota Fairview, Minneapolis, MN  
• Robert Wilkinson, Summerlin Hospital Medical Center, Las Vegas, NV  
• Jackson Vane, Rady Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA  
• Jonathan Rhine, The Queen’s Medical Center, Honolulu, HI   
• Sandra Macias McBride, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX  
• David Jolley, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM  
• Natasha James, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM  
• Ramsey Tate, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX