Dr. Combs joined University of Colorado faculty as a clinician-educator at the Denver VA in 2015. At the Denver VA, she served from 2015 to 2019 as medical director of VA hemodialysis unit, which included teaching responsibilities and creating and overseeing both the hemodialysis and palliative nephrology curricula for nephrology fellows. From 2016-2019 she served as Director of the VA Nephrology and Hypertension Clinic, coordinating the VA ambulatory continuity experience for CU nephrology fellows, and as Director of the Palliative Medicine clinic from 2015-2019, where she developed a robust outpatient palliative care program at the Denver VA. She was VA site director of the CU palliative care fellow continuity experience, created and supervised a home-based palliative care program for fellows, and developed a continuity experience for residents interested in palliative care fellowship during their primary care clinic blocks.
Dr. Combs joined as Internal Medicine faculty at the University of New Mexico in September 2019. She divides her clinical time between the Divisions of Nephrology and Palliative Medicine. She joined the IM residency program leadership team in January 2020 and became program director in September 2021. Dr. Combs has a vision of enhancing our program diversity and support, augmenting focused mentorship and innovative curricula, and improving communication skills across the residency.
Undergrad: University of Kansas
Medical School: University of Washington
Residency: University of Washington
Fellowships: Nephrology: University of Colorado
Palliative Medicine: University of Washington
Professional Interests: Medical education, communication skills training, anything in the intersections of palliative medicine and nephrology.
Personal Interests: Running, hiking, HIIT training, eating good food.
What do you love about New Mexico/UNM? I love the people, the sun, the outdoors and access easy access to foothills, the low cost of living, and my job.
Hayley Israel MD, MHSAssociate Program Director
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Undergrad: Yale University Medical school: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons Residency: Yale University Fellowships: Pulmonary and Critical Care: Yale University Professional Interests: Within medical education: Improving feedback and assessment for medical trainees, particulary using Entrustable Professional Activities. Within Pulm/Crit Care: Asthma, COPD, critical care, end of life. Personal Interests: Hiking, skiing, camping, aerial silks, Broadway musicals, live music, my cat, eating What do you love about New Mexico/UNM? I have only been here for 8 months and I'm already fully entrapped...I mean enchanted!The outdoors is unmatched. I still grin when I see the mountains every day. I love green chili on everything. The people at UNM are warm and collegial as well as brilliant and mission-driven, it's a very special combination. |
![]() Michael Louie, MDVA Ambulatory Associate Program Director
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Undergrad: University of New Mexico Medical School: University of New Mexico School of Medicine Residency: University of New Mexico, Internal Medicine Professional Interests: Primary Care, Resident Education, Medical Student Education, Resident Schedule Design, Continuity Clinic Design and Quality Improvement, Veteran Health Personal Interests: Travel, Music, Pilates, Movies What do you love about New Mexico/UNM? The weather, food, and landscapes of this beautiful state, the people and patient population, with its diverse languages, cultures, and unique social determinants of health make New Mexico a great place to learn from and practice. |
![]() Suman Pal, MBBSAssociate Program Director
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Medical School: Maulana Azad Medical College, India Residency: Westchester Medical Center, Internal Medicine Professional Interest: Hospital medicine, health equity, LGBTQ+ medicine, medical education Personal Interest: Food, travel, art and theatre. What do you like about UNM/NM? Friendly people and the vibrant art scene are my favorite things about New Mexico. There is great food to be had, wonderful people to meet and interesting stories to share.
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![]() Cassie Shaw, MDSenior Associate Program Director
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Undergrad: Pittsburg State University Medical School: University of Kansas School of Medicine Residency: Saint Louis University Professional Interests: Board prep and efficient teaching on inpatient rounds. Personal Interests: Traveling, food; any and all games. What do you love about New Mexico/UNM? As a non-native New Mexican my absolute favorite thing that has drawn me to and kept me in the Land of Enchantment is the weather!! We get all the seasons but they are temperate and the surrounding mountains allow for year round outdoor activities under those perfect blue skies. In specific to UNM, I love how forward thinking and inclusive the hospital and the program are. Finally, everyone is so kind and interested in one another's lives outside of the hospital. Being from Kansas, I never thought I would be able to find that collegiality outside of the midwest and I've been so pleasantly surprised!
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Abu Baker Sheikh, MBBSResearch Mentor
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Medical School: Shifa College of Medicine, Pakistan Residency: University of New Mexico, Internal Medicine Professional Interests: Hospital medicine, clinical research, health equity, vaccine hesitancy, and mentorship. Personal Interests: Traveling, watching, and playing sports (big Chelsea fan), good food + music, and hiking. What do you love about NM/UNM? The thing I love the most about UNM, it promotes and celebrates diversity in all forms. It provides learners with an excellent conducive environment that helps them reach their true potential. The culture of camaraderie makes the experience highly enjoyable. Moreover, the beautiful weather and the outdoor experience that New Mexico has to offer are unmatched. With all the wide array of landscapes, scenery, and warmly welcoming community, it’s hard not to get ‘enchanted’. |
Connor Tryon, MDVA Inpatient Associate Program Director
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Undergrad: Whittier College Medical School: University of New Mexico, School of Medicine Residency: University of New Mexico, Internal Medicine Professional Interests: Resident Education, Point of Care Ultrasound, Quality Improvement/Patient Safety, and Veteran Health Personal Interests: Travel, Excercise, Experiencing new food and places, Spending Time with my family What do you love about New Mexico/UNM? NM is a truly unique place with a wonderful blend of cultures, activities and foods. The wather is great and there are numerous types of outdoor activities to enjoy year around. |
Annashia Shera, MDAssociate Program Director
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Undergrad: Indiana University Medical School: University of Arkansas Residency: University of New Mexico Professional Interests: Resident Continuity clinic design. Personal Interests: Cycling, trail running, yoga.
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Riana Wurzburger, MD, MPHAssociate Program DirectorAssistant ProfessorDivision of Hospital Medicine |
Medical School: University of New Mexico Residency: Oregon Health and Science University MPH: University of New South Wales, Australia Professional Interests: medical education, addiction medicine, global health Personal Interests: soccer, hiking and backpacking, skiing, traveling, board games What do you love about New Mexico/UNM? I love the sunshine, the mountains, the friendly vibes, the intersection of cultures and the diverse people we get to work with at the hospital |
It was important to me to find a program that valued residents as people and supported them in all endeavors, and I found that at UNM.
Office of Education
Department of Internal Medicine
MSC 10-5550
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
Phone: 505-272-6331
Email: DOIM-Residency-Staff@salud.unm.edu
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