Internal Medicine Residency Rotations

First Choice Community Healthcare is a Federally-Qualified Health Center system with nine health centers in three counties, including one school-based health center. First Choice provides primary medical care, dental care and have integrated behavioral health care in the primary care setting for patients. First Choice plays an integral role in providing access to all people regardless of income or insurance status.

Primary care providers from Presbyterian Clinic offer continuing, comprehensive health care for individuals and families. Residents will apply preventive care, teach healthy lifestyle choices, identify and treat common medical conditions, and assess the urgency of medical problems. As a Presbyterian Medical Group practice, dedicated physicians and providers work to provide patients with the care they need.

The preceptor, Dr. Alberto Aguayo-Rico,  graduated from UNM Internal medicine and focuses on preventative medicine and on the education and manadegement of chronic disease such as diabetes and hypertension.  Dr. Aguayo Rico teaches multiple office-based procedures like joint and trigger poitn injections, skin biopsies, nexplanon insertions, and IUD placements to name a few. Residents are also exposed to and treat various behavioral health conditions and learn about addition management, especially with buprenorphine (Suboxone). These areas are all essential for the well-rounded practice of Primary Care.

This experience is intended for residents with a strong desire to focus on outpatient internal medicine in order to practie as primary care physicinas upon graduation.

The University clinics are divided among several sites. The University clinics all provide the opportunity to work with a diverse range of patients with both men & women of all ages. There is a significant Spanish-speaking population, but if you do not speak Spanish, there are interpreter services available if a Spanish-speaking patient is scheduled in your clinic. Most of the patients seen in the residents’ clinic are covered either by the University’s indigent-assistance program or Medicare. If you are interested in the Integrative Medicine program, you should be assigned to one of the University-based clinics so that you can work with the faculty mentors. 

The 1209  Clinic is located close to UNM Hospital central to the UNM and provides care for many UNM Faculty, Staff, Physicians, and their families.

Northeast Heights clinic was the first beta test site for the University’s Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH).   Our clinic has one of the highest Press Gainey patient satisfaction scores for all Internal Medicine and primary care clinics.  Our patient population matches similar University outpatient clinics that includes a diverse population of underserved patients, many patients speaking Spanish and other languages and we are located in the northeast section of Albuquerque. Like all Internal Medicine practices, we treat chronic medical diseases, and in many, we treat multiple chronic diseases in the same patient.  We actively see acute care patients and emphasize preventative medicine to all patients.  We have specific programs for the management of diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and mental illness including depression and bipolar illness.  Several of the faculty have specific interests in HIV, Hepatitis C and hyperlipidemia.  Many of the clinic staff offer Sub Oxone/Buprenorphine treatment.  Some of the staff perform trigger point injections, skin biopsies, and joint injections.  We are the only clinic to have our own 24 hour blood pressure monitor.  Additionally, we have an outstanding cadre of others to assist our patients including a full time Psychologist, a psychology Fellow and a psychology intern.  We have a full time nurse case manager, Annual Wellness nurse, social worker, and community health worker.  One really important part of our clinic is the PharmD-Clinican assistance who help with the chronic disease management for diabetes (one of the PharmD’s is also a CDE), hypertension, hyperlipidemia and depression.   The collegiality that is present at NEH is outstanding and our ancillary staff of nurses, medical assistants and receptionists, really help to make our clinic outstandingly unique.

The Southwest Mesa Clinic (SWM) is a community clinic within the University of New Mexico Health System. Primary care physicians at the SWM Clinic are specially trained to solve puzzling diagnostic problems, manage severe chronic illnesses as well as situations where several different illnesses may strike at the same time. The clinic has clinical psychiatry, radiology, laboratory, pharmacy, financial services, Spanish interpreters, internal medicine providers, and pediatric providers in house. The SWM clinic prides itself in being a resource for the entire community. Their amazing case management team helps to provide durable medical equipment, food services including a food bank, school supplies for children, nutrition classes, and much more.  

The Westside Clinic is located on the growing and busy Westside of Albuquerque, very near the Rio Rancho City limits. The clinic is a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) level 3 certified. What this means is that our medical providers have help for their patients with psychology, pharmacist clinician, social work, and case management. We also have on-site laboratory and point of care testing.  In addition to Internal Medicine, we also have Pediatrics, OB/GYN, Allergy and Sports Medicine. 

Past and current residents have remarked that the clinic provides a friendly and helpful atmosphere and provides a realistic practice setting. We use the team approach in the care of our patients so you will have the support you need.

The patient population at the VA clinics provides true continuity, as most patients present regularly for care, will be on your clinic panel through your whole residency experience, and you may see patients on wards, if they are admitted to the hospital.  The patient population is largely male, although this is changing and you will have women on your panel.  Although a significant portion of your panel will be middle-aged or older, many younger veterans (male and female) returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are presenting to our resident clinics now for care.  Generally, all patients are English speaking.  You will learn to manage chronic conditions very well, including heart disease, COPD, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease and will see a variety of acute problems as well.  There are some very medically complicated patients who have been managed by successive generations of residents for many years, as well as new patients presenting with one or two problems.  At the VA clinics, you have good access to sub-specialty care, and will be able to monitor results of consultations easily in the electronic medical record.  The psychosocial issues you will see in VA patients tend to differ from other clinics, in that insurance coverage and access to care is generally not a barrier, but more patients suffer from PTSD, chronic pain, and other issues related to combat.  You will learn how these conditions are managed and will have access to specialty services for your patients. The nurses in the clinic have worked with residents for many years and are familiar with VA procedures and also with resident schedules and needs.​