Darrell Horton, M.D.

Introduction: I am a native New Mexican who grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I attended the University of New Mexico for both undergraduate and medical school.

Interests

• Pathology/Research Interests: Hematopathology, molecular pathology
• What do you like about living in New Mexico: New Mexico is a wonderful place to live. There are endless opportunities to explore the outdoors, both within Albuquerque and throughout the state. White Sands National Park and the City of Rocks are two unique destinations that are not to be missed. The summers are hot but bearable (no humidity), and the winters are mild. You can count on seeing the sun pretty much every day. In the Fall, green chile is harvested and roasted and it smells incredible. We even have our own cuisine called New Mexican food that is distinctly different from traditional Mexican food (ever had a breakfast burrito? That was created right here in Santa Fe!). New Mexico is a diverse state, and this diversity makes living here a richer experience. We may not be at the top of the traditional “best” lists, but Albuquerque offers the opportunity to live in a close-knit community while still having access to bigger city amenities.
• Interests Outside of Pathology: I like to spend time with my wife, kiddo, and miniature schnauzer. We love to go to various local farmers markets, as well as the Albuquerque Zoo, Aquarium, and Botanical Gardens. We like to go on bike rides, play at the numerous parks throughout the city, and then find tasty new places to eat or new coffee shops to try. We keep a running list of our favorite restaurants, bakeries, and coffee shops. Albuquerque has an eclectic food scene including many delicious food trucks. I am a huge New Orleans Saints fan and enjoy playing video games and doing jigsaw puzzles.

Why I enjoy the pathology program at UNM

I rotated through multiple areas of the Pathology department as a medical student. The residents were all so friendly and made me feel like one of them. The attending physicians were excited to teach me and tailored their teaching towards my knowledge base and interests. The pathologist assistants working in the gross room were very helpful and helped me learn the basics of grossing. All of this has held true now that I am a resident in the program. In addition, the program director, Dr. Krinsky, is fantastic. She is invested not only in optimizing the program so that we get the most out of it, but also has a clear interest in our wellness and has made beneficial changes since taking over the position. We have two of the best forensics and hematopathology programs in the country, which is evident by the numerous fellowships that these programs offer. UNM partners with a large reference laboratory (TriCore) which allows us to do most lab tests in-house, including complex molecular testing. This means we are able to have hands on learning opportunities that we wouldn’t otherwise have if most of the testing was sent out to other labs. Overall, UNM offers the opportunity to gain a world-class education in Pathology in a collaborative and fun learning environment, while also allowing time to take advantage of all that New Mexico offers.