University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, ECHO Institute / Project ECHO 1650 University Blvd. NE, 5th Floor Albuquerque, NM 87102
(505) 925-2406
The South Central AETC Central Office is based out of the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and supports AETC sites in the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Together they make up one of the eight regions and two national centers, covering all 50 states as well as US Territories and Jurisdictions. Meet our regional partners.
We are proud to represent a diverse territory, which has made great strides in HIV identification, management and care. Even so, we face many challenges, with seven of our counties identified in the President’s End the Epidemic Plan as having some of the highest numbers of new HIV diagnoses, and two of our states highlighted as having some of the heaviest burdens of rural HIV.
While the challenges are many, we know that effective training leads to changes in provider care which then directly influences the health outcomes of their patients. Our cost-free training, preceptorships, and clinical partnerships ensure that healthcare providers in our region are operating based on the latest research and taking proactive steps to ending the HIV epidemic.
Reach out to us today. We would be happy to connect you with the AETC site which covers your area.
Dr Sanjeev Arora is the founder and director of Project ECHO, a non-profit that uses technology, a disease management model, case-based learning, and a web-based database to arm primary care providers with the knowledge needed to treat those with complex health problems that would otherwise need to travel for medical care.
Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes) was developed to improve both capacity and access to specialty care for rural and underserved populations through service delivery, education, and evaluation. ECHO is a hub and spoke model and currently operates with hubs in 38 countries and spokes in over 125 countries. Over 78,000 health and education professionals have participated in ECHO telementoring networks.
Dr. Arora is also a Distinguished and Regents’ Professor of Medicine with tenure in the department of Internal Medicine at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center.
Dr. Michelle Iandiorio received her medical degree from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY and completed a residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Infectious Diseases at the University of New Mexico Health Science Center. She is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center.
Dr. Iandiorio has been the Medical Director of UNM Project ECHO®-AETC HIVTeleECHO Clinic since its initiation in 2008. These weekly teleECHO sessions focus on providing training and ongoing mentorship for clinicians caring for people living with or at risk for HIV. Prior to her current role as Co-Principal Investigator/Clinical Director for the South Central AIDS Education and Training Center (SCAETC), she was the Medical Director of the New Mexico AETC from 2010-2019.
Dr. Iandiorio is the medical director of UNMMG Truman Health Services which provides primary care to peopleliving with HIV and people who are transgender or gender nonbinary and consultative care for people at risk for HIV and those with viral hepatitis.
She provides direct patient care at this facility and on the inpatient Infectious Disease consultative service at UNM Hospital. Dr. Iandiorio’s career interests include curriculum development and interprofessional clinical education and improving access to team-based health care to underserved patient populations with particular interest to those with and at risk for HIV.
Tracy has more than 14 years of professional experience in HIV working for the AIDS Education and Training Centers (AETCs). She is currently the Program Director of the South Central AETC at the University of New Mexico Project ECHO Institute in Albuquerque.
She holds a Master’s degree in Applied Cultural Anthropology, with a specialization in Medical Anthropology, from the University of North Texas and a bachelor’s in Anthropology from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.
Dr. Nichols graduated from the University of Texas, Dental School in Houston in June of 1982. He was in private practice in the Houston area for five years at Southwest Memorial. In 1987, began working at the Bering Dental Clinic, volunteering over 750 hours during the initial phase of the clinic.
Dr. Nichols is currently the Director of Dental Services for Avenue 360 Health and Wellness, the Dental Director for the South Central AETC, and is Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, Dept. of General Dentistry at the dental school in Houston. He also serves on the Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, at the University of Texas, Houston.
Since 1987, Dr. Nichols has seen over 15,000 patients with HIV and has been focusing his efforts on the treatment of HIV/AIDS-related oral pathology. He has been the principle investigator in several clinical research protocols, including ones for thalidomide and antifungal therapies. He has presented abstracts and lectured in New Orleans, San Francisco, Berlin, Houston, and other cities in Texas.
In November of 1990, Dr. Nichols completed a lecture tour in the People's Republic of China. In January of 1996, he presented a lecture to the 18th Annual Asian-Pacific Dental Congress in Bombay, India, as well as to two medical schools in Bombay. In 1998 he presented Continuing Education courses in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo, Brazil, and Caracas, Venezuela. Dr. Nichols has authored manuscripts in JADA, Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. and European Journal of Cancer.
Kristine Radcliff has worked for the University of New Mexico, Health Sciences Center for over 16 years in the coordination of industry sponsored clinical trials. She obtained both her BA in Sociology and BSN in Nursing from the University of New Mexico.
Her most recent role is with UNM Project ECHO and the South Central AIDS Education and Training Center – New Mexico and El Paso team as a Nurse Manager involved in HIV prevention education. She is currently pursuing her Master's Degree in Nursing Education with the ultimate goal of advancing strategies to improve the health of individuals and communities in New Mexico and the surrounding region.
Bob Tafoya signed on with SCAETC as the Practice Transformation/Ending the HIV Epidemic Operations Manager in March 2023. Prior to SCAETC, Bob managed a Ryan White Part B and Part C program in a clinic setting. He has ten years of experience working in HIV Care, Prevention and Outreach services. Bob possesses a Master of Arts in Organizational Management.
Rory Lockwood (she/they) is an administrative professional with a history of supporting HIV advocacy & programs since the early 1980s. Her work history includes 12 years serving as the administrative director for a non-profit that provided case management and direct homecare to New Mexicans who received services through the state's Medicaid Waiver programs. Rory is best known for their organizational skills, connecting people to needed resources, proven experience with many administrative apps/programs, and grace under pressure."
Michael Dominguez joined SCAETC in the Spring of 2023 as Administrative Assistant. Michael has worked in Higher Education settings, including the University of Washington.
This project is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Under grant number U1OHA33225 (South Central AIDS Education and Training Center). It was awarded to the University of New Mexico. No percentage of this project was financed with non-governmental sources. This information or content and conclusions are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.