President's Message

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the New Mexico Hispanic Medical Association.  It is hard to believe that this organization that was started by a core group of four of our colleagues has come such a long way. We are proud with the launch of our new website, just another example of how far we have come in 20 years. Please take some time to learn more about us and, if you’re able, participate in the activities we have designed to make healthcare accessible to all New Mexicans.

It is with great sorrow that we bid good-bye to one of our founding members, Dr. Anthony (Gabe) Martinez.  Dr. Martinez died on November 25, 2009 of complications of H1N1.  Gabe embodied the soul of NMHMA.  He was passionate about the goals of the organization and worked tirelessly to increase enrollment of underserved minorities into the University Of New Mexico School Of Medicine.  He was also instrumental in helping set up the NMHMA scholarship fund.  Dr. Martinez will be greatly missed.  The members of the NMHMA and Dr. Martinez’ family would like to honor his memory with an ongoing scholarship in his name to be awarded at our annual conference.  We are now accepting donations for this new scholarship.

Board members of the New Mexico Hispanic Medical Association recently participated in a Board retreat.  Many great ideas came out of this retreat.  The Board would like to work on the goal of being able to give one or more full-ride scholarships to under-represented medical students.  We have begun brain-storming to be able to accomplish this.  We also recognized as a Board that it is imperative to be politically active.  We will continue to be involved in legislation concerning health care in New Mexico.

The NMHMA continues to work for parity in admission to the UNM School of Medicine.  We have several members of our organization that have volunteered to serve on the admissions committee.  They ensure that our voice is heard in matters of selection of qualified students.

We continue to put on an annual Continuing Medical Education meeting along with a diner dance honoring our scholarship recipients. This year we’ll have our twentieth anniversary celebration.  We would like to honor the past presidents of NMHMA and we would also like this to be a reunion of all past members of the organization.  Make plans to join us at Isleta Conference Center (soon to be Hard Rock Hotel) on the weekend of August 21, 2010 for this wonderful reunion.

In the last couple of years we have started a Pre Med Prep program at New Mexico Highlands University.  Although this program is only one year old we have already seen an increase in the numbers of students admitted to the UNM-SOM from Highlands University.

The NMHMA sponsors an annual health fair that offers free screening exams for diabetes, hypertension, Alzheimer’s Dementia and skin cancer among other services. We are also able to provide free immunizations.  Our health fair is held in Albuquerque at the National Hispanic Cultural Center. This year’s Health Fair will be held April 17, 2010.

Also new is a Medical Discount Card sponsored by the NMHMA. The New Mexico Medical Card enables a family of any size to receive discounted medical care for an annual fee of $75.00.  Details can be found on the web site nmmedicalcard.org.

I am proud to serve as president of this organization and I will work to make this a stronger entity.  I am also committed to increasing membership and I hope to hear from any of you regarding any ideas or concerns you may have. Board members may be calling on you this month of April and May of 2010 to see how you’re doing. We hope we’ll find you well.

Here is to a great 2010!

Best Wishes,
Leonora J. Lopez MD