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University Of New Mexico Health Sciences Center

Higher Ed | Colleges & Universities

Recent News About University Of New Mexico Health Sciences Center

  • Research from the University of New Mexico suggests that providing methadone and other substance use disorder treatments in jails can reduce recidivism rates. Brady Horn, a professor in the Department of Economics, and Paul Guerin, director of the Center for Applied Research and Analysis (CARA) at the Institute for Social Research (ISR), examined a program at Bernalillo County's Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) that offers methadone treatment to inmates.


  • The University of New Mexico Hospital (UNM Hospital) in Albuquerque, the state's only Level-I trauma center, recently played a critical role in saving the life of 72-year-old Richard Neely from Farmington. Last fall, Neely's heart unexpectedly stopped while he was at home.


  • As September marks Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, The University of New Mexico (UNM) Children’s Hospital highlights its essential role in treating and supporting young cancer patients and their families. Leading the effort is Jessica M. Valdez, MD, MPH, an associate professor, institutional principal investigator for the Children’s Oncology Group (COG), and medical director of the Pediatric Infusion Unit at UNM. Valdez provides insights into the hospital's commitment to offering personalized, advanced care while managing pediatric oncology complexities in New Mexico.


  • The University of New Mexico College of Nursing has been recognized as one of the top Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) programs in the United States, according to U.S. News & World Report's 2025 Best Colleges list. The College climbed 13 spots from last year and is now ranked 54th out of 686 nursing schools nationwide, placing it in the top 8%.


  • New Mexico voters will soon decide on a significant investment in higher education, including renovations for The University of New Mexico (UNM) College of Pharmacy. This year's general election ballot includes a series of General Obligation (GO) Bonds, with Higher Education GO Bond-3 proposing to release $230 million to institutions across the state.


  • Flu season is approaching, prompting the University of New Mexico Health System to host several free community flu shot clinics across the Albuquerque metro area.


  • Andrea Howard, a second-year student at The University of New Mexico School of Medicine and a former Olympian, exemplifies the pursuit of excellence both academically and athletically. On Friday, August 23rd, Howard's team secured the MLB Home Run Derby X (HRDX) championship trophy at Isotopes Park. The team, including former Washington Nationals star Ryan Zimmerman and current UNM Lobo sophomore baseball player Gene Trujillo, demonstrated exceptional skill and teamwork. Howard stood out by scoring 10 points in the semifinals and an impressive 16 points in the finals,...


  • The University of New Mexico’s Street Medicine program aims to meet people in the community and provide them with necessary care and resources. Recognizing that individuals living on the streets often have pets needing care, a new partnership has been formed to address this need.


  • A leader in The University of New Mexico College of Nursing and a former nurse at UNM Children’s Hospital has made history as the first nurse from New Mexico to be inducted into the Academy of Emergency Nursing. This achievement highlights her work and its impact on the Land of Enchantment and beyond.


  • A crucial summit, organized by the Homeless Coordinating Council, gathered experts and stakeholders to address the intertwined challenges of mental health and substance use disorders, commonly referred to as a dual diagnosis. Health care professionals, community leaders, and advocates for the inaugural Dual Diagnosis and Recovery Summit met for thoughtful, solutions-focused conversations on Sept. 11, 2024. The event was sponsored by The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, City of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, Albuquerque Public Schools, and the Veterans...


  • The University of New Mexico Hospital and the United Health Professionals NM division of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) have agreed to resume good-faith bargaining. This development follows a ruling by a New Mexico District Court judge, who ordered that negotiations should continue while awaiting a decision on whether PRN (pro re nata) employees, or temporary freelance workers, should be included in the bargaining unit.


  • The University of New Mexico’s Health Sciences Rio Rancho Campus (HSRR) is collaborating with partners in Sandoval County to host a series of small business trainings aimed at supporting the local community.


  • Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, representatives from The University of New Mexico Health System, and the Reproductive Health Care Success Project broke ground on a clinic that aims to expand reproductive health care and improve maternal health outcomes for women in Southern New Mexico.


  • The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) has recently elected a prominent faculty member from The University of New Mexico’s College of Pharmacy as its new President-elect and to a three-year term on the Board of Directors. It is the first time a president has been elected from New Mexico.


  • Back-to-school season often brings an increase in childhood illnesses, leading to added stress for parents. Experts from The University of New Mexico Health Sciences emphasize the importance of parental self-care during these times.


  • To advance the mission of fostering an 'educated, healthy, and economically vigorous' New Mexico, Garnett Stokes, President of The University of New Mexico (UNM), has appointed Mike Richards, MD, MPA to the role of Interim Executive Vice President of UNM Health Sciences and Chief Executive Officer of the UNM Health System.


  • The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center has initiated a new clinical trial to explore the efficacy of hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in treating ovarian cancer. This surgical technique, typically used for digestive cancers, is being applied to ovarian cancer patients in hopes of improving outcomes.


  • The poison hotline is a number you might not think to call for drug addiction, but it’s one that could make all the difference. Leaders at the New Mexico Poison & Drug Information Center at The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center want more families to know that they can call the hotline when they are experiencing a crisis.


  • For the fifth time in the past year, the United Health Professionals of New Mexico division of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) has rejected UNM Hospital’s offer to negotiate a contract on behalf of the regular employees it seeks to represent who work at UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center – A Campus of UNM Hospital (SRMC).


  • Many people are discussing microplastics—tiny plastic particles less than five millimeters in diameter—and their pervasive presence in the environment. University of New Mexico Health Sciences researchers have discovered microplastics in various parts of the human body, including the brain, testicular tissue, and even the womb. Despite the alarming findings, a researcher at the UNM College of Population Health believes there are measures individuals can take to reduce exposure to microplastics.