Presbyterian Healthcare Services

We're proud to be New Mexico's highest ranked health system according to Forbes' 2024 ranking of America's best employers by state! We're determined to take care of those working in healthcare. https://ow.ly/tkJi50T3kfT

Spooky season is officially here! Help support the Presbyterian Child Life program through the annual #SpiritoOfChildren fundraising campaign. Now through October 31, use the coupon below to save 10% on your online and in-store purchases. For every purchase using this coupon, Spirit Halloween gives 10% to Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation for Child Life. Just present the coupon at any Spirit Halloween or enter promo code DONATE24 at checkout when shopping at SpiritHalloween.com. Help us spread the word by sharing this post with your friends and family. #GivingBack #Philanthropy #CommunityImpact #NewMexico #Healthcare

From finding a primary care provider to getting a mole checked, Presbyterian's telehealth services are helping New Mexicans access care quicker. An improved site makes it simpler to find what you're looking for and schedule an appointment. ✅Virtual care options are listed on phs.org instead of on a separate site. ✅The virtual care page lists all services offered, and options for Presbyterian Health Plan members are grouped together. ✅The scope of care for each option is explained upfront, with listings for hours and ages accepted. Check it out now: phs.org/virtual

Our Presbyterian Medical Group, urgent care and community health teams at Las Estancias Dr. recently celebrated five incredible years of serving the communities of Southwest Albuquerque. Congratulations and thank you for your incredible care!

We're celebrating our advanced practice clinicians this week. Meet Colin Williams, a pharmacist clinician with our Complete Care Program. Q: What drives your passion for practicing medicine as an APC? A: We have an opportunity to make a real difference in our patients' lives. Whether it's sharing our knowledge or advocating for them, or sometimes simply listening - what we do can really help people, and that's a great feeling! Q: What is the number one question you are asked as an APC in your specialty? A: My diabetic patients frequently ask, “what can I eat?" Maintaining a healthy diet can be difficult for many people but when you throw in extra parameters like carb counting or salt restriction it can be a real challenge. Q: What personal strengths do you feel you bring to your current role? A: I think it's enthusiasm and not being afraid to try new things! Q: What's the best advice you've ever received? A: You should treat everyone the way you'd like to be treated. Q: Tell us something about yourself that most people don't know? A: My go-to karaoke song is “Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen. Q: What do you like to do outside of work? A: I'm probably up for trying just about anything! But most of all I love to cook, read, and spend time with my family.

We're celebrating our advanced practice clinicians this week. Meet Lauren Soules, a certified physician assistant with our Cancer Care team. Q: What drives your passion for practicing medicine as an APC? A: The patients are amazing and inspiring. I also love that practicing medicine allows me to learn and see something new every day. Q: What is the number one question you are asked as an APC in your specialty? A: “How often should I get a mammogram, or why do my breasts hurt?" Q: What personal strengths do you feel you bring to your current role? A: I'm hard-working, organized, kind and motivated. Q: What's the best advice you've ever received? A: Be mindful, be present and be curious—try to approach each situation as if you were seeing or doing it for the first time ever. Q: Tell us something about yourself that most people don't know? A: I played college soccer. Q: What do you like to do outside of work? A: Exercise, read and spend time with my family. (📷: Lauren with her husband and daughter. )

We're celebrating our advanced practice clinicians this week. Meet Alex Vining, a certified physician assistant in the Emergency Department at Presbyterian Española Hospital. Q: What drives your passion for practicing medicine as an APC? A: I've always enjoyed connecting with and helping people. Both of my moms were physicians, and their dedication was inspiring. Marge Vining retired as the director of palliative care for Presbyterian. Sally Bachofer was a faculty member for the University of New Mexico's (UNM) Family Medicine residency program. My own professional journey started in a bike shop. I struggled academically as a teenager and dropped out of high school to pursue bicycle racing in Belgium. I later moved to Albuquerque to work as a bicycle mechanic. My boss advised that I'd need a long-term career, and that serving as a paramedic might be a good fit. I did my training at Center New Mexico Community College and the University of New Mexico. It was the first time I'd ever excelled academically because it felt meaningful. I patrolled at Ski Santa Fe's Ski Patrol for 10 years before joining Presbyterian in 2018. One year later, I decided to pursue physician assistant certification so I could work more closely with patients. Q: What is the number one question you are asked as an APC in your specialty? A: The range of questions I get reflects the diversity of patients I see—but the most common is “Can I get an excuse for work?" Q: What personal strengths do you feel you bring to your current role? A: I'm passionate about meeting people where they're at, and about harm reduction for substance abuse disorder. When I was at the University of New England for PA school, I volunteered for the Portland needle exchange program doing community outreach. It kept me connected to patient care when I was steeped in academics, and it helps me connect to patients today. Q: Tell us something about yourself that most people don't know? A: I'm a triplet. My sister, brother and I were the first triplets born at Lovelace Hospital on Gibson. (📷: Alex, his wife Wyndham and their son Keats. )

Presbyterian is a home to a culturally rich workforce determined to care for New Mexicans. To honor National Hispanic Heritage Month, we reflect on some Hispanic pioneers in healthcare throughout history. • Severo Ochoa, MD (1905-1993): A Spanish-American biochemist and molecular biologist known as “the man behind RNA” for his discovery of an enzyme that can synthesize ribonucleic acid (RNA). He was co-awarded the 1959 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine and made history as the first Hispanic American to win the award. • Ildaura Murillo-Rohde, PhD, RN (1920-2010): Known as a powerhouse advocate, nurse, therapist and educator from Panama, Murillo-Rohde also served as the first Hispanic dean of nursing at New York University. She created the National Association of Hispanic Nurses (NAHN) in 1975, citing the need to attract more nurses of Hispanic heritage to the profession and strengthen connections to the communities they serve. She is considered a leader in education, psychiatric nursing and for Hispanic women in nursing. • Antonia Novello, MD (1944-): Novello made history as the first female and first Hispanic U.S. Surgeon General in 1990. She earned her medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico, in the territory where she was also raised as a child with a congenitaAfterl digestive condition. experiencing barriers to accessing care firsthand, she was committed to pursuing a career in public health to increase access and protect the young and vulnerable.

Presbyterian couldn't serve our community without the determination, expertise and compassion of our 500+ advanced practice clinicians (APCs). They provide excellent clinical outcomes from primary care to oncology and surgical specialties, and everything in between. They help expand access to care through their compassion, diligence and expertise. They lead clinics and partner with physicians and nurses to care for patients in our hospitals and in patients' homes. Across New Mexico from September 20 to 27, our teams are celebrating the important work our APCs do every day. Help us say thanks by posting a shout-out to your favorite APC below!

❤️A special thank you to Anthony and Patricia Dimas and the donors to Elijah's Toy Drive for their generous donation of toys to the Presbyterian Hospital and Presbyterian Rust Medical Center Child Life programs!❤️