University of New Mexico School of Medicine

Our mission is to advance the health of all New Mexicans by educating and increasing the diversity of health professionals, leaders and scientists, providing outstanding and compassionate medical care, advocating for the health of all New Mexicans, and pursuing new knowledge, and excellence of practice. Mission Impact in Admissions • We observe mission-aligned selection practices when assessing applicants. Once minimum requirements have been met, we blind interviewers to the MCAT, GPA, and academic record of applicants. This allows us to select applicants who align with our mission and who are committed to improving healthcare in our local communities. • We recognize the importance of rural and community physicians in addressing health equity issues. By involving them in our admissions committee they provide valuable perspectives to the selection process. • In an effort to support applicants unsuccessful in gaining admissions, and/or from rural and underserved communities or low socioeconomic backgrounds, we provide a post application workshop, and individual consultations with specific recommendations to help individuals improve future applications. Mission Impact in Medical School Curriculum • We provide students with the opportunity to engage in faculty-mentored scholarly projects related to health care issues in local communities. The focus on the Rural and Urban Underserved Program (RUUP) adds a significant dimension by allowing students to work directly with medically underserved communities. • The Practical Immersion Experience is a 6-week rural community-based clinical preceptorship, where students live in the assigned community. This provides a unique and immersive learning opportunity with first-hand experience to observe and understand daily life in a rural community, gaining insights into the specific community healthcare challenges and needs. • Medical students participate in Learning Communities, which provide students with a support structure that includes a faculty mentor and upper classmates. This fosters a sense of community and mentorship, creating a supportive environment for students. • Incorporating Cultural Humility into our curriculum provides opportunities for students to learn about the populations they serve, such as teaching about use of birthing sashes in Navajo births and cleansing ceremony for local tribal and Native students. This approach enriches educational experience for students, and prepares them to provide culturally sensitive and patient-centered care. Mission Impact in Medical School Student Support • The HSC Center for Native American Health plays a pivotal role in addressing health- related needs and fostering collaboration within Native American Communities. Its specialization in various areas include; student and workforce development, community engagement, community-based participatory research, community health assessment capacity building, program planning, and project management. • The Learning Environment Office mission is to foster an inclusive learning environment where teachers, staff, and learners thrive, and relationships are mutually respectful and beneficial to each other and to institutional climate. The initiatives, such as the speaker series, demonstrate a commitment to fostering respect, connection, and inclusion. Mission Impact in Graduates • 2025, UNM SOM ranked in Tier 1 for its Primary Care program in the US News and World Report. UNM SOM also ranked in Tier 3 for Research, and #23 for Most Graduates Practicing in Health Professional Shortage Areas • Approximately 24% of all UNM-trained physicians are practicing in New Mexico • UNM-trained physicians are practicing in 30 of New Mexico’s 33 counties • 45% of all UNM-trained physicians practicing in New Mexico are in primary care specialties of Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN, or Pediatrics.