About us

We are a nonprofit coalition of stakeholders seeking to improve health of New Mexico women and children through best practices in New Mexico hospitals. Our members include New Mexico hospitals, the Department of Health, insurers, NM Hospital Association, March of Dimes, and other community organizations such as Young Women United.

We want to help improve health outcomes! New Mexico has opportunities!

Infant mortality – 24th in the country: In 2012-2013, New Mexico had a rate of 6.1 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. Preterm birth and low birth weight causes many deaths. http://assets.americashealthrankings.org/app/uploads/hwc-complete-report.pdf
Maternal mortality – 34^th in the country: Maternal mortality rates in New Mexico are high at 23/100,000 live births for 2010 – 2014. Our country has a very high rate overall compared to other countries. http://assets.americashealthrankings.org/app/uploads/hwc-complete-report.pdf
Unintended and teen pregnancy – 40^th and 50^th in the country: The 2010 overall rate for New Mexico was 56 unintended pregnancies/1000 women and NM had the highest rate of teen pregnancies in 2011, 72/1000 teens age 15-19. https://www.guttmacher.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/stateup10.pdf. and https://www.guttmacher.org/report/us-teen-pregnancy-state-trends-2011
Substance use disorders in pregnancy – One of the highest in the country: Exposure of babies to opiates causes neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a drug withdrawal syndrome after baby is born. The NM rate in 2013 was 8.5 NAS cases per 1000 hospital births. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/wr/mm6531a2.htm

Board of Directors:

Kent Argubright, MD, Perinatal Associates of New Mexico
Katie Avery, RN, CNP, Maternal Health Manager, NM DOH
Gillian Burkhardt, MD, UNM, Department of OB/GYN
Eve Espey, MD, MPH, Chairperson, Department of UNM OB-GYN
Emma Gamelsky, MS, March of Dimes, Maternal and Child Health Director
Janis Gonzales, MD, MPH, FAAP, Bureau Chief/Medical Director, Family Bureau DOH
Jean Howe, MD, Indian Health Service
Ellen Interlandi, RN, MPH, Clinical Consultant, NM Hospital Association
Mark Kassouf, Bureau Chief of Vital Records and Health Statistics, NM DOH
Larry Leeman, MD, MPH, UNM Family & Community Medicine
Amy Levi, CNM, PhD, Albers Professor of Midwifery, UNM College of Nursing
Abe Lichtmacher, MD, Lovelace Hospital
Tom Massaro, MD, NM Department of Health
Sharon Phelan, MD, FACOG, Professor Emeritus – Ob-GYN
Keri Rath, MD, Lincoln Medical Center
Valerie Rappaport, MD, Pinon Perinatal
Cathy Rocke, MBA, Deputy Director, Public Health Division, NM DOH
Linda Siegle, Resources for Change

Executive Committee Officers

Eve Espey
President
Janis Gonzales
Vice President
Amy Levi
Secretary
Linda Siegle
Treasurer
Abby Reese
Interim Executive Director

Work Group Chairs

Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome: Larry Leeman
Improved access to long acting reversible contraception (LARC): Abby Reese
Improved management and reduction of maternal obstetrical hemorrhage: Katie Seligman

Which stakeholders are represented?

The board of directors of our Perinatal/Neonatal Collaborative consists of local representatives, including insurers (i.e., Medicaid), private healthcare personnel and consumers, as well as the following agencies: