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Dan Otero, DBA

Chief Executive Officer

Dr. Dan Otero is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) and has been with the organization since February 2016. Dr. Otero brings 34 years of healthcare experience to his role at HMS. He started his career as a pre-hospital and hospital clinical provider, specifically working as a Paramedic. He has held the positions of Director of Education, Quality Management, and Patient-Centered Care. Dr. Otero held the position of Senior Consultant with an international healthcare firm, providing patient-centered care and quality improvement consulting throughout the U.S. Over his career, he has specialized in leadership, operational excellence, and is certified as a Lean and Six Sigma Black Belt quality improvement specialist. Dr. Otero also served as Chief Operations Officer and Chief Administrative Officer at Gila Regional Medical Center before becoming CEO at HMS. He is a lifelong resident of Grant and Hidalgo Counties and a Silver High School graduate. He obtained his Master of Business Administration in 2014 and his Doctor of Business Administration with a specialty in Leadership and Organizational Development in 2022 from the University of the Southwest in Hobbs, NM.

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Gregory Busch, DO, MS, MBA

Chief Medical Officer
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine 

Dr. Gregory Busch is an accomplished healthcare leader with extensive experience in healthcare operations, population health, clinical services, and payer‑side strategy. His career spans major health systems, managed care organizations, and multidisciplinary clinical settings, where he has consistently advanced integrated, patient‑centered models of care. As Chief Medical Officer at Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS), Dr. Busch provides executive oversight for clinical leadership, provider engagement, quality and safety initiatives, and performance improvement. He plays a key role in strengthening HMS’s comprehensive service delivery across primary care, behavioral health, dental health, and community‑based programs. Dr. Busch earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He also holds a Master of Science in Biochemistry and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Scranton, as well as an MBA from the University of Massachusetts. He is additionally a Faculty Scholar in Palliative Care Education and Practice through Harvard Medical School.

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Lacey Brown-Contreras

Chief Compliance Officer

Lacey Brown-Contreras serves as the Chief Compliance Officer at Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS). She earned her bachelor’s degree from New Mexico State University, her Medical Laboratory Scientist Certification from George Washington University, and her Certification in Healthcare Compliance (CHC) through the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA). Lacey began her healthcare career at HMS in 2011 as a Medical Assistant, quickly expanding her skills to include Dental Assisting before moving into the role of Clinical Laboratory Coordinator. Her passion for healthcare—particularly laboratory systems—led her to pursue opportunities outside of HMS for several years, across several states, gaining diverse experience in laboratory operations and leadership. In 2021, she returned to her hometown of Silver City and rejoined HMS in 2023 as the Chief Compliance Officer, pursuing her growing interest in healthcare compliance and organizational integrity. A proud Silver City native, Lacey maintains strong ties to the communities of Silver City, Cliff, and Mimbres, where she is dedicated to supporting quality healthcare and community well-being.

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Gretchen Cannon

Chief Financial Officer

Gretchen Cannon is the Chief Financial Officer at Hidalgo Medical Services. She was raised in a small town in Arkansas. She graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s degree in 1999 in Mathematics and a Master’s Degree from the University of Arkansas in 2007.

Prior to HMS, she has over 20 years’ experience as a Chief Financial Officer in non-profit and government sectors. Additionally, she brings over 15 years of experience working with FQHCs. Gretchen is a financial and management team member with proven work performance in communication, leadership, and operations. She is a wife, mother, grandmother, and sports enthusiast who loves to spend time with her family, on the lake, or enjoying any sports game, especially football.

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Cathy Diaz

Chief People Officer

Bio coming soon.

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Amanda Frost, MPH

Chief Operating Officer

Amanda Frost, MPH, CHES is the Chief Operating Officer at Hidalgo Medical Services. Born in Texas and raised in Southern New Mexico, Amanda graduated with honors from New Mexico State University with a Master’s in Public Health and is a Certified Health Education Specialist through the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing. In college, she was very active with Eta Sigma Gamma; the National Health Education Honor Society.

Amanda has worked in the Federal Qualified Health Care setting since 2011 and worked in the mental health field for four years before that. Amanda began her career at HMS as a Clinic Coordinator and has since served as the Senior Mental Health Program Director and most recently the Chief Financial Officer before taking on the role of Chief Operating Officer.

Amanda is very involved in the community, serving on the Board of Directors for the Hidalgo County Chamber of Commerce. She has also served as a Board of Director for the New Mexico Alliance of School Based Health Care. Amanda’s passion lies in helping others and using her knowledge and expertise to provide patients and staff with the best experience possible while at HMS.

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Shelly Verma, PMHNP-BC, MD

Chief Behavioral Health Officer

Shelly Verma is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP-BC) and trained medical doctor with a strong foundation in patient-centered mental health care. With a diverse clinical background spanning psychiatry, substance use treatment, and integrative medicine, she brings a holistic and evidence-based approach to mental health services.

Shelly earned her Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Psychiatric Mental Health from Florida International University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She also holds a Doctor of Medicine degree from the Medical University of Silesia in Poland and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of South Florida.

Her professional experience includes roles at La Clinica De Familia in New Mexico, Sierra Vista Hospital, and Mind Springs Health in Colorado, where she provided comprehensive psychiatric evaluations, medication management, and coordinated care for individuals with complex mental health and substance use disorders. She is certified in advanced treatments such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Ketamine Infusion Therapy, and has extensive experience in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for substance use recovery.

Shelly is licensed to practice in multiple states including New Mexico, Colorado, Nevada, Florida, and Maryland. Her commitment to excellence is reflected in numerous accolades, including being named Medical Student of the Year and receiving the First Place Award for a quality improvement project at Silesia Medical University.

Beyond her clinical work, Shelly has contributed to research in biochemical and cardiovascular health, and has a long-standing dedication to community service through organizations such as Special Olympics, La Ventana de los Cielos, and Al-Muin Community Wellness Center.

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Annette Verovich

Chief Nursing Officer

Annette Verovich is the Chief Nursing officer of Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS). She holds an Associate Degree in Nursing from Western New Mexico University and brings over a decade of nursing experience to her leadership role. Annette’s career spans critical care, home health, and ambulatory care settings. Outside of work, Annette enjoys spending time with her family, attending softball and football games, crafting, and taking part in outdoor activities. She is passionate about fostering a culture of mentorship, professional growth, and excellence in nursing. Annette remains committed to ensuring that HMS continues to provide the highest quality of care to its patients and community.

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Kristi Apodaca

Director of Operations

Kristi Apodaca is the Director of Operations at Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS). Kristi was born in Silver City and was raised in Cliff, NM and graduated from Cliff High School. She got her Bachelor’s of Applied Science from Western New Mexico University.

Kristi has been with HMS since 2011, she started as a patient specialist and has since served as a Clinic Coordinator and now Director of Operations. Kristi is proud to be part of an organization that extends to all rural parts of our community and is excited to continue to find ways to better support our outlying clinics.

During her off-time Kristi and her husband can be found traveling with their three children between sporting and dancing events. They also enjoy camping and side by side riding.

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J. Brady

Director of Patient Access

J, a native of Chicago, had had the opportunity to many years in the Customer Service field, working with small and large team, across industries from entertainment to manufacturing. He has also, during this time, spent many hours working with a variety of non-profit organizations addressing food inequity. It is a passion that starting in the 1980s and continues until today, serving as a board member of The Commons: Center for Food Security and Sustainability. J. is passionate about service and is thrilled to bring his passion to his HMS.

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Teresa Carrasco

Director of Patient Financial Services

Teresa Carrasco is the Director of Patient Financial Services at Hidalgo Medical Services. She was born and raised in Bayard NM, and graduated from Cobre High School in 1999. Teresa knew early on that she wanted to stay close to home and somehow contribute to her community. Teresa had a desire to become part of the medical field, like her mother and aunt, but not sure where she would fit in, so she took on many operations positions within the medical industry, specifically at GRMC and another local health care clinic. This journey finally led her into the area of medical billing and coding, and in 2006, she became part of the Hidalgo Medical Services family, in the billing department. With a great thirst to learn all she could about this area, and with the support of her family, Teresa took and passed the painstaking exam to obtain her Certified Professional Coder (CPC) certification through the American Academy of Professional Coders organization. She has kept this certification since 2008. In 2018 she decided to add to this and also obtained her Certified Professional Biller (CPB) certification through the same organization. Dually certified, Teresa became the Director of Patient Financial Services in 2017 and continues to grow her knowledge of medical billing and coding and enjoys helping and sharing her knowledge with her colleagues and her Patient Financial Services Team in order to help increase awareness around the importance of correct billing/coding practices, specifically in the FQHC setting.

Teresa strives to lead and empower her team to become a powerful and knowledgeable Patient Financial Services department, while ultimately creating an open and inviting environment where patients can call and/or come visit with our Patient Financial Services Representatives to discuss and work through any billing issues that they may be encountering.

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Patricia Hamilton, LCSW

Director of Community Behavioral Health

Patti graduated from University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2000 with a Master in Social Work and from Park University in 1983 with Bachelors in Social Psychology. She most recently worked at Gila Regional Medical Services as the psychotherapist in the Behavior Health Unit after retirement as a Child Protective Supervisor with New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department in 2016. Patti has worked with a diverse population of clients since 1990: foster and adopted children and their families, trauma survivors, the homeless, chemical dependent individuals, LGBTQ, former incarcerated individuals and individuals diagnosed with DSM-5 diagnoses both inpatient and outpatient. Her practice is based on a Strength-Based Approach focusing on individuals’ self-determination and strength within their systems, specifically seeing clients and families as resourceful and resilient when in adverse conditions. Patti was born and raised in rural East Tennessee. Patti is married to Tim, also a Social Worker and has 2 daughters, 3 stepdaughters and 1 stepson who have given her wonderful grandchildren.

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Aaron Holmes

Director of Transportation and Security

Aaron Holmes is the Senior Services Director at Hidalgo Medical Services. He was born and raised in Silver City, NM. Aaron has dedicated himself to serving communities through law enforcement and serving our country in the Navy. Aaron looks forward to continuing his mission of service while returning to his hometown, working closely with the community and seniors to ensure their safety and well-being. With his extensive experience and unwavering commitment to justice, Aaron Holmes remains a steadfast advocate for the safety and security of all.

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Jamie McMahen

Director of Finance

Jamie McMahen is the Director of Finance at Hidalgo Medical Services. She graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from Middle Tennessee State University. After completing her degree, Jamie worked in the music business before returning home to pursue a career at a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). Over the next ten years, Jamie gained experience in all areas of the FQHC before accepting her current position at HMS.

Jamie and her four siblings, including her twin brother, were born and raised in a rural town in southwest Arkansas. She is a proud wife and mother of three kids. She enjoys attending concerts, fishing, sports and spending time with her family. Her goal is to help HMS provide excellent care to all patients and continue to make a positive impact in the communities they serve.

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Patrick Nesbitt

Director of Facilities

Patrick Nesbitt received his Journeyman Electrical License in 1981. He traveled the State of New Mexico and West Texas installing commercial electrical and special systems. Pat has been the Director of Facilities at Hidalgo Medical Services since 2017. Prior to this Pat served in the capacity of Maintenance Supervisor and Director of facilities at GRMC from 2007 -2017. Patrick was born and raised in rural New Mexico and knows firsthand how important healthcare is to a rural community. He likes to help people and is in the perfect field to do just that.

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Ethan Novikoff, MPH

Director of Quality and Safety

Ethan Novikoff, MPH, is the Director of Quality and Safety at Hidalgo Medical Services. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health Science from Bowling Green State University and a Master of Public Health degree from New Mexico State University. Ethan is a current member of the Pre-Rulemaking Measure Review Committee and the Measure Set Review Recommendation Group for the Partnership for Quality Measurement (Battelle). Before joining HMS in 2022, Ethan had a career in Environmental Health, working in both the private and public sectors on air quality and hazardous waste management. After relocating to Silver City, New Mexico, Ethan worked at a small healthcare clinic, where he realized his passion for frontier healthcare. He later joined HMS as Quality Improvement Director before transitioning to the role of Chief Quality Officer. Ethan is a musician, adobe builder, and father. He is proud to call Silver City his home and loves getting to positively impact the communities of Grant and Hidalgo counties through his work at HMS.

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Melissa Palmer, LPCC

Director of Mental Health Specialty Programs
Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor

Melissa Palmer is the Director of Behavioral Health Specialty Programs at HMS, which includes Comprehensive Community Support Services (CCSS) and New Beginnings Psychosocial Rehabilitation (PSR) programs. She grew up in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and graduated from New Mexico State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 1995, and from Western New Mexico University with a Master of Arts degree in Counseling in 1997. She has been working as a Licensed Counselor in Silver City since 2001, and has worked in Community Mental Health Centers since 2004 through transitions of different agencies to Hidalgo Medical Services in 2015, and has been supervising the Comprehensive Community Support Services program in Silver City since 2012.

Melissa started her career working with children and adolescents utilizing play and art therapy, and has specialized in trauma treatment with clients of all ages throughout her career. She has been facilitating a weekly Seeking Safety therapy group focusing on improving management of substance use disorders and trauma symptoms since 2019.

Melissa feels that the most rewarding part of her job is when clients benefit from learning how to manage behavioral health symptoms and stressors in positive ways, leading them to establish beneficial daily living practices, develop healthy relationships, and ultimately meet their individual recovery goals to lead satisfying and fulfilling lives. She believes there is always hope if people are determined and engaged in services provided by a team of caring professionals working together to help them manage all aspects of their health and well-being. Melissa enjoys hiking, traveling, spending time with family and playing with her dogs in her spare time.

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Jackie Ramirez

Director of Care Coordination

Jackie Ramirez is the Director of Care Coordination that currently oversees Carelink NM. She grew up in Lordsburg, New Mexico, and graduated from Western New Mexico University with a Bachelor of Social Work in 2018. Jackie feels that the most rewarding part of her job is helping clients manage their healthcare and treatment needs while also maintaining open lines of communication between clients and healthcare providers. Jackie works in many different capacities on behalf of clients including ensuring client’s needs are met, handling administrative responsibilities, public relations duties and assisting clients with case management. The goal is to help clients manage their overall health and stressors in order to lead a positive, well-meaning life. Jackie has worked for HMS in many capacities since August 2001. Jackie enjoys spending time with her family and gardening.

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Eric York, DDS

Director of Dental Services

Bio coming soon.