Hidalgo Medical Services – Family Medicine Residency Program

On Friday, January 28, 2022, Dan Otero, HMS CEO, appointed Oliver Hayes, DO, as the Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) Sponsoring Institution’s Designated Institutional Official (DIO). The DIO is responsible for oversight of the HMS’ educational programs which includes the HMS Family Medicine Residency Program.

The Graduate Medical Education Committee (GMEC) approved John Andazola, MD, as the HMS Family Medicine Residency Program Director. These recent appointments are the result of the recent resignations of Dr. Darrick Nelson as its Family Medicine Program Director, and Dr. Brandon Ferguson, program core faculty. Dr. Nelson served as the Program Director since the program’s inception 2013 and served as the DIO since 2017. According to Mr. Otero, the support for program continuation from local, regional, and state officials has been excellent and resulted in the two appointments. These changes are necessary to ensure the continued accreditation of the residency program. Both Dr. Andazola and Dr. Hayes have extensive residency experience. Mr. Otero went on to say that he and the rest of the HMS Board of Directors are committed to doing everything possible to keep the program viable, and most importantly a program that trains quality family medicine physicians while maintaining compliance with accreditation standards of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The HMS Family Medicine Residency Program is funded through the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) Teaching Health Center program. The HMS FMRP was established and initially accredited by the ACGME on July 1, 2013 and has remained in good standing with the ACGME throughout its history. The program is a 1+2 model in which once a physician is accepted into the program, the resident spends the majority of their first year of training at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces, followed by two years of residency education in Grant and Hidalgo counties at HMS and with local providers. Since the program’s inception in 2013, 13 resident physicians have graduated from the program.

Additionally, and in support of ongoing education for the residents, Dr. Salvador Adame-Zambrano (who will take a leadership role in the program), Dr. Pedro Armendariz, HMS’ Senior Services Medical Director, and graduate of the HMS FMRP, and Dr. Teresa Arizaga, is providing ongoing program faculty education and support. The HMS FMRP is supported by formal educational partnerships with Southern New Mexico Family Medicine Residency Program, Memorial Medical Center, Gila Regional Medical Center, Northern Navajo Medical Center, University of New Mexico, Southwest Bone and Joint Institute, Cassie Health Center, Sierra Dermatology, Amplified Therapy, Desert Springs Physical Therapy, Emergency Staffing Solutions, New Beginnings, and WNMU Athletics Department.

In closing, HMS would like to thank Dr. Darrick Nelson for his years of service in working collaboratively with other regional leaders in establishing and overseeing the program through the years. We also are grateful for the support of the appointees and we welcome the new team to our community.