NM-PIC celebrated the graduation of our first two doctoral psychology interns on July 29, 2022 during the ceremony held at the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute (NMBHI) in Las Vegas. James Kuciemba completed his internship year at Iiná Counseling Services at Indian Health Service in Shiprock, New Mexico. He is a graduate of Texas Woman's University, PhD program in Counseling Psychology. Rachel Dubois completed her internship year at New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute in Las Vegas, New Mexico. She is a graduate of Felician University, PsyD program in counseling psychology.  

Dr. Ciara Hansen, NM-PIC Program Director and Clinical Psychologist in the Iiná Counseling Services department at Northern Navajo Medical Center directed the graduation ceremony. Dr. Hansen earned her Ph.D. from the University of Montana as a member of the Indians into Psychology (INPSYCH) program. New Mexico Lieutenant Governor Dr. Howie Morales offered the keynote address sharing passion and support for training and education of psychologists across New Mexico. Program speakers included Dr. Tim Shields, Clinical Psychologist and Executive Director of NMBHI, Dr. Dan Otero, Chief Executive Officer at Hidalgo Medical Services, and Dr. Teresa Arizaga, Psychiatrist and Chief Mental Health Officer at Hidalgo Medical Services. NM-PIC psychology training faculty and supervisors in attendance included Dr. John Moulton, Forensic Clinical Psychologist at NMBHI, Dr. Jeanne Knight Clinical Neuropsychologist and NM-PIC Site Director at NMBHI, Dr. Mathias (Matt) Stricherz, Clinical Psychologist at NMBHI, Dr. William Merkle, Clinical Psychologist at NMBHI, and Dr. Marie C. Weil, Clinical Psychologist and Psychology Services Director at Hidalgo Medical Services along with Dr. Ashley Fortier, Technical Assistance Associate, Behavioral Health Program of the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). Family, friends, and staff from all sites celebrated the achievements of Dr. Kuciemba and Dr. Dubois. 

The aim of the New Mexico Psychology Internship Consortium (NM-PIC) is to prepare and retain high quality and culturally competent psychologists to provide collaborative public mental health care for the diverse children, adolescents, and adults of New Mexico. 

The New Mexico Psychology Internship Consortium (NM-PIC) represents the collaborative effort of three agencies, Hidalgo Medical Services in Silver City, Iiná Counseling Services at Indian Health Service in Shiprock, and the New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute in Las Vegas, to share resources and faculty for the purpose of providing a quality educational program for psychology doctoral interns focusing on culturally relevant and responsive treatment to New Mexico residents of all ages. 

NM-PIC is not accredited by the APA. NM-PIC submitted an accreditation self-study to APA in March 2022 and has been granted authorization for a site visit in 2023. NM-PIC is a member of the Association of Psychology Postdoctoral and Internship Centers (APPIC, #2535), and participates in the APPIC Match Service. For more information visit the website at: https://nm-pic.org/