Ellis M Knight, MD, MBA.

Chief Medical Strategist

Mac Knight has over 40 years of experience in the healthcare arena, as a practicing physician, physician executive, healthcare consultant, expert witness and industry thought leader. He has practiced and held leadership positions in community and academic settings and is familiar with the operation of hospitals in both rural and urban settings. He is frequently asked to speak at national meetings and has authored or co-authored multiple books and articles on a variety of healthcare related topics.

Dr. Knight graduated from Stanford University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Biology and received his doctor-of-medicine degree, cum laude, from the University of Oregon Health Science Center's School of Medicine. He earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and has earned fellowship status in the American College of Physicians, the Society of Hospital Medicine, and the American College of Healthcare Executives.

Dr. Knight has a particular interest in value-based care process design, cost accounting, clinical integration and physician / clinician leadership skill development. His special passion is pushing for change in the healthcare system that result in higher value (quality per unit of cost) for patients in these extremely challenging times.

Isaac Saucedo, PA

Interim Chief Medical Officer
Family Practice Clinician
Physician Assistant

Western New Mexico University
Evangel University, Missouri
Arizona School of Health Services

Issac Saucedo is a family practice clinician who has a special interest in rural and preventative medicine. Isaac was born and raised in Silver City, and attended Western New Mexico University. He later graduated from Evangel University, Missouri, and went on to attend Arizona School of Health Services. Isaac Saucedo is certified with the National Commission on Certifications of Physicians Assistants (NCCPA). He is a fellow of the New Mexico Academy of Physician Assistants (NMAPA) and a fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).

Christine Cutbirth RD

Dietician
Registered Dietician

I have worked as a Registered Dietitian for 20 years in a variety of healthcare settings. Upon competition of my education from New Mexico State University, I became a clinical dietitian at Memorial Medical Center in Las Cruces, preforming in-patient nutritional assessment, counseling and providing Diabetic Education in MMC’s out-patient setting. I have been fortunate to have a long history of private nutrition consulting, traveling to provide care to underserved areas throughout Southern New Mexico. My experience has been in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, long-term care settings, dialysis and Head Start/Early Head Start centers. I have specialized in pediatrics, geriatrics and kidney care and I am passionate in gaining additional knowledge of current nutrition recommendations and providing the best patient care possible. I’ve also enjoy conducting trainings on a variety of nutrition related topics.

I had the honor of serving on state and local boards for the New Mexico Dietetic Association and am a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. I feel strongly about furthering the nutrition profession by providing rotations for students and Dietetic interns, who gain real life experience in health care settings. I have been recognized for Service Excellence and Integrity and strongly believe in customer service. I know many people can become overwhelmed with health concerns. When education and support are provided, patients can gain a sense of control over their health. Helping patients take control in managing their health is why I love what I do. I believe in balancing quality of life with healthy nutrition and look forward to using my skills to serve the community and patients of Hidalgo Medical Services.

I am married and am owned by a pack of rescue dogs. I enjoy traveling, all hobbies and want to become active in hiking and outdoor activities in this beautiful area of New Mexico.

Brian Etheridge, MD, FAAP

Pediatric Services Medical Director
Pediatrician
Doctor of Medicine
Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics

New Mexico State University
University of New Mexico
Health Sciences Center School of Medicinea
University of Louisville, School of Medicine

Born and raised in New Mexico, Dr. Etheridge attended New Mexico State University, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Social Work with minors in both Chemistry and Public Health. Dr. Etheridge completed his medical degree at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, and his Pediatric Residency at the University of Louisville School of Medicine.

Dr. Etheridge lives in Silver City with his wife, Nancy, and their two children. In his downtime, he enjoys spending time with his family and pets, yard work, and reading. He is proud to call Grant County "home”, and be a part of HMS family, once again.

Dara Foster, MSN, APRN, FNP-C

Family Medicine
Master of Science in Nursing
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

New Mexico State University
Frontier Nursing University

Dara Foster is a Family Nurse Practitioner, Dara brings extensive healthcare experience to HMS and enjoys working in a rural clinic setting. Foster provides extensive services to patients at the Cliff-Gila Community Health Center. Services provided to patients include annual exams for women, men and children, the diagnosis and treatment of acute conditions across the lifespan, management and evaluation of chronic stable conditions across the lifespan, sports exams, immunizations, and overall collaboration with providers and adjunct therapies to coordinate care for patients.

Dara completed her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at New Mexico State University, and completed her Masters of Science in Nursing as a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner at Frontier Nursing University. “As a long-time resident of southwestern New Mexico and Grant County, I love being part of HMS. Joining HMS has allowed me to provide care in my community," states Dara. Dara enjoys hiking, making soap and horseback riding.

Forrest Eugene Henry, DO

Osteopathic Medicine
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
MAT Provider

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Family Practice Residency, Chief Resident
Clarion Hospital Clarion, Pennsylvania Board Certified Family Practice

Dr. Forrest Henry is a doctor of osteopathic medicine and is practicing in the HMS Lordsburg Clinic. Dr. Henry graduated from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his Family Practice Residency through Clarion Hospital, in Clarion Pennsylvania where he served as the Chief Resident. Upon completion of residency he served as the Chief of the Family Practice Department of Clarion Hospital. Dr. Henry and his family moved to Silver City, NM in 2007 and he joined Southwest Family Medicine practice. Prior to coming to Silver City Dr. Henry practiced Family Medicine in Brookville and Foxburg, Pennsylvania.

Dr. Henry served in the US Army as a General Medical Officer stationed in Bad Kreuanach, Germany for four and half years. His achievements include: Medical Officer on a medical mission to Nigeria in 2008, Board of Directors, Soul Caring Outreach Inc. 2008 to present, IPA Board 2007 to present, Board of Directors Clarion Forrest Visiting Nurse Association 2001 to 2004, Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board from 2001 to 2004.

Tiffany Maxey, PA-C

Family Medicine
Physician Assistant-Certified
MAT Provider

New Mexico State University
Touro Medical School

Tiffany Maxey is a physician assistant who was born in Wyoming but raised in Silver City, NM and graduated from Silver High School. She received a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from New Mexico State University in las Cruces, NM as well as a minor in Biology. She then went on to receive her masters as a physician assistant from Touro Medical School in Henderson, NV where she graduated top 10 in her class.

Tiffany has returned home to her roots and her family to practice in the town that she grew up in. She enjoys the small town charm, which enables her to care for multiple generations of families and to provide continuity of care. She did specialty rotations in interventional Cardiology as well as Cardiothoracic Surgery at New Mexico Heart Institute and has a passion for cardiology . Her hobbies include spending time with her family and friends, riding horses, hiking and doing pretty much anything outdoors . She is an avid Pittsburgh Steelers Football fan as well.

Megan Novikoff, PA-C

Family Medicine
Physician Assistant-Certified & MAT Provider

Megan Novikoff is a board certified Physician Assistant. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Bowling Green State University. After college, Megan traveled and then moved to Denver where her work experience sparked her interest in the medical field. She relocated to Portland, Oregon where she attended Pacific University's School of Physician Assistant Studies. After receiving her master's degree, she joined a small family practice in Oregon and developed a passion for primary care. Megan and her husband Ethan moved to New Mexico in 2015. She enjoys developing relationships with her patients to work together toward healthy lifestyles. In her free time, she enjoys backpacking, camping, gardening, cooking, and reading.

Clifton Rogers, PA-C

Family Medicine
Physician Assistant-Certified

University of Arizona
Chatham University Physician Assistant Studies

Clifton Rogers is a board certified Physician Assistant. He graduated from the University of Arizona summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in molecular and cellular biology and a minor in chemistry. In 2013, he graduated from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA with a Master of Physician Assistant Studies. He gained experience in the field of family medicine while working in Duncan, Arizona for over a year before joining the staff here at HMS in May 2015 . Clifton lives in Silver City with his wife and three children and they are excited to be a part of this community. He enjoys the outdoors and spending time with his family. Clifton is dedicated to providing quality healthcare in the field of family medicine.

Lacy Rodriguez, MSN, FNP-C

Family Nurse Practitioner
Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Lacy Rodriguez, MSN, FNP-C is a certified Family Nurse Practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She completed her Associates of Science in Nursing in 2016 and Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2017 from Western New Mexico University. She went on to complete my Master of Science in Nursing at Grand Canyon University. Lacy started her nursing career at Gila Regional Medical Center on the Med Surg floor in 2016, and in 2019 moved to Las Cruces and worked at Mountain View Regional Medical Center in the Level III Trauma ER. The thrill of the fast-paced ER granted her so many learning opportunities and she is ready to provide continuous care to the patients of HMS. Lacy was born and raised in Silver City, and she is excited to give back to the community that she grew up in and be a positive contribution to the community and be able to educate the patients in different approaches and options to improve and maintain their health. According to Lacy, “HMS does allow me to give the best continuous care to the community due to the available resources that are offered; together we can improve healthcare in our rural community.” Lacy is currently a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and feels privileged to care for patients in acute illness and chronic diseases, sports physicals, and women's wellness exams. She pledges to always treat her patients with respect and build a plan of care with them which may include their beliefs. Lacy is a mom to her daughter above all, and they enjoy going on outdoor adventures and arts and crafts.

Edla Rucker FNP-C

Family Nurse Practitioner
Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Edla Rucker is a Board-Certified Family Nurse Practitioner by American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. She graduated with an Associate of Science in Nursing from Washington State Community College in 1995 and worked as a Registered Nurse for 14 years. In addition, Edla earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Ohio University and a Master of Science in Nursing from Otterbein University. Edla, has over 14 years of experience as a Nurse Practitioner in family medicine, internal medicine, college health, trigger point, and joint injections, DOT/COL exams, sports physicals, pre-employment exams, and weight loss.

Edla is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and is focused on teaching patients about maintaining a balance for optimal health. She enjoys working with patients towards healthcare goals while striving to use her combination of strong nursing skills, education, and experience to provide the best healthcare experience. Edla, is excited to be part of the HMS Team delivering quality patient centered care and is now accepting new patients in Silver City and Lordsburg.

Joseph Santarsieri, DC

Chiropractor
Doctor of Chiropractic

Virginia Military Institute
Palmer College of Chiropractic

Dr. Joseph Santarsieri is a Chiropractic specialist. Dr. Santarsieiri graduated Cum Laude from the Virginia Military Institute in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. He attended Palmer College of Chiropractic and has been practicing as a field chiropractor since 2001. Dr. Santarsieri was privileged to work with the official group of chiropractors on the Detroit Lions NFL football team. “ I have gained clinical knowledge and experience in treating sports to civilian injuries that deal with the neuromusculoskeletal system. I strive to help individuals improve structure and function that ultimately improves the quality of their life. Better function leads to better health. I am super excited to join the HMS staff to serve and care for this community”.`

Marisa Shapiro, CNP

Family Nurse Practitioner
Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Marisa Shapiro is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from James Madison University in Virginia. For 10+ years she worked as an oncology nurse all over the United States. She was motivated to become a nurse practitioner after spending many years observing health disparities in rural and underserved patients. She received a Master of Science in Nursing at The University of New Mexico. While in school, she did a clinical rotation at HMS and was immediately drawn to the community and landscape. She is passionate about health equity and enjoys caring for the patients across the lifespan. She has special interests in pediatrics, geriatrics, women’s health, border health, and primary care of the oncology patient. Marisa enjoys traveling, practicing Spanish, cooking, and any outdoor adventure- especially rock climbing.

Marissa Simpson, FNP-C

Family Nurse Practitioner
Master of Science in Nursing
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
Certified Family Nurse Practitioner

Marissa Simpson, FNP-C, graduated with honors from University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM in 2009 with her Bachelors of Science in Nursing Degree. Upon graduation, she worked at UNM Hospital as a ER Trauma Nurse in which she gained skills and confidence in working with a diverse population. She knew early on she would eventually pursue her education to become an advanced practice nurse. She obtained her Master of Science Degree at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona and was certified through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners as a Family Nurse Practitioner.
After graduation and certification, she knew her career path included rural medicine. She has a strong belief that Nurse Practitioners were coined to work in rural areas and provide quality care to an underserved, diverse population. This is her passion and why she chose to move to Silver City, NM and work with a reputable healthcare leader known as HMS. Marissa feels that it is a great privilege to be able to help guide patients and their families along their healthcare journey with acute illnesses and chronic diseases. As a compassionate, detailed oriented provider, she pledges to deliver quality healthcare to her community being considerate to their beliefs, treating them with dignity, and working in accordance with best interests.

Don Stephens, MD

Medical Doctor

Don Stephens, MD, graduated from York College of Pennsylvania and attended the MCP/Hahnemann school of medicine. Subsequently, he completed his residency at York Hospital in York, Pennsylvania. Dr. Stephens has worked in a wide variety of environments, including hospital, subacute, urgent care, and nursing home settings. His current spectrum of care at HMS ranges from babies to geriatrics in an outpatient setting. Dr. Stephen is hoping to provide extended care in Silver City until he retires. He was hiking a trail and a recruiter asked him if he would consider a position in Silver City. He then replied yes, but admittedly knew nothing of the community. He initially grew up in a small town and then moved to a college town. When he arrived in Silver City, he was amazed how everyone is friendly and relaxed. Even his grown daughter commented that the constant buzz of other towns was absent. He also noticed the generations of families interacting in the community and noticing these are good traits. He enjoys biking and hiking, science fiction and some fantasy, cooking, smoke BBQ, and considers himself a nerd. In addition, he adds that the Gila National Forest is beautiful and hopes to explore it and not die doing so. He’s happy to be aboard the HMS team.

Charles “Chuck” Whiting, MBA, DNP, FNP-BC, CNP

Family Nurse Practitioner

Charles “Chuck” Whiting, MBA, DNP, FNP-BC, CNP, received his Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Florida in 2016. Prior to Nursing, he served as a social worker and worked in hospital administration.

Charles Whiting is a Board Certified in Family Nursing and Licensed in New Mexico as a Nurse Practitioner. He is passionate about helping patients prevent problems like high blood pressure or cholesterol that lead to larger, serious problems in the future. Chuck shares, "while managing chronic issues like diabetes or high blood pressures seems boring to some, it is my favorite part of medicine."

He grew up in south Florida and has been married for 30 years. Although he has lived in all four corners of the country, he is now happy to call Silver City his home and looks forward to seeing patients at HMS.