CHI welcomes New Director for FORWARD New Mexico & Area Health Education Center
Monday, June 6, 2018; Silver City, NM: Baudelia “Bala” Salgado, has been named the new director of the FORWARD New Mexico (FNM) Area Health Education Center (AHEC) at the Southwest Center for Health Innovation (CHI). FNM/AHEC is a collaborative partner with the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center – UNM Area Health Education Center, The Montanas del Norte Area Health Education Center in Las Vegas, NM; and the Southern Area Health Education Center in Las Cruces, NM.
The goals of the New Mexico AHEC program are to enhance and develop collaborative community-based academic partnerships and networks to improve distribution and diversity of primary healthcare providers in rural and underserved areas of the state.
“I am honored to have the opportunity to continue my work with the Center for Health Innovation and the New Mexico AHEC team,” said Salgado. “This is a premier program that has accomplished a great deal for those we serve. I am excited to think about the opportunities that exist for this program and, ultimately, the citizens of Grant County and beyond.”
Salgado is a native to Grant County where she attended Cobre High School and is finishing her Master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with a focus in psychology and criminal justice from Western New Mexico University.
“We are thrilled to have Bala continue her work with Forward New Mexico AHEC,” said Holley Hudgins, director of workforce development programs at CHI and program manager for the New Mexico Primary Care Training Consortium. “Her experience with student rotations, and healthcare pipeline activities will continue to be a tremendous asset to our current and future efforts.”
Salgado’s background is well-aligned with the FNM AHEC goals, Hudgins noted. In addition to her expertise in student rotations, her experience includes promoting and enhancing experiential health professions education and community involvement. She is especially drawn to the pipeline mission of AHEC. She brings a strong commitment to academic and community partnerships and a belief that successful collaboration and communication between schools and the community is vital.
“The Center for Health Innovation looks forward to continuing our support of AHEC,” said Charlie Alfero, executive director of the CHI. “CHI ensures that partners from across the state join with Forward NM AHEC in our shared purpose of preparing a workforce to meet the diverse health challenges of New Mexico communities.”
Bala Salgado’s full contact information is as follows:
Baudelia Salgado
Director FNM AHEC
301 W. College Ave. Ste. 16
Silver City, New Mexico 88061
Tel: 575-597-0030
Email: bsalgado@swchi.org
