Director’s Message
I am delighted to welcome you to the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center, the only cancer center in New Mexico that is designated by the National Cancer Institute. We are proud to offer the most advanced cancer treatments, based on the latest science, to all New Mexicans right here in our home state.
— Yolanda Sanchez, PhD, Director and CEO
Director and CEO, The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center
Professor of Molecular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico School of Medicine
The Maurice and Marguerite Liberman Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research
Dr. Yolanda (Yoli) Sanchez is the first Hispanic/Latine woman to lead a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. She is responsible for all cancer research and cancer clinical programs at the University of New Mexico, covering all schools, colleges, departments, and facilities. Dr. Sanchez has authority over all basic, translational, clinical, and population-based research; all cancer clinical trials; and all ambulatory and inpatient cancer clinical services, which include the UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMCCC) clinical building and 30 dedicated beds at UNM Hospital. Dr. Sanchez collaborates with leadership at UNM, The Health Sciences and UNM Health as well as the NM legislature and executive to bring the latest cancer prevention diagnostics and therapeutics to New Mexicans. Most recently she was a senior leader at the Dartmouth Cancer Center, another NCI designated comprehensive cancer center. Dr. Sanchez is committed to diversifying the leadership at UNMCCC and at other NCI designated cancer centers in the nation.
Dr. Sanchez is an international expert in DNA damage response pathways. Her work focuses on exploring oncology targets and drug development for clinical trials. Her program also focused on early drug discovery for targeting the “Achilles heel” of cancers driven by dysregulated Ras signaling for which few therapeutic options exist.
Before she was recruited to Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine in 2006, Dr. Sanchez joined the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine faculty in 1998, receiving tenure in 2004, and was named a PEW Scholar in 2001.
You do not have to leave home or the support of your family and friends to get world-class cancer care.
Compassionate Care, Outstanding Research
Our world-class multi-disciplinary teams of cancer physicians work with nurses, pharmacists, patient navigators, and supportive care specialists to design a personalized care plan for each patient. They deliver care seamlessly in a compassionate, culturally-sensitive way. Our teams also work closely with our outstanding research scientists to bring our patients the most advanced cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment.
Our Designation Sets Us Apart
We are steadfast in our commitment to serve all the people of New Mexico. Our research focuses on those cancers that affect New Mexicans most, and our clinical trials focus on those studies that offer the most benefit to people here.
As the Official Cancer Center of the state of New Mexico, our mission is to provide the unique, specialized and essential cancer care that all New Mexicans deserve. We sought and earned Comprehensive designation from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in achieving that mission. Today, we are one of only 57 NCI-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the country and are the only cancer center in our state to hold this designation.
Our 136+ board-certified oncology physicians, 123+ research scientists and 600+ staff members are dedicated to providing each of our patients the most advanced treatment and the finest support from the moment their care begins.
Clinical Trials Offer the Most Advanced Treatments
Our NCI designation gives us access to nationwide clinical trials that offer our patients the most advanced cancer treatments. We and other NCI cancer centers develop these new therapies. We encourage our patients to discuss their eligibility for clinical trials with their team of physicians to get access to the most advanced cancer treatments that are based on the latest scientific discoveries.
In addition, we offer multiple targeted therapy protocols to bring our patients a lifetime of the most advanced care. These clinical trials give the people who join the opportunity to have their cancer tissues genetically sequenced, helping cancer research and possibly helping them to be matched to promising anticancer therapies available in the future.
Here for You
We understand that cancer affects every facet of life. Cancer patients, their families and loved one have very specific needs.
We’ve developed a wide range of programs to address our patients’ cancer treatment and to support their total well-being.
- Our Patient and Family Support Services include counseling, nutrition guidance, patient education, social work and an array of support groups. We add new programs regularly.
- We have also designed this website to enable you to learn about our care teams, support groups, research, clinical trials, and the help available to you while you are at our Center.
- Throughout your care, our Nurse Navigators and Patient Navigators are available to answer your questions and to help connect you with our programs and resources. We encourage you to ask questions and seek the help you need.
