Learn more about our core staff working across New Mexico.
Koby Blackwater, BS
Koby is Dine from Kirtland, NM. A recent graduate from the University of California Los Angeles is joining the COE office as key member of our team to support culturally appropriate outreach and engagement both within the COE office and with the NCI-Funded Participant-Engagement Cancer Genome Sequencing (PE-CGS) Center. Koby has a deep passion for the sciences and commitment to his people and his goal, and thus working on access to quality healthcare is important to him. His long-term goal is to obtain a dual MD/MPH degree.
Carmengloria Hulsey, CCHW
Patient Navigator, ACS LION
Carmengloria Hulsey is a native South American from Santiago, Chile. She has been working at UNM for over 10 years in different capacities, and brings a wealth of experience working with people with disabilities, their families and providers. Carmengloria’s experience includes serving as an advocate, educator, liaison and interpreter for clients, including Spanish speakers at all levels, always focusing on improving the quality of life for New Mexico families. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish and a Minor in Sociology from UNM, and is also a Qualified Medical and Community Interpreter.
Olivia Muskett
Tribal and Native American Communities Outreach Liaison
Olivia has spent over twenty-two years working in the health care field, fifteen of these years within the clinical setting of a post-partum unit, a nursing home, and alcohol treatment center, and six additional years focused in Community Health work, working as Navajo Nation Community Health Representative and as a Community Health Environmental Research Specialist. Most recently she served as the Training & Outreach Specialist for the Community Outreach & Patient Empowerment (COPE) Program, a non-profit organization based in Gallup, NM. She loves working closely with the community and enjoys that everyday still gives her the opportunity to collaborate closely with the Community Health Representatives to improve the well-being of community members on the Navajo Nation.
Elba L. Saavedra Ferrer, PhD
Dr. Saavedra serves as the Assistant Director of the COE’s Patient Navigation Program. As a native of Puerto Rican, she brings more than 18 years' experience in research efforts focusing on social determinants of health related to cancer care among New Mexico’s ethnically/racially diverse and under-served women. Dr. Saavedra is the co-founder of the Comadre a Comadre Program, an award-winning community-based patient peer navigation program that is now housed at the UNMCCC. Her research interests include cancer survivorship, culturally and linguistically appropriate cancer education, community-engaged work, community-based interventions in cancer care and patient navigation across the cancer care continuum. She is recognized both nationally and regionally for her expertise in breast cancer disparities and her research on the breast cancer experiences among Hispanic/Latina women in New Mexico. Dr. Saavedra is a Research Assistant Professor with the Department of Internal Medicine at the UNM SOM, and alumni of the University of New Mexico (1995, 2004) with conferred, Masters and PhD degrees in Community Health Education. Dr. Saavedra is also the Field Experience Faculty Coordinator for the Undergraduate Field Experience Program in Community Health Education.
Angelica Solares, MCRP, MSL
Angelica is the Sr. Program Manager for the COE. She is a planner and urbanist by training, with an emphasis in community development. Her work has centered on disease prevention among diverse populations, particularly looking at the intersection of health and the build environment, as well as health justice. She holds two Master’s degrees, one in Community and Regional Planning, and another one in Law, both from the University of New Mexico and is a current doctoral student in American Studies Program. Her work spans multidisciplinary settings, from academia to public and non-profit sectors. She has been part of multi-disciplinary teams who have conducted a wide range of community-based and primary health care setting research focusing on increasing access to and improving the delivery of care.
Andrew Sussman, PhD, MCRP
Andrew Sussman is the Director of the Office of Community Outreach and Engagement at the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center. Trained as a medical anthropologist, he is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine. He has conducted a wide range of community-based and primary health care setting research focusing on increasing access to cancer screening, improving the delivery of cancer care and addressing the needs of cancer survivors among New Mexico’s diverse populations. Dr. Sussman works closely with Community Outreach and Engagement staff and in partnership with key stakeholder individuals and groups, including the COE Community Advisory Board, to address priority areas through research, education, and policy. At the University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dr. Sussman also serves as the Director of the Behavioral Measurement and Population Science Shared Resource and is the Project Director for the National Outreach Network Community Health Educator initiative.
The Albuquerque Cancer Coalition has numerous resources for to help cancer patients and their families.
- Download the Cancer Support & Treatment Directory in both English and Spanish
- Visit the Albuquerque Cancer Coalition website for updates and other useful information.
REPASO (Research Partnership to Address Social Needs in Cancer Care) is a community-academic partnership that was created to address cancer disparities in New Mexico. This partnership focused on two counties in southern New Mexico, Doña Ana and Luna Counties, and brought together community leaders, engaged clinicians, New Mexico State University and University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center. To read more about this innovative partnership and summary of the activities, please download:
The mission of the UNMCCC Community Outreach and Engagement Office is to reduce cancer burden in New Mexico through an infrastructure that facilitates the research, clinical care, education, and outreach activities of multiple stakeholders and partners (locally, regionally, nationally and internationally) in alignment with UNMCCC strategic goals. The COE is integrated into all research, clinical and outreach/engagement components of the Cancer Center and is guided by community input on strategic decisions, priorities, and policy initiatives.
The catchment area for The University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center (UNMCCC) is the entire state of New Mexico; a large, geographically and culturally diverse landmass featuring high concentrations of Hispanic, American Indian and underserved groups. The striking natural beauty of New Mexico poses a contrast to the persistent structural disparities that impact health status, health care utilization such as screening and general access to care, treatment, and participation in cancer clinical trials. As one of only four minority-majority states in the nation, New Mexico has the highest rate of childhood poverty and 32/33 counties are health professional shortage areas. In response to these challenges, the UNMCCC has directed its resources and expertise to identify strategies along the cancer continuum that maximize opportunities for ameliorating existing disparities.
Catchment Area Characteristics
- Only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center within a 500-mile radius
- Nation's 5th largest state
- 121,356 square miles
- Rich Multi-ethnic diversity
- 2,085,526 -- NM population
- 1 of 5 majority-minority states
- 47% Hispanic
- 10% American Indian
- 3 % Black/Asian
- 40% Non Hispanic White
- Challenging Health and SES Disparities
- 46th per capita income in the nation
- NM county poverty rate ranges from 19% to 36%
- Highest rate of Childhood poverty/hunger
- 32 of 33 NM counties are medically underserved
- Between 8% and 20% per county are medically uninsured
- Define and characterize the cancer needs of the catchment area (the state of New Mexico).
- Prioritize the cancer-related needs of the catchment area, focusing on cancer disparities, through engagement and bidirectional communication.
- Facilitate impactful, innovative cancer research within the UNMCCC and in community settings in alignment with community priorities and needs.
- Disseminate, implement, and evaluate multi-level cancer control strategies to reduce cancer burden within and beyond the catchment area.
Meet Our Advisory Board
Health Systems Manager, American Cancer Society, Albuquerque
Cecily is Diné (Navajo) from Kirtland, New Mexico. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Human Development from Cornell University in 2010, and her Master’s in Public Health from the University of Oklahoma in 2013. Cecily has served as the Health Systems Manager for the American Cancer Society (ACS) since 2015, where she currently works with primary care systems across the state by engaging them in the overall mission of improving cancer screening rates through quality improvement and the implementation of evidence-based interventions. Prior to joining ACS, Cecily worked as the Senior Research Program Coordinator at Johns Hopkins University Center for American Indian Health where she worked on numerous community research initiatives in Indian Country. Her late father’s cancer journey inspired her to return to the cancer control field and dedicate her work towards advocating for families facing the cancer journey and helping reduce the burden of cancer in the Southwest. She is a member of the New Mexico Cancer Council and an active participant in two of its workgroups: the Colorectal Cancer workgroup and the Native American Cancer workgroup, for which she is the past chair. In her spare time, Cecily enjoys football season, attending Orangetheory Fitness classes, and spending time with her rescue dog, Swiffer.
Board Member, Cancer Foundation of New Mexico, Santa Fe
Corrine is the former Executive Director of the Cancer Foundation serving since 2007. She started her career as an Oncology Nurse. After completing her Master’s degree, she worked in a variety of healthcare leadership positions, both nationally and internationally. She also spent time doing international public health work while living in Berlin, Germany. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of New Mexico and a Master’s Degree from the University of San Diego. She an avid reader, enjoys hiking and exploring all New Mexico has to offer, and is a recently certified scuba diver.
Executive Director, Cancer Support of Deming and Luna County, Deming
Joanna has over 10 years’ experience in patient advocacy. She currently serves as Executive Director for the Cancer Support of Deming & Luna County, although she holds a leadership role, Joanna considers herself a patient advocate, first and foremost. Joanna has been with Cancer Support of Deming & Luna County for over 10 years, an organization 100% funded by the community. The organization provides much needed transportation, support and referral services to cancer patients across Luna County. Before joining Cancer Support of Deming & Luna County she experienced first-hand being both support and care taker for her mother, father, and sister who experienced cancer at different times. Her interests are serving in her church, spending time with family, volunteering, and serving in her community. Joanna also finds time to have fun racing ducks, she is board president of the Great American Duck Races, a 40-year-old event held each year in Deming. Joanna is a native New Mexican; she was born in Silver City and grew up in Deming. Joanna is married to John Costilla-Gonzalez, and is the proud mother of three beautiful children, twin boys and a daughter.
Consul of Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico
A career diplomat, she was appointed Consul of Mexico in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in March 2024. The jurisdiction she oversees includes 24 counties in New Mexico and 38 in Northwest Texas. With over 20 years of experience at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she previously served as the Consul for Protection and Legal Affairs at the Mexican Consulate in San Diego, California (2016-2024), Consul for Political Affairs at the Mexican Consulate in Sacramento, California (2013-2016), and Consul for Protection Affairs at the Mexican Consulate in Yuma, Arizona (2010-2013). She also served as Counselor for the Undersecretary for Latin America at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (2008-2010) and Chief of Analysis and Private Secretary for the Executive Director of the Institute of Mexicans Abroad (2005-2008) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mexico City. She holds a BA in International Relations from Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM) and a master in US - Mexico Border Studies from El Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico. She is a member of the Mexican Foreign Service since 2010. Ms. Pinzón is married and has three children.
President, Cancer Aid Resource & Education, Inc, Las Cruces
Yoli founded Cancer Aid Resource & Education, Inc. (CARE) in 2013. Yoli experienced the financial toxicity associated with a cancer diagnosis with her eldest son and father. She learned the brutal reality of cancer’s cost beyond the physical suffering and uncertainty of the disease itself, and passionately wanted to make a difference for others in that position. CARE’s mission is to support recently diagnosed cancer patients in Doña Ana County undergoing active treatment for any type of cancer. Low and middle income patients who are deemed eligible for the program receive aid for nonmedical expenses, such as gas cards and other transportation needs, food and nutritional supplement cards, payments for self-pay health insurance, rent/mortgage, utilities, phone, etc. When travel is required for treatment, CARE helps with travel and airfare, lodging, food and parking. Help for such daily needs enables the patients to focus on their treatment, healing and recovery without the added stress of the financial struggles to provide basic necessities for themselves and their families. CARE is deeply intertwined with the community, and its fundraisers bring fun and entertainment to those in attendance while raising money to alleviate suffering from a cancer diagnosis to its most vulnerable residents. Yoli holds a BBA in Management from New Mexico State University. Yoli continues to lead CARE as an all-volunteer nonprofit organization. Yoli has chosen not to draw a salary so that more cancer patients can be helped. Yoli and her husband, Mario, were born and raised in Las Cruces and will be married 39 years this year. They have three handsome sons and 7 beautiful grandchildren they love and adore. Their whole family loves their community of Las Cruces.
President, Cowboys for Cancer Research, Las Cruces
Lynn has over 40 years nursing experience; she was Chief Nurse Officer with Lovelace Women’s Hospital for 6 years prior to moving back to Las Cruces. Lynn has spent the last 25 years in administration, the last 9 serving as the Executive Director of Memorial Medical Center Cancer Program in Las Cruces. Lynn is also is the current President of Cowboys for Cancer. Memorial Medical Center Cancer Program is the only ACR and ACoS accredited facility south of ABQ, while Cowboys for Cancer Research is the largest non for profit in NM whose funding supports both UNMCCC and NMSU. Lynn interests include supporting cancer research efforts in New Mexico, and is committed to making sure funding stays in the state, and advances are made towards finding a cure. Lynn is a third generation native New Mexican from Las Cruces, she holds a Bachelor degree in nursing from New Mexico State University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix. Lynn is married and is a the proud mother of three sons, a las cruces police officer, and two service men currently on deployment.
Cancer Survivor, Pueblo of Isleta
Teresa is an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Isleta and a life-long resident of New Mexico. Teresa has dedicated her career to serving Tribes and advocating for issues affecting American Indians. She has served as the Deputy Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Indian Affairs Department. Teresa also served as the Deputy Cabinet Secretary for the NM Department of Workforce Solutions and as the Deputy CEO for the NM Behavioral Health Purchasing Collaborative .Teresa has worked extensively with Tribal governments and various governmental agencies at the federal, state, and local levels, and has been instrumental in building and strengthening Tribal-State relations and collaboration.
NM Cancer Council, New Mexico Department of Health, Albuquerque
Beth has over 25 years of experience in cancer control, across the continuum from prevention to survivorship issues. She currently heads the New Mexico Department of Health's Cancer Prevention and Control Section, overseeing the planning, implementation and evaluation of the programs within the Cancer Section, in addition to managing the Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. Prior to joining the New Mexico Department of Health cancer programs almost 20 years ago, Ms. Pinkerton worked for a nationally recognized cancer survivorship organization.
Tam has been a nurse practitioner since 2015 and currently works with diverse populations including HIV positive, transgender and gender expansive folks as well as anyone who seeks respectful, affirming primary care delivered in a share decision-making model. Prior to this work, Tam worked as an RN in a variety of inpatient and outpatient settings at UNMH for 24 years. They have a special interest in the impacts of structural racism and generational trauma and is committed to ongoing examination of implicit biases in healthcare, including their own.
Community Advocate, Gila Regional Medical Center, Silver City
Susie is a native of Silver City and has a bachelor’s and master’s degree in education. She is retired after having worked for Gila Regional Medical Center for 25 years in the Community Health and Wellness Outreach field. While employed at Gila Regional she was instrumental in the creation of the Gila Regional Cancer Center and Grant County Community Health Council. She is a past governor-appointed member of the NM Health Policy Commission and the NM Behavioral Health Planning Council. She is a current board member of the Grant County Community Foundation, the Con Alma Health Foundation Community Advisory Board and the Grant County Tu Casa Substance Abuse Facility Advisory Board. Susie enjoys spending time with her husband Tony of 47 years, her three children and seven grandchildren.
Health Information Management expert
Dr. Michelle Bean is a distinguished Health Information Management expert, cancer advocate, and nonprofit leader with over 20 years of experience in acute care, healthcare administration, and electronic medical record systems. As a two-time breast cancer survivor, Dr. Bean channels her personal journey into her professional mission of supporting those affected by breast cancer.
Dr. Bean is the Founder & President of PINK "ME"® (Providing Information, Networking, and Knowledge, "My Experience"), a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing education, resources, and emotional support to women throughout their breast cancer journey. Her innovative programs, including Connected by Cells, create safe spaces for survivors to access virtual support, while her advocacy focuses on empowering individuals to become advocates for their own health information and care.
With a Ph.D. in Human Services and extensive leadership experience, Dr. Bean has held key positions, including serving as President on the Board of Directors for the New Mexico Health Information Management Association. She is well-versed in the Joint Commission Record of Care Standards, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and healthcare information technology (HIT), and she leverages this knowledge to improve healthcare delivery, particularly for breast cancer patients and survivors.