Since its inception, The University of New Mexico School of Medicine has created a gateway to health care education for aspiring physicians. One student at a time, the School is building a healthier New Mexico.
Patricia Finn, MD, is the fourth dean in the history of the School of Medicine. As the first female dean, she practices what she teaches: fostering an inclusive environment to provide exceptional care to anyone who needs it, while training the next generation of health professionals.
It’s an essential role that we embrace and love and why we’re here. That’s the core of New Mexico. It’s not who we are and how we got here, but what we achieve together.
– Patricia Finn, MD, Dean, UNM School of Medicine
“That is one reason I came here,” Finn said. “It’s the pride in the strength of the people.”
Finn said the School is made up of an extraordinary team that commits to keeping people at the center of all the work being done.
In the 2024-2025 academic year, the School of Medicine had 1,069 total students enrolled. That number reflects Doctor of Medicine (MD) candidates as well as students receiving degrees in eight health professions programs the School offers. These programs train health care team members who help in the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of diseases and conditions.
In addition to a strong didactic foundation, students at the School of Medicine take advantage of the New Mexico’s only academic medical center to complete rotations and training in clinical settings. Weaving in students with practicing health professionals creates a dynamic and inclusive learning environment, Finn said.
There were 795 interns, residents and fellows in the past year, training in 74 unique Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs.
GME bridges the gap between medical school and independent practice, with trainees working full-time in clinics and hospitals as interns, residents, and fellows. UNM GME trainees contribute to patient care, creating a greater footprint for the critical need of more health professionals in the state.
New GME programs that have recently launched like a Family Medicine residency in Shiprock serving an Indian Health Service clinic, ophthalmology, neurosurgery and vascular surgery have increased the number of residents training in New Mexico’s communities.
UNM is the only academic medical center and Level I Trauma Center in the state, meaning medical students and trainees are learning on-site in real-life clinical scenarios.
“I am so proud of all the students and everyone we train, and I am so proud of every single person who is learning in whatever arena they chose,” Finn said. “Through collaboration, we are stronger together. Each person is an essential part of our team.”
In addition to teaching the next generation of health professionals, the School of Medicine also cultivates innovation and discovery with 650 total research grants in the 2024-2025 academic year and $182 million in research funding brought in.
The School of Medicine is now primed for a new era in health education and community growth as planning finalizes for the new School of Medicine education and research facility.
“It’s an essential role that we embrace and love and why we’re here,” Finn said. “That’s the core of New Mexico. It’s not who we are and how we got here, but what we achieve together.”
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