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Medicos de El Centro (MDEC) is a three-year family medicine program, that is truly one of a kind in the state of New Mexico. It is located in the beautiful Española valley in Rio Arriba County, an area that is known for its rich multicultural background, its gorgeous sceneries, and for its delicious Northern New Mexican cuisine.
The MDEC Family Medicine Residency is a rural program affiliated El Centro Family Health (ECFH), a Federally Qualified Health Center founded in 1972 in Española, New Mexico.
As a true rural training track program, residents will not only learn the fundamentals of primary care such as chronic Adult Medicine (Diabetes, HTN, COPD), Obstetrics, Pediatric/Adolescent/School Based Health, Psych Medicine (Depression/Anxiety, Substance use Disorder/Buprenorphine training), and Geriatrics, they will learn these fundamentals with a focus on the reality of multicultural rural medicine.
Residents will come to an understanding that the overall health of the patients they serve heavily depends on an interdisciplinary health care team. Residents will be integrated into this diverse team and learn to holistically care for this truly culturally wealthy community.
A community hospital serving Northern New Mexico since 1948, this acute care, not-for-profit hospital offers a host of specialities including:
Residents will have the opportunity to rotate through most of these specialties as a core rotation or as an elective.
Since 1998, CHRISTUS St Vincent Regional Medical Center has been home to the University of New Mexico (UNM) Santa Fe Family Medicine Residency Program, a 1+2 program where residents spend their first year in at UNM in Albuquerque before spending their second and third residency years in Santa Fe. This partnership with CHRISTUS St. Vincent Regional Medical Center with allow MDEC residents to complete the following amount of rotations per residency year:
Additionally, MDEC residents will train alongside the senior residents of the UNM Santa Fe FMRP in collaborative care and management of adult patients on the family medicine adults inpatient service, gaining team building and full scope inpatient learning experience.
Española, New Mexico is a charming town nestled in the heart of the Rio Grande Valley, known for its rich history, cultural diversity, and natural beauty. Visitors to Española can explore the town’s historic landmarks, including the San Juan Pueblo Church and the Chimayó Museum, which showcase the area’s unique blend of Native American, Spanish, and Mexican heritage.
Beyond Española, there are plenty of other towns and cities in the surrounding area worth visiting. Just a short drive away, visitors can discover the vibrant art scene and delicious cuisine of Santa Fe, or head north to Taos for world-class skiing and breathtaking mountain views.
For those interested in outdoor adventures, the nearby Bandelier National Monument offers hiking trails through ancient Puebloan ruins, while the Rio Grande Gorge provides opportunities for whitewater rafting and scenic drives.
Whether you’re looking to soak up the local culture, explore the great outdoors, or simply relax and unwind, Española and the surrounding area have something to offer everyone.