Campus News - October 15, 2001

Family doc committed to state

By Veronica Valencia

Dr. Chris UrbinaFor the past 20 years, Dr. Chris Urbina has been very busy not only as a family practice physician, but as a community activist as well. He has helped to shape the future of something he is very passionate about – community medicine.

As the director for the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and the Preceptorship Office, Urbina, an associate professor at the School of Medicine, tries early on in medical students’ careers to spark and maintain their interest in family and community medicine.

“We are committed about motivating students to stay and practice in New Mexico and to choose primary care specialties,” says Urbina.

Through the Preceptorship Program, more than 300 physicians from around the state participate in the education of medical students by offering “real life” experience in community settings. The UNM School of Medicine has gained international recognition for innovative programs like these that address the health needs of rural communities.

Aside from the AHEC and Preceptorship Office, Urbina is involved in a plethora of other activities on the North Campus. He’s the vice-chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine, director of the Border Health Education Training Center, co-medical director of UNM Hospital’s 1209 Clinic, and was involved in starting Highland High’s school-based health care and the Southeast Heights Family Health Clinic.

But the humble Pueblo, Colo., native is insistent that behind the scenes of all the programs he is involved in, there’s a large group of faculty and staff who make it all come together.

As he pulls out a brochure, he gingerly points to the names of the support staff.

“Our faculty and staff,” he says, pointing outside his office to the staff on the third floor of the Family Practice Center, “they all contribute to these programs – it’s a team effort.”

A graduate of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, Urbina came to UNM to complete his residency in family practice. While he jokes about growing up with the mountains on the west side in Pueblo, and having to get used to them being on the east side of the city, he knew he liked the rural nature of the state and the culture of New Mexico.

Urbina said his mentors were always community-oriented so that’s the reason he pursued family practice and encourages others to do the same.

He earned his master’s in Public Health from Johns Hopkins and served as the Public Health Director in Las Cruces, where he said he learned about the dynamics of communities and culture.

“It’s important to understand different cultures; the language, social and economic issues. Once you understand that, you can build relationships, and patients really like that,” he says.

Urbina, who is a little uncomfortable talking about himself, has no problem talking about his kids.

Newspaper clippings hang from a bulletin board in his office, tracking the success of his teenagers who run on the cross-country track team for Albuquerque Academy.

“I’m the photographer – that’s how I manage to go to all the meets and not get in the way,” he says.
Compassionate and humble are words that describe this family practice doc, while “tough” is what students call this School of Medicine associate professor.

“Urbina wants you to know your stuff,” students say.

“It’s our responsibility as mentors and teachers to encourage people to be successful, to think for themselves,” says Urbina. “If we’ve done that, then we’ve done our job.”

The University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico USA
Copyright ©1998 The University of New Mexico.
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