Gubernatorial candidate Bill Richardson pledged to support programs at UNM's Health Sciences Center during a tour of north campus Monday, calling the institution a strong economic building block that has been overlooked.
"I feel like I found a real gem here today that really needs more exposure both nationally and within the state," he said following the tour. "We need to be really proud of what we have here in this state and take advantage of our resources. You don't need to reinvent the wheel and try to attract high-tech firms. I would say to just focus on our strengths in areas like health sciences."
While explaining the functions of the Health Sciences Center, staff members also told Richardson about future plans to improve research and services that, if elected, he could help fund.
Steve McKernan, chief executive officer of UNM Hospital, also touched on Gov. Gary Johnson's work to cut Medicaid funding from the state budget. Having the state's only Trauma-I facility that serves those without insurance, UNM would stand to lose millions from a decision to scale back Medicaid.
"It is a real challenge, but I would in no way cut Medicaid," Richardson said. "You've got to find ways to make the benefits package and the eligibility package more efficient and affordable. But I think that through good planning, we can deal with this Medicaid problem and keep it off the chopping block the way this governor has. That would be the last to go if I were governor because it hurts kids and seniors."
Dr. Phillip Eaton, interim vice president for Health Sciences, greeted Richardson and briefly outlined the economic impact the medical center has on the state.
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The Democratic candidate who formerly worked as energy secretary in the Clinton administration then toured UNM's bio-defense research laboratories. The bio-defense work focuses on research of infectious diseases such as anthrax that can be used as biological weapons.
Dr. Cheryl Willman, director of UNM's Cancer Center, then led Richardson on a tour through the cancer research area and discussed the University's push to become a National Cancer Institute recognized entity.
"This designation we have been working for would help us expand research, better serve the indigenous community's needs and make us eligible for federal funding," Willman said.
The University has received a planning grant to help fund the intense review process that is tied to becoming nationally recognized, but Willman said UNM still must clear several substantive hurdles.
Some of those include demonstrating that it works with cancer research for populations that are not in the institution's immediate area, working on improving treatments and making major strides in terms of cancer research.
"This is difficult, but we think it is really important for the state of New Mexico and UNM, so we are going to get this done," Willman said.
To help round out its cancer research program, UNM used some of the planning grant to hire 14 new doctors who are specialists in a variety of components of cancer research. Some are collaborating with Sandia and Los Alamos National Laboratories and other facilities to work with the largest network of cancer cell samples available in the nation.
Willman added that the research center also is applying elements of the recently cracked code for the human genome to try to isolate cancerous strands.
The tour concluded with an overview of the hospital's telemedicine program, which connects patients throughout the state with doctors through video conferencing. Dr. Dale Alverson, director of the program, said one of its benefits is improving the state's ability to treat patients with behavioral problems in rural areas.
"Basically, we can set up appointments with people at Northern Navajo Hospital and work with them to provide treatment for some conditions that are often overlooked because the resources to combat those problems aren't available in some of the more rural corners of the state," he said.
Richardson said after the tour that he would continue to keep an eye on the Health Sciences Center, noting what could be done to help continue and improve the institution.
Richardson returns to New Mexico as the Democratic front-runner heading into a three-person primary. Three Republicans are vying for the right to defend the their party's hold on the governor's office, with state Rep. John Sanchez leading the way. Sanchez quickly rose to fame by ousting long-time Democratic leader and Speaker of the House Raymond Sanchez in November of 2000.
Richardson's stint at the Department of Energy was marred by the failed prosecution of Los Alamos nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee on espionage charges that killed chances at a possible vice presidential bid. He rebounded by teaching at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government; assumed the chairmanship of Freedom House, a private, nonpartisan organization that promotes democracy worldwide; and joined Kissinger McLarty Associates, a strategic advisory firm headed by former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
Before working as energy secretary, Richardson was the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times.
