University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital
Health Systems University of New Mexico HospitalsUniversity of New Mexico Children’s Hospital
501(c)(3)
2211 Lomas Blvd. NE
Albuquerque, NM
Total Sex Change Patients
Total unique children who underwent gender-affirming procedures or hormone/puberty blocker therapy.
Total Surgery Patients
Total unique children who underwent gender-affirming surgical procedures.
Total Hormone and Puberty Blocker Patients
Total unique children who were prescribed puberty blockers or received gender-affirming hormone therapy.
Total Prescriptions Written
Total number of scripts for puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones.
Total Submitted Charges
Total amount submitted by providers or pharmacies to insurance for services, treatments, or prescriptions, before any reviews or adjustments. Includes medical procedures and prescription charges but may not reflect the final amount after negotiations.
The University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital (UNMC) is a hospital located in Albuquerque, New New Mexico, and part of the University of New Mexico Health system. The hospital does not advertise sex change medical interventions for minors under the services it provides, but does state that it provides “LGBTQ+ patient support.” Claims data shows the wider University of New Mexico system has billed for sex change surgeries for minors.
For more information on the specific procedure and diagnostic codes and other methodology used to make these determination, read our white paper here.
Key Findings
UNMC does not advertise sex change treatments but does provide “LGBTQ+ Patient Support” in the form of cultivating “progress toward inclusion on LGBTQ patient care.” The hospital also has a “partnership” with a transgender advocacy and support group.
UNMC has a page dedicated to its work providing “LGBTQ+ Patient Support” in which it describes general policies of providing “safe zones” for patients without describing specific treatment offerings.
On the page, UNMC highlights that it “is part of the only health system in New Mexico to achieve recognition from the Human Rights Campaign Healthcare Equality Index on a regular basis” for providing LGBTQ+ Patient Support.
UNMC has also “partnered with the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico (TGRCNM) to provide thoughtful, inclusive transgender care.” TGRCNM, which has been called the “Trans Ellis Island” by activists, “support[s] transgender, nonbinary, and gender nonconforming communities through direct services, education, and advocacy.”
KRQE Headline: “NM group offers refuge to transgender children from Texas.”
Although it is not prominently displayed, UNM Health offers endocrinology care that includes treating “hormonal concerns for transgender patients.” UNM Health also employees at least six pediatric endocrinology medical specialists.
UNM Health: “With anti-transgender legislation mounting across the country, University of New Mexico health clinicians have expressed interest in expanding access to gender-affirming care for transgender New Mexicans.”
Dr. Molly McClain, who serves as the residency program director for family medicine for the UNM’s Department of Family and Community Medicine, treats young transgender patients at her clinic. She reportedly “administers gender-affirming care to about 500 patients out of her all-ages clinic.” She also appears to offer prescriptions for puberty blockers, the effects of which she claims are “reversible.”
Dr. Sarah Laurenzano, who works as a pediatric endocrinologist at UNM Health, previously “did clinical research on subcutaneous testosterone as gender-affirming hormone therapy in transgender adolescents.”
Sex Change Treatments Offered
LGBTQ+ Patient Support
UNMC does not advertise offering sex change treatments but does provide “LGBTQ+ Patient Support” in the form of cultivating “progress toward inclusion on LGBTQ patient care.” The hospital also has a “partnership” with a transgender advocacy and support group.
UNMC highlights that it “is part of the only health system in New Mexico to achieve recognition from the Human Rights Campaign Healthcare Equality Index on a regular basis.”
“Foundational protection for patients, visitors and staff in patient and staff policies and provide cultural competency training on LGBTQ inclusion; Demonstrating progress toward inclusion on LGBTQ patient care and support; Cultivating an inclusive workforce by providing LGBTQ-inclusive employee support and benefits; Demonstrating public commitment to the LGBTQ community.”
Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico (TGRCNM)
UNMC has also “partnered with the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico (TGRCNM) to provide thoughtful, inclusive transgender care.”
“Your child will receive respectful, compassionate care at every appointment. Our healthcare professionals undergo ‘Safe Zone’ training several times a year to become even better allies of the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, we have partnered with the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico to provide thoughtful, inclusive transgender care.”
UNM Health: Endocrinology Care
Although it is not prominently displayed, UNM Health offers endocrinology care that includes treating “hormonal concerns for transgender patients.”
UNM Health also employees at least six pediatric endocrinology medical specialists.
Definitions
SEX CHANGE PATIENTS: Total unique children who underwent “gender-affirming” surgical procedures or hormone/puberty blocker therapy.
TOTAL SURGERY PATIENTS: Total unique children who underwent “gender-affirming” surgical procedures.
TOTAL HORMONE AND PUBERTY BLOCKERS PATIENTS: Total unique children who were prescribed puberty blockers or received gender-affirming hormone therapy.
TOTAL PRESCRIPTIONS WRITTEN: Total number of prescriptions written by a provider for puberty blockers or gender-affirming hormones for children.
TOTAL SUBMITTED CHARGES: This is the initial amount a healthcare provider or pharmacy submits to the insurance company for a specific service, treatment, or prescription before the insurance company reviews and adjusts the payment. This value includes both the pharmacy-submitted cost of prescription drug claims and the line-item charges associated with medical procedures. Please note that this amount does not necessarily reflect the full cost of the procedure or prescription, as it is subject to adjustments and negotiations by the insurance company.
Leadership
Executive Leadership
| Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Loretta Cordova, MD | Clinical Service Chief, Department Chair | N/A |
| Anna Duran, MD | Associate CMO, Children’s Hospital | N/A |
| Maribeth Thornton, RN | Associate CNO, Children's Hospital | N/A |
| Missy Mason | Executive Director, Inpatient Services | N/A |
| Doris Tinagero, RN | Executive Director, Outpatient Services | N/A |
| Brianna Chavez, RN | Executive Director, Children’s Psychiatric Center | N/A |
The current leadership/titles are based on the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital leadership website.
Board of Trustees
| Name | Title | Compensation |
|---|---|---|
| Tamra Mason | Chair | N/A |
| Monica Zamora | Vice Chair | N/A |
| Trey Hammond | Secretary | N/A |
| Anjali Taneja | Member | N/A |
| Kurt Riley | Member | N/A |
| Del Archuleta | Member | N/A |
| Nathan Boyd | Member | N/A |
| Ken Lucero | Member | N/A |
| Henry Monroy | Member | N/A |
The current leadership/titles are based on the University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital board website.
UNMH’s board “is composed of nine members. Two members are appointed by the [Bernalillo County] Commissioners, and seven members are appointed by the UNM Regents. One of the members appointed by the Regents will be a Pueblo Indian, who is nominated by the All-Indian Pueblo Council. The members of the Board will include a broad representation of the community served by the UNM Hospital.
Voting Board members appointed by the Commissioners and the Regents will not include any County Commissioners or any Regents. Not more than one physician from the active HSC Medical Staff may be appointed to the Board of the Regents.
Board members will be appointed for staggered terms for three years or less, and will be appointed in such a manner that the terms of not more than three members expire on June 30 of each year. Board members who have served one full three-year term may be reappointed for not more than one additional consecutive three-year term. Each member of the Board will serve until his or her successor is duly appointed and qualified. Vacancies on the Board will be filled by appointment by the Commissioners or the Regents, depending on which appointed the Board member whose Board service has terminated. A person appointed to fill a vacancy on the Board will serve for the remainder of the term of the Board member who position has become vacant and until his or her successor is duly appointed and qualified.” (Bernalillo County, Accessed 6/10/24)
Although board members serve for three-year terms, UNMH does not appear to publish when each trustee’s current term ends. Chairwoman Tamara Mason’s term was deduced based on published meeting minutes.
In the News
Stay up to date with the latest news and updates.
UNM Strengthens, Expands Gender-Affirming Health Care Services
06/07/2023Dr. Molly McClain, who serves as the residency program director for family medicine for the UNM’s Department of Family and…
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