Ambitious GOALS
Did you come from a big family?
My mom, Naomi, was a firstgrade teacher, and my dad, Ken, managed a butane/propane outlet that serviced the local farming and ranching community. They’re both gone now but I have one older brother and two younger sisters. My brother lives in the house where we grew up and runs a grocery store in Dexter, about six miles north of Hagerman. One of my sisters lives in Houston and the other in Midland.
What dreams or aspirations did you have as a child?
When I was in fourth or fifth grade, one career choice was to become a Rockette in New York. I had read about them in a Life magazine cover story and it seemed like a good goal to have at the time. I kept that magazine for years and I later lived in New York and got to see them perform. That’s as close as I ever got to the Rockettes, and it’s probably a little too late for me now.
I also thought about being a concert pianist. I do play the piano and I think I used to play pretty well but not anymore. I don’t own a piano now, but I did love it.
What was your biggest accomplishment as the former New Mexico Secretary of Aging and Long-Term Services?
Our emphasis was on prevention, in terms of moving toward a healthy aging model, rather than providing more services to seniors. As New Mexico’s demographics shift, we will be one of the states with the highest percentage of folks over age 65. ... The research also shows that at least two-thirds of how people age is related to their lifestyle.
Toward that end, we implemented a healthy aging campaign, “Know Your Numbers, Change Your Numbers, Change Your Life.”
What’s do you see as the biggest challenge you face as Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Health?
Our emphasis is on all levels of prevention, because the return on investment is enormous. For every dollar spent on prevention, the return is $5 in savings and improved health outcomes. That’s a great model for our state.
So how would you rate the general level of health of New Mexicans?
If we can make some headway in reducing obesity rates, it will automatically reduce some of the other health issues as well. It affects women, men and children. It’s one of those “rising tides floats all boats,” but it can also can sink all boats if we don’t get a handle on it.
What about particular measures regarding women’s health issues?
We are targeting women for heart health and recommending women know the signs and symptoms for heart disease and heart attack, which can be different from men. We also want women to get regular screenings for breast and colon cancer, and regular mammograms and pap smears.
We also want women to be responsible and improve their own health outcomes through diet, exercise, cessation of smoking and the like.
You worked for Hertz in Albuquerque, Chicago and New York. Any lessons from the corporate world that translate to the public health sector?
My last job with Hertz was in New York, where I was the head of operations and training. That’s where I learned good management and leadership skills. I participated in management training and learned the value of good training for employees. That’s one of my goals at the Department of Health, making available the best training we can provide so employees can reach their potential.