ABQ Times

UNM President Garnett S. Stokes has appointed Dr. Mike Richards as the Executive Vice President of UNM Health Sciences and CEO of the UNM Health System, effective immediately. This decision follows Dr. Richards' interim leadership since August 2024.

President Stokes stated, "Sometimes we find ourselves in extraordinary circumstances, with an exceptional interim leader at the helm and significant momentum in embracing the challenges we face. Dr. Richards has demonstrated remarkable leadership and vision during his interim role and his 25-year career at UNM. This, coupled with his deep understanding of New Mexico's unique healthcare landscape, makes him the ideal person to lead the UNM Health Sciences Center."

Stokes further mentioned that Richards' appointment "will also foster greater collaboration and synergy across our entire university, benefiting our students, faculty, staff, and the communities we serve as One University."

During his time at UNM, Dr. Richards led several transformative initiatives. He played a key role in forming New Mexico's Medical Advisory Team during the COVID-19 pandemic and was instrumental in Medicaid initiatives that increased annual funding for New Mexico hospitals by $1.6 billion. Reflecting on these achievements, Richards said they demonstrate "the dedication and expertise of countless individuals across the University and state." He added, "I am honored to continue serving UNM and the people of New Mexico in this capacity."

Richards emphasized collaboration as essential in his new role: "We will continue to work closely with state partners, higher education institutions, and healthcare providers to develop and implement a statewide plan for increasing the healthcare workforce."

A long-time resident of New Mexico and advocate for its healthcare community, Dr. Richards enjoys strong support as he assumes this critical leadership position. Previously serving as Interim Executive Vice President of UNM Health Sciences, he has also been Senior Vice President for Clinical Affairs, Interim Dean of the UNM School of Medicine, and professor and chair in Emergency Medicine.

President Stokes concluded by acknowledging community input on Richards' leadership: "I appreciate the considerable community input I have received on Mike's leadership; it has been important in determining that Dr. Richards is the right choice for this position."