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. This decision follows Dr. Richards' role as interim leader since August 2024.

President Stokes commented on the appointment, stating, “Sometimes we find ourselves in extraordinary circumstances, with an exceptional interim leader at the helm and significant momentum in embracing the challenges we face.” She praised Dr. Richards for his leadership and vision during his interim role and throughout his 25-year career at UNM, highlighting his understanding of New Mexico's healthcare landscape.

Dr. Richards has been instrumental in several initiatives at UNM, including the creation of New Mexico's Medical Advisory Team during the COVID-19 pandemic and spearheading Medicaid initiatives that increased annual funding for New Mexico hospitals by $1.6 billion.

Expressing gratitude for his new role, Dr. Richards stated, "I am honored to continue serving UNM and the people of New Mexico in this capacity." He emphasized expanding healthcare workforce efforts and providing quality patient care through collaboration with faculty, staff, students, and community partners.

Richards highlighted collaboration's importance in increasing the healthcare workforce statewide by working with state partners and higher education institutions.

A long-time resident of New Mexico, Richards holds strong support from the state's healthcare community. His previous roles include Interim Executive Vice President of UNM Health Sciences and Senior Vice President for Clinical Affairs.

President Stokes expressed appreciation for community input on Mike's leadership, noting it was crucial in determining Dr. Richards as a fitting choice for this position.