Project ECHO at The University of New Mexico is working to expand healthcare access by connecting providers through virtual networks, according to an April 8 announcement. The initiative aims to bring specialized expertise directly into communities across the state, reducing the need for patients to travel long distances for treatment.
The program matters because much of New Mexico is medically underserved, with shortages in both primary care and specialist providers. Project ECHO’s model addresses these gaps by enabling collaborative problem-solving among healthcare professionals, particularly in areas like diabetes care where barriers can be significant.
“It’s really surprisingly simple,” said Dr. Matt Bouchonville, an endocrinologist at UNM. “It’s not rocket science, and it’s impactful.” Bouchonville also said, “There aren’t enough primary care providers. There aren’t enough specialists.”
Through regular virtual sessions, participating providers present de-identified patient cases and collectively determine best practices tailored to local needs. “It’s all teach, all learn,” Bouchonville said. Andrea Zyrowski, a nurse and diabetes educator with Project ECHO, explained the importance of context-specific solutions: “Best practice guidelines need to be adapted to meet local and cultural context.”
Research from ECHO programs has shown that patients treated by participating providers can achieve outcomes similar to those seen in specialty clinics even in rural settings. “We saw that patients in rural New Mexico are getting the same quality care they would get if they were able to travel hours to see a specialist,” Bouchonville said.
Community health workers play a key role as trusted members who bridge healthcare systems and communities while addressing social factors such as food insecurity or lack of transportation. “They’re trusted members of the community,” Zyrowski said.
The University of New Mexico supports more than 200,000 alumni worldwide—including national academy fellows—according to its official website. The university’s athletics program competes as the Lobos in the Mountain West Conference; its University Arena is ranked among top college basketball venues according to the official website. As a cultural resource for libraries and museums promoting diversity and engagement as stated on its official site, UNM features Pueblo Revival architecture on its campus within a metropolitan area according to university sources.
The institution has earned recognition among top public schools nationally—including being ranked 16th for primary care medical schools—and enrolled over 24,000 students across campuses during spring 2023 based on university data.
What began as a local solution now operates globally but remains focused on improving access within New Mexico communities through shared knowledge and collaboration. “It’s about working together to solve problems,” Bouchonville said.
