Presbyterian Central New Mexico Community Board of Trustees

Presbyterian's Albuquerque area medical centers, including Presbyterian Hospital, are accountable to a board of committed community leaders.

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  Patricia Montoya, RN, Chair

  Patricia Montoya, a Registered Nurse by education and professional background, retired after 44 years in healthcare. She has had a distinguished and varied career, as well as serving on many local and national boards and committees. She began her career as a staff nurse in pediatrics at Presbyterian and then worked in the emergency department at Presbyterian while working as an APS school nurse. In 1992 she opened the Presbyterian Medical Group site in the south valley of Albuquerque and served as the practice administrator. She has worked in private and public sector, in management and leadership positions, as well as in the area of public policy. Pat held political appointments under President Bill Clinton within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. These appointments included Commissioner for Children, Youth and Families Administration and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Dallas Regional Director. She returned to New Mexico after her federal service later became the Secretary of Health for the State of New Mexico under Governor Bill Richardson. She led and managed the Robert Wood Johnson Initiative "Aligning Forces for Quality from 2009 - 2015 and transitioned that grant initiative into establishing the New Mexico Coalition for Healthcare Value which is a not-for-profit organization that is an employer-led, multi-stakeholder organization focused on health care value and health care transparency.

  Her career focused on improving the healthcare system through innovation and transformation, improving health outcomes for everyone with attention to vulnerable and under-served populations, health professional recruitment/retention, driving the value proposition in healthcare (Triple Aim), leading healthcare payment reform efforts, and health policy.

  She is a graduate of the Harvard John F. Kennedy School of Government State Health Leadership Initiative. She has a MA in Public Administration - Health Administration, and a BSN in Nursing both from the University of New Mexico.

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  Janice J. Lucero, Vice Chair

  Janice Lucero is President and CEO of MVD Express, a longstanding, successful private company that offers Motor Vehicle Division services throughout New Mexico. Ms. Lucero has owned the company since its inception in 1994. MVD Express employs more than 100 individuals and has processed more than 3 million transactions.

  Ms. Lucero earned a bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in special education from the University of New Mexico, and spent 15 years in the education field before opening MVD Express. She was named one of New Mexico’s “Top 25 Women in Business” by New Mexico Woman Magazine from 2004 to 2008, a 2010 “Top CEO” by New Mexico Business Weekly, the New Mexico Small Business Person of the Year in 2011 at the New Mexico Small Business Association Awards Luncheon and a 2013 Woman of Influence by New Mexico Business First. She is a member of Vistage International Organization of CEOs, and sits on the boards of the Albuquerque Youth Symphony Program, Roadrunner Food Bank, and the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce.

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  Christine Cassel, MD

  Christine K. Cassel holds a Presidential Chair as Visiting Professor at the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine, where she is working on projects in aging and longevity, the role of technology in health care, and biomedical ethics.

  In March of 2018, Dr. Cassel completed her term as Planning Dean for the new Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine, based in Pasadena, CA. From 2013-2016 she was the President and CEO of the National Quality Forum and prior to that served as president and CEO of the American Board of Internal Medicine and the ABIM Foundation.

  Dr. Cassel was one of 20 scientists chosen by President Obama to serve on the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). She was the co-chair and physician leader of PCAST reports on health information technology, scientific innovation in drug development and evaluation, systems engineering in healthcare, technology to foster independence and quality of life in an aging population, and safe drinking water systems.

  Dr. Cassel graduated from the University of Chicago and completed her MD degree at the University of Massachusetts. She did her residency in internal medicine at Children’s Hospital of San Francisco and University of California at San Francisco, where she also was a founder and graduate of the bioethics fellowship program. She was the first fellow in Geriatric Medicine at the Portland VA Medical Center and Oregon Health Sciences University where she returned as Dean of the Medical School in 2001. She was chair of the Department of Geriatrics and Adult Development at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and Chief of General Internal Medicine at the University of Chicago. She is a leading expert in geriatric medicine, medical ethics, health policy and quality of care. Among her many professional achievements and honors, Dr. Cassel was elected to membership of the National Academy of Medicine in 1992. She was the first woman to be President of the American College of Physicians and, subsequently, Chair of the American Board of Internal Medicine; she has served as Chair of the Board of the Greenwall Foundation, a national foundation in bioethics, was the President of the American Federation for Aging Research; and was a member of the Advisory Committee to the Director at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Cassel’s other board service includes serving on the Boards of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals, Premier, Inc, and the Russell Sage Foundation. She has received numerous honorary degrees and is a Fellow of the Royal Colleges of Medicine of the U.K. and Canada. She is author of over 200 articles and author or editor of 11 books, including one of the leading textbooks in geriatric medicine, and Medicare Matters: What Geriatric Medicine Can Teach American Health Care.

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  Michael Crossey, MD

  Dr. Michael Crossey is the Chief Executive Officer of TriCore Reference Laboratories. He attended the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque, N.M., and completed his residency in anatomic and clinical pathology at the University of New Mexico Hospital. He holds a doctoral degree in environmental toxicology from the Department of Zoology and Physiology at the University of Wyoming in Laramie.

  Dr. Crossey began his affiliation with TriCore Reference Laboratories in 1997, during the initial phases of TriCore’s formation, and has helped guide the organization’s development throughout its existence. He previously held the positions of Executive Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer. As Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Crossey is responsible for the oversight of TriCore’s operations and plays a key role in the organization’s initiative to provide healthcare professionals with easier, more timely access to laboratory information.

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  Brian Fantl

  Brian Fantl retired, after 35 years employment, as the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for the Albuquerque Publishing Company and the Albuquerque Journal, where he oversaw daily operations of sales, production, circulation and support departments. Mr. Fantl was also responsible for healthcare benefits for more than 450 employees and had a longstanding purchaser relationship with Presbyterian Health Plan. He currently serves as a consultant to the companies for legal, employment, and benefit/insurance matters.

  Mr. Fantl has served on various corporate and community boards in Albuquerque. He also held positions of Vice President of Labor Relations for both the Sun-Times Company and Chicago Sun-Times, and K-III Information Group, a division of K-III Communications Corp. He is a graduate of the University of Albuquerque and has completed numerous other professional development programs in Human Resources, Labor Relations and Management Development. Mr. Fantl is a veteran of the U.S. Army.

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  Daniel Fuentes-Bernardo, MD

  Dr. Daniel Fuentes-Bernardo joined Radiology Associates of Albuquerque (RAA) and the Presbyterian Medical Staff in 2014. He received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1994, followed by a Diagnostic Radiology residency and Interventional Radiology fellowship at University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. Dr. Fuentes-Bernardo received a Master in Health Care Management from Harvard University in 2013. He is a Fellow of the American College of Health Care Executives and a Certified Physician Executive by the American Association for Physician Leadership.

  While practicing at Valley Baptist Health System, TX (2001-2013), Dr. Fuentes-Bernardo served three terms on the Medical Executive Committee and was the Vice President of the Medical Staff. He held the position of President of his Radiology Group, Medical Director of Radiology, and Managing Partner of the group’s Imaging Center joint venture with the Health System. He served as Vice-Chairman of the Joint Venture Board and was a Board member on the Valley Baptist Health System Board of Directors.

  He currently serves as President of the Presbyterian Central Delivery Medical Staff, Chairman of the Clinical Performance Quality Committee, Chairman of RAA’s Physician Corporate Compliance Committee, and is the group’s Treasurer and Executive Committee member. He is also Treasurer for the New Mexico Society of Radiologists and the New Mexico Chapter of the American College of Radiology. Dr. Fuentes considers it an honor to serve the Presbyterian Healthcare System.

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  Monique Garcia, MD

  Dr. Monique Garcia is an Albuquerque pediatrician practicing at Presbyterian Medical Group Northside Pediatrics since August 2002 where she is also their lead physician. She currently serves as one of the assistant medical directors of the Presbyterian Medical Group Primary Care Program.

  Dr. Garcia received her Bachelor of Science degree in Pre-Professional Studies and Theology at the University of Notre Dame. She attended Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. She completed her residency in general pediatrics at Loyola University Medical Center in Chicago. Dr. Garcia is board certified in general pediatrics by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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  Stephanie Gehres, MD

  Dr. Stephanie Gehres is the Chair of the Presbyterian Medical Group Executive Council. She is a physician at Presbyterian and is trained in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. She started with Presbyterian in 2009 as an adult medicine and pediatric hospitalist. In 2011, she began the Chronic Care Program – a clinic focused on providing intensive medical and social support for medically complex children and young adults.

  Dr. Gehres also serves as the Chair of Maternal and Children’s Services through Medical Staff Affairs, Chair of Pharmacy and Therapeutics committee and Chair of Presbyterian Physician and APC experience group.

  She is a native of Albuquerque and attended Valley High School. She completed her undergraduate degree in Philosophy at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. Following medical school, Dr. Gehres completed her Internal Medicine/Pediatric residency program at University of Tennessee in Memphis where she was chief resident.

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  Cynthia E. Guzmán, PhD, MSCP

  Dr. Cynthia E. Guzmán is a licensed psychologist and prescribing psychologist in training who has devoted her career to Native country. She has experience with program design, development, and implementation, particularly with jail diversion treatment programs and primary care/mental health integration. Aside from clinical work and the supervision of other trainees, Dr. Guzmán considers herself a servant leader and enjoys developing community assessments, MOU’s, as well as implementing culturally safe interventions.

  Dr. Guzmán is a proud member of the American Psychological Association, Society for Indian Psychologists, National Latinx Psychological Association, and the CMS’ Tribal Technical Advisory Group Behavioral Health Subcommittee. She is the proud recipient of the National Indian Health Board’s 2018 Regional/Area Impact Award.

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  Tracy Hartzler

  On Nov. 12, 2019, the Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) Governing Board unanimously selected Tracy Hartzler to become the sixth president of CNM. She officially began her presidency on Jan. 1, 2020.

  Before becoming CNM President, Ms. Hartzler was CNM’s Vice President for Finance and Operations and has been at CNM since 2015. She has served the public sector for more than 25 years in education, government, and policy roles. Since 2011, Ms. Hartzler has played a significant role in shaping postsecondary education in New Mexico, first with the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee, and later with CNM.

  At the Legislative Finance Committee, Ms. Hartzler served as the New Mexico Legislature’s expert on higher education policy and funding, where she led the annual statewide higher education budget and policy initiatives. In this role, she participated in a major revision of the state’s institutional funding formula, staffed program and funding changes to the Legislative Lottery Scholarship Program, and expanded a statewide healthcare workforce initiative. She worked closely with legislative and executive agency staff on capital projects and workforce training requests. To advance this work, she served on national policy teams and student success advocacy groups, helping public officials implement best practices and policies.

  More recently, President Hartzler turned her national and statewide expertise to the service of residents in central New Mexico as CNM’s Vice President of Finance and Operations. Before becoming CNM President, she also served as Treasurer for both CNM Ingenuity, Inc., the enterprise arm of the College, and the CNM Foundation. She has held various positions at the College, overseeing budgeting and finance, strategic planning, accreditation and research, human resources, facilities, information technology, and other operational and support functions.

  In 2019, President Hartzler also served all New Mexico public higher education institutions as the Governor’s appointee to the New Mexico State Investment Council. During her time at CNM, she has also served as the community college member on the state’s Complete College America team, advocating for policies that improve student retention and completion.

  From 2009-2011, Ms. Hartzler served as Special Assistant Attorney General for the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission in Santa Fe, and from 2006-2009, she served as Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. During her time in these roles, Ms. Hartzler helped local, tribal, state and federal government elected and appointed leaders, as well as community advocates, solve complex problems. She drafted and led federal legislative efforts to improve health care, housing and education for tribal members and aid tribal self-determination efforts. Working effectively across political lines, she furthered legislation to resolve and fund historic land and water disputes in many western states, including New Mexico.

  Early in her career, Ms. Hartzler worked with parents, school and agency administrators to help students attend and graduate from high school and college programs. She expanded a mentoring and scholarship program for historically-marginalized high school students. As an urban, Catholic high school development director, she raised annual funds and led a capital campaign to build a multi-use school and community facility.

  President Hartzler earned her Juris Doctorate from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America. She earned her Master of Education Degree from the University of Virginia with highest honors; and she earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree, cum laude, from Saint Mary’s College in Indiana.

  She is a member of the New Mexico, Indiana (inactive), and District of Columbia Bars.

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  Rob Lasater

  Rob Lasater is the Chairman of the Presbyterian Healthcare Foundation. He has served on the Foundation Board for 22 years. He graduated from Kansas University with a B.A. in economics and Kansas Law school with a J.D. degree. While in the Air Force, he trained as a Forensic Medicine Consultant and was the consultant for 13 Midwestern states. After service, he joined the Rodey Law firm. His practice focused on litigation involving healthcare, including credentialing, malpractice, and ethical drugs. He represented and defended Presbyterian and other tertiary and rural hospitals in a wide variety of cases for 35 years.

  Lasater is an AV-rated lawyer, a fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, listed in Best Lawyers in America for 25 years, and recognized in Southwest Super Lawyers and Chambers USA. He served as Chairperson of the Health Law Section and Co-Chair of the Dental/Legal Committee of the New Mexico Bar. Lasater also has served on national committees, including an International Symposia Advisory Board for UC Davis Center for Perinatal Medicine and Law. He was the senior New Mexico contributing editor for the Fifty-State Tort Law Desk Reference. He also served as the New Mexico National Delegate for the American Board of Trial Advocates. Of note, Rob was once “honored” by the Albuquerque Dull Men’s Club and given the coveted title of “Boar of the Year.”

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  Cordelia Sever, MD

  Education
  Medical School Ludwig Maximilian University Munich, Germany 1978-84; Residency in AP/CP Pathology University of Pittsburgh, PA 1986-91; Fellowship Hematopathology, University of New Mexico (UNM) 1991-2

  Certifications and Licensing
  American Board of Pathology Certifications: Anatomic and Clinical Pathology 1991; subspecialty Hematology 1995; Active New Mexico Medical License since 1991
  Faculty Positions Volunteer Clinical Faculty since 2001, since 2019 Clinical Professor, UNM Dept. of Pathology, University of New Mexico, Community Faculty

  Medical Directorships
  Co-Medical Director, Clinical Laboratory Hematology (Triore Reference Laboratories, system), Interim Medical Director, Lovelace Main Hospital, Lovelace Women’s Hospital 2016, Medical Director Presbyterian Branch Labs Northside and Santa Fe until 2019, since 2010 Medical Director Presbyterian Hospital Laboratory
  Medical Staff Committees at Presbyterian Health Care Services: CME Committee since 1998, current chair; Clinical Performance Committee since 2002; Medical Staff Practice Committee since 2010, Co-chair through 2015; Data trends subcommittee of the Medical staff Practice Committee, Chair since 2017; Medical Executive Committee 2012 – 2015; Presbyterian Clinical Leadership Team since 2015;Pharmacy, Therapeutics and Laboratory (P,T&L) Committee since 2017; President-Elect, Medical Staff Central New Mexico since 2020

  Leadership Development
  Executive Excellence Program, PHS 2007-9, Physician Leadership Academy, PHS 2010-16; Finance for Non-Financial Managers, Executive Education University of Michigan Ross School of Business 2007

  Community Medical Leadership
  Trustee, Board of the Greater Albuquerque Medical Association 2010-11, President / Past President, Greater Albuquerque Medical 2016-17
  Honors and Awards: Chief of Medical Staff Award For Excellence in Clinical Quality, Presbyterian Health Care Foundation 2005, Hugh A. Cooper Award of the Presbyterian Medical Staff 2019, President’s Honors Award, College of American Pathologists 2010; Pathology Advancement Award, College of American Pathologists 2016

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  Angela Ward, MBA, MSN, RN

  Angela Ward, RN, is the Chief Hospital Executive at Presbyterian Rust Medical Center. She has earned a Master’s degree in Business Administration from Keller Graduate School of Management, as well as a Bachelor and a Master of Science degrees in Nursing from the Chamberlain College of Nursing, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the University of New Mexico.

  With over 20 years of leadership experience, Ms. Ward entered healthcare as a second career in 2004 as a registered nurse at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, NM. In 2011, she joined the executive team to open Presbyterian Rust Medical Center in Rio Rancho, NM, as the Chief Nurse. Angela has served as Chief Hospital Executive at Rust since 2015.

  Ms. Ward is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives, a member of the New Mexico Hospital Association and the Behavioral Health and Quality Committees, a graduate of Leadership Sandoval County, and has served as board chair and director on numerous community boards and councils. Angela received Central New Mexico Community College’s Distinguished Alumni Award in 2016 and was named one of the New Mexico Top 30 Women of Influence in 2016.