HMS AnimasTop Row from Left to Right: Kathy Adams, Animas Schools; Trina Kellogg, Animas Schools and Western Bank; Randi Ybarra, Frank Chaires, Rusty Tolley, and Bill Walter, HMS Board of Directors; and Joni Kerr, Hidalgo County Health Council | Bottom Row from Left to Right: Dr. Dan Otero, HMS CEO; Ken Murphy, HMS PA; MyKenzie Johnson, HMS MA; Kelly Peterson, Hidalgo County Commissioner; Carmen Acosta, HMS Board of Directors; Art Malott, Hidalgo County Commissioner; Tisha Green, County Manager; Marlene Baska, HMS PA; Amand Frost HMS COO; Dr. Teresa Arizaga, HMS CBHO; Isaac Saucedo, HMS CMO; Albert Diaz, HMS CNO; and Cathy Diaz, HMS CPO.Yesterday, Wednesday, January 31, 2024, HMS Board of Directors, Leaders, and primary care providers Marlene Baska and Ken Murphy, along with Hidalgo County officials and community members, celebrated the opening of the new HMS Animas Clinic. HMS began providing primary care services in the Animas Valley in 2001 through a partnership with the Animas School system using a classroom as the clinic site. Animas resident Ms. Marlene Baska, PA, has been the primary provider since then and is now joined by Mr. Ken Murphy, PA, a resident of Rodeo, NM. HMS applied for and received a federal capital grant to modernize both the Animas and Mimbres clinics.

HMS received $339,760 in federal grant funds for the $480,412 total Animas Clinic project cost. With the support of the HMS Board of Directors, HMS contributed $140,652 to the project to ensure a state-of-the-art clinic leading to improved and enhanced services to the residents of Hidalgo County in the Bootheel region of the state. HMS extends its gratitude to everyone who made this project a success. We also send a special thank you to the HMS board of directors and employees for their work in making this project possible. Additionally, we appreciate the support and partnership with the Hidalgo County officials and the Animas School District.

Present but not pictured: Lacey Brown-Contreras, HMS CCO; Pat Nesbitt, HMS Facilities Director; Audrey Coward, HMS CEO Executive Assistant; Mary Mancuso, HMS Patient Specialist; Margaret Chavez, Hidalgo County Health Council; and Denicia Provencio, Hidalgo County Chamber of Commerce