E. Michael Lewiecki, Osteoperosis Director

E. Michael Lewiecki, MD is Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at University of New Mexico School of Medicine and Director of New Mexico Clinical Research   Osteoporosis Center. He is a consultant in osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease, supervisor and interpreter of bone density studies at his center, and an educator with a special interest in the management of osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. He is principal investigator for the center's osteoporosis clinical trials and author of many peer-reviewed scientific publications on osteoporosis and bone densitometry.

Dr. Lewiecki is past-president of the International Society for Clinical Densitometry (ISCD). He is a faculty member for the ISCD educational programs in bone densitometry and vertebral fracture assessment, and is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Clinical Densitometry. He has received national and international awards, including "Young Internist of the Year" by the American Society of Internal Medicine in 1986, "Physician of the Year" by the ISCD in 2002, the ISCD "Paul D. Miller Service Award" in 2006, and the "Laureate Award" of the New Mexico Chapter of the American College of Physicians in 2006.

He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and the American College of Endocrinology. Dr. Lewiecki is president and founder of the Osteoporosis Foundation of New Mexico and director of its educational activities. He is past-president of the New Mexico Society of Internal Medicine and past-president of New Mexico Medical Group. He established and is program director of the annual Santa Fe Bone Symposium.

Dr. Lewiecki, who was raised in the Boston area, is a graduate of Amherst College and Northwestern University Medical School. He completed postgraduate training in internal medicine at University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and is board-certified in internal medicine. After serving two years as a medical officer in the United States Air Force, he settled in Albuquerque, where he has remained ever since.

Lance A. Rudolph, Research Director

Lance A. Rudolph, MD, is a board-certified internist in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is Research Director of New Mexico Clinical Research   Osteoporosis Center and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. His responsibilities include the development and supervision of the clinical research program, interpretation of bone density tests, and management of the clinical practice.

He has conducted research studies since 1988 and has been principal investigator for a wide variety of studies, including diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, chronic pulmonary disease, asthma, gastrointestinal disorders, headache, osteoporosis and ambulatory infectious diseases. He is certified in bone densitometry by the International Society for Clinical Densitometry. His special interests include bone structure and metabolism, and osteoporosis in persons with disabilities.

He is a member of the American College of Physicians - American Society of Internal Medicine and served on the council of the New Mexico Chapter from 1985 through 1998. He has served as President and Treasurer of New Mexico Medical Group, Inc., a large multi-specialty medical group. While in this group, he co-founded and directed the New Mexico Medical Group Research   Education Foundation, a non-profit foundation to conduct clinical research, physician and patient education. He is a member of the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, the International Bone and Mineral Society, and the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

Dr. Rudolph was raised in Southern California. He earned his undergraduate degree at UCLA, and a medical degree from USC. He served on the staff of the Albuquerque Indian Hospital from 1976 through 1984 and was Medical Director of Outpatient Medicine for 6 years. In 1984, he established a private practice in internal medicine and started a clinical research program. Through his leadership this program has been developed into the New Mexico Clinical Research   Osteoporosis Center, one of the largest independent clinical research facilities in New Mexico.

He is married with 1 son. He enjoys bicycle racing, swimming, and long distance running.

Julia Chavez, Adult Medicine

Julia R. Chavez is a certified family nurse practitioner who is a registered nurse with a master's degree in science and nursing. She is experienced in the practice of adult medicine, with a special interest in women's healthcare. She will provide primary care services and also be involved in our clinical research trials and osteoporosis studies. She is now accepting new patients.

Julia, whose maiden name is Pacheco, has a fascinating family background. She is a 10th generation New Mexican, with roots in this part of the world since the early 1700s, when her ancestors came here from Spain. Julia comes from a family of 12, many of whom have gone on to successful careers as physicians or nurses.Other siblings have entered academic careers, with one rising to be a university president and another becoming a college president. After raising 12 children, her mother still had the energy to go to college, getting a bachelor's degree at the age of 59.

Julia was valedictorian of her high school class in Maxwell, New Mexico. She served in the Peace Corps in Bolivia for two years, and has done volunteer medical work for the needy here in New Mexico. She is fluent in Spanish.

Julia's family was selected as Southwest Hispanic Family of the Year in 1992. The entire family traveled to Washington, DC, for an award ceremony and reception with First Lady Barbara Bush at the White House.

Julia is married with 3 children and 2 grandchildren. In her spare time she enjoys reading, listening to music, and doing volunteer work for Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD).

If you are interested in having Julia become your primary care provider, call 855-5525 and press option 2 to reach our scheduling department.

Michelle Garcia, MSPAS Adult Healthcare

Michelle B. Garcia is a Certified Physician Assistant. She received her Master's in Physician Assistant Studies at the University of New Mexico in 2015 where she received honors and is a member of Pi Alpha National Honor Society for Physician Assistants. Michelle specializes in adult medicine and osteoporosis treatment. She is currently accepting new patients for primary care.

Michelle grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has always had an interest in medicine. She received her BA in English at UNM in 2007 with a minor in Chemistry. After college, she came to New Mexico Clinical Research   Osteoporosis Center to work in research, and eventually became a Certified Research Coordinator. With her experience in research, her interest in medicine grew, and she decided to apply to physician assistant school in 2012. She left New Mexico Research in 2013 to go to physician assistant school. While she was in school, she had several rotations through out the state in primary care, internal medicine, surgery, and emergency medicine. After she graduated from physician assistant school, Michelle decided to go back to New Mexico Clinical Research and become a full time provider. Michelle is happy to back at this organization providing services to patients. She has developed a great affection for osteoporosis care as well, and thoroughly enjoys treating the several osteoporosis patients that are seen daily.

Michelle has a husband (Ronnie) and 3 cats! She loves spending time with her husband, going to lobo basketball games, and running.

If you are interested in having Michelle as your primary care provider, please contact 505-855-5525 and select option 2 to schedule an appointment.

Becky Wittenburg, Adult Healthcare/ Diabetes

Becky has been working in the medical community in Albuquerque and surrounding areas since 1982. Born in India, she spent the majority of her "growing-up" years in northern Colorado. She has lived in Albuquerque since early 1978.

She received her Bachelor of Science from UNM in 1982, worked in bedside nursing in CCU/telemetry/"max care" until 1990 when she joined a local cardiology practice as cardiology nurse specialist. In the late 1990's she worked in the cardiac cath lab while she went back to graduate school at UNM for her masters in nursing for her Nurse Practitioner specialty. Prior to finishing her graduate program, she was recruited into a local cardiology practice. She continued to work in cardiology as an Nurse Practitioner until 2003, when she was recruited by a local endocrinologist to work with him, specializing mostly in diabetes and thyroid disease. She has focused her practice in diabetes since then. In 2007 she took her diabetes work out to Grants and did clinical medicine, hospital medicine and community classes there until late 2012. Now back in Albuquerque, she has not only been focusing on diabetes, but also is practicing adult internal medicine.

If you are interested in having Michelle as your primary care provider or to see her for diabetes care, please contact 505-855-5525 and select option 2 to schedule an appointment.