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| Celebratory Graduations:
Family Medicine Residency Program Class of 2026
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Congratulations to the Class of 2026, the newest graduates of the Southern New Mexico Family Medicine Residency Program and the MMC Pharmacy Residency Program! This outstanding group celebrated last weekend alongside family, friends, faculty, and one another, and we could not be prouder of what they have accomplished.
The Southern New Mexico Family Medicine Residency Program at Memorial has graduated 164 physicians since 1996.
To our residents: Thank you for your unwavering dedication, the long hours, and the excellent care you've provided to our community. We are proud to have played a part in your journey and can’t wait to see how you continue to shape the future of medicine. You will always have a home here.
To the families and loved ones: We honor the support, patience, and encouragement you provided behind the scenes. The foundation you built helped make this moment possible, and this graduation is your achievement, too.
A huge thank you also goes to our residency program leadership, faculty, preceptors, teachers, mentors, support staff and more.
As New Mexico continues to face a growing need for doctors, this class stands as a powerful example of our commitment to developing the next generation of healthcare leaders. As they begin the next chapter of their careers, these physicians carry forward the knowledge, leadership, and dedication that will positively impact patients for years to come.
Family Medicine graduates:
Syed Samir Anis, MD
Paul Daan, MD (View a video feature on Dr. Daan)
Mohammed Eltanany, MD
Sabina Gautam, MD
Bipul Joshi, MD
Brian Lam, MD
Anvesh Ravanavena, MD
Jose Antonio Sanchez Mentado, MD
Zarmeena Sethar, MD
Saba Sharif, MD
Pharmacy graduate:
Ilana Johnston, Pharm.D.
Check out more photos from the graduation on our social media platforms.
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| Celebratory Graduations:
Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Program 8th Cohort
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Big congratulations to our 8th Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA) Program cohort! After weeks of hard work, hands-on learning, clinical rotations, and unwavering dedication, these MMC team members have reached an incredible milestone in their healthcare careers. We are proud to celebrate all nine graduates, each of whom successfully passed their CCMA certification exam with outstanding scores.
This year’s cohort marked the occasion with a festive luau-themed graduation, a fun and meaningful way to celebrate their achievements and the journey that brought them here.
Congratulations to Cohort 8! Your dedication, perseverance, and passion for patient care have brought you to this moment, and we can’t wait to see all that you accomplish next.
At Memorial, we have a proud culture and history of developing internal training programs such as this Medical Assistant program to support the growth and development of our team members.
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| MMC Named Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery
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Memorial Medical Center is proud to announce that our hospital has achieved accreditation from Surgical Review Corporation (SRC) as a Center of Excellence in Robotic Surgery. This prestigious distinction recognizes Memorial’s commitment to and high standard of high-quality patient care and safety. Memorial is the first hospital in Southern New Mexico to achieve this accreditation.
Additionally, the following surgeons at Memorial were named Robotic Surgeons of Excellence: Colon and Rectal surgeon Elia Charbel Abboud MD, FACS, FASCRS; General Surgeon Barbara Aldana Blanco, MD; and Bariatric and Heartburn surgeon Fermin Fontan, MD, FACS, FASMBS.
Status as an accredited Robotic Surgery center means that Memorial Medical Center has met nationally and internationally recognized standards. Not all hospitals and surgeons seek accreditation; not all that undergo the rigorous inspection process are granted accreditation.
“Achieving Robotic Center of Excellence accreditation is a significant milestone for Memorial Medical Center and a strong testament to the quality, consistency, and commitment to excellence demonstrated across our surgical program,” said Dennis Knox, CEO of Memorial Medical Center. “We believe in staying at the forefront of what is possible in healthcare so that our community can receive the highest quality care right in their own backyard. Congratulations to our entire team on this momentous accomplishment.”
“We offer innovative state-of-the-art robotic surgery, and we have the skilled physicians and staff in place to deliver innovative care,” said Dr. Fontan. “Robotics allow us to perform surgeries in small spaces with small incisions. The recovery time is better. There is much less pain, infection rates are lower, and hospital stays are shorter. Everything that we measure in surgery of value is simply better with robotic surgery.”
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| Celebrating Cancer Survivors In A Magical Way
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What an incredible morning as our Conference Rooms transformed into a shimmering underwater world for our Ocean Odyssey National Cancer Survivors Day event on June 6th.
We celebrated not just a magically themed gathering, but the strength, resilience, and courage of every person touched by cancer. National Cancer Survivors Day is a reminder of how far so many have come, and our hospital and community show up to honor that in the most beautiful way. As the only nationally accredited and comprehensive cancer program in the region, our community can count on our Cancer Center for a wide array of oncology services that are offered close to home.
To our survivors: We are so proud to be part of your journey, and even prouder to celebrate your strength today and always.
Special thank you to the incredibly creative and caring team members and volunteers who help us make this event a hit every year!
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| Summer Internship Program:
Providing Valuable Opportunities For Area Youths
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With curious minds and youthful energy, more than 40 high school summer interns have hit the ground running in clinical and non-clinical areas throughout our hospital and clinics. We very much look forward to a summer full of learning and growth with the future of our workforce.
We are hosting these talented students through the New Mexico Summer Enrichment Internship Program run by Education at Work. This eight-week program offers paid, real-world work experience in government agencies, nonprofits, and private sector partners. It has been vital in bridging the gap between academic knowledge and practical work experience for young people in our community, region and state.
Thank you to our hospital leaders and team members who are supporting these invaluable on-the-job learning opportunities and mentoring these students. Here's to a terrific summer!
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| How We're Making Communities Healthier:
Three Physicians Earn National Recognition
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We are very excited to announce that physicians Syed Ahmed, MD, Christopher Morriss, MD, and Delilah Stampp, MD, have all been named 2025 United Healthcare Hero Award recipients! Dr. Ahmed earned this national recognition for patient experience and quality care for the second year in a row. Congratulations to all three!
This prestigious distinction recognizes healthcare providers who go above and beyond in delivering preventive care, improving patient outcomes, and helping individuals live healthier lives. This award is especially meaningful because it reflects a strong commitment to quality care, early detection, and proactive health management for our community.
Dr. Ahmed (seeing patients at Memorial Family HealthCare – Missouri), Dr. Morris (seeing patients at Memorial Family HealthCare – Solano), and Dr. Stampp (seeing patients at Memorial Family HealthCare – Sonoma) were all recognized for the high level of care that patients notice and remember, making it easier to get the care they need, staying connected across the care team, and taking the time to listen and communicate with respect.
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| Leading The Way In Cardiovascular Care:
MMC Offering New Procedure for Hypertension
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A first in Southern New Mexico and a new beginning for patients: A cutting-edge option for high blood pressure is here.
Memorial Medical Center has marked yet another milestone in advanced cardiovascular care by completing Southern New Mexico’s first Symplicity Spyral Renal Denervation (RDN) procedure, an innovative treatment option for patients whose high blood pressure remains difficult to control despite medication and lifestyle changes.
Performed by Interventional Cardiologist Muhammad Fazeel Anwar, MD, this minimally invasive procedure targets overactive nerves near the kidneys that can contribute to hypertension — helping lower blood pressure without leaving behind a permanent implant.
Nearly half of U.S. adults have high blood pressure, and many continue to struggle to keep it under control. Of the U.S. adults who are aware of their hypertension, about 80 percent do not have it under control. For patients who have struggled to manage hypertension despite medication and lifestyle changes, this innovative option represents a significant step forward.
Together, our team at Memorial Medical Center continues to bring advanced cardiovascular care options close to home.
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| Men's Health Month: What You Should Know
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June is Men’s Health Month — a time to focus on the steps men can take to protect their health. Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among men in the United States, but the good news is that the three most common cancers in men — prostate, lung, and colorectal — can often be caught early through screening, and many risk factors are within your control.
Together, these three cancers account for nearly half of all new cancer diagnoses in men each year. Here’s what you and your loved ones should know about each one, as detailed by Jason A. Call, MD, Medical Director of Radiation Oncology at Memorial Radiation Oncology, and Chief of Staff at Memorial Medical Center.
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