Steve McKernan served as the CEO for UNM Hospitals for 37 years before his retirement in 2017. Even after his retirement, remains a consultant to UNM Hospital. During his tenure, Mr. McKernan worked with the communities UNM Hospitals serves including the Native American communities throughout Bernalillo and Sandoval counties, He assisted in creating a network of community based clinics while at UNM. Stephen served on numerous Boards and Professional Healthcare Associations including the Board for America’s Essential Hospitals, a national Board; and the New Mexico Hospital Association.

Gayle Chacon, MD is Dine' originally from Chinle, Navajo Nation. She is a physician specializing in family medicine. She graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine (UNMSOM) with her Doctor of Medicine and completed a residency in family medicine. She was faculty at UNMSOM for 18 years as a faculty professor. She has worked at clinics at the Pueblo of Sandia, Pueblo of Jemez, Navajo Nation, First Nations Health Source, Albuquerque Indian Health Center, Bernalillo County Juvenile Detention Center and UNM Hospital. She the founder of the Center for Native American Health (CNAH) at UNM Health Sciences Center. She served as Surgeon General for the Navajo Nation.

Elizabeth “Beth” Sanchez, MPH, MBA is an asset to the LHC Board Vice Chair position with her vast expertise in Strategic Business Planning, Multi-Specialty Practice Operations, Grant Writing and Leadership positions within the medical field. Currently Beth is the Sr. Director of Healthcare Operations with DaVita Medical Group where she is the Administrative Lead on development Comprehensive Wellness and is responsible for operational direction for 17 clinical locations. Beth also has experience working with Native American Communities as she was the former CEO at the Pueblo of Sandia Health Center.

Joseph Lucero, LHC Board Treasurer, is currently an Executive Director at Presbyterian Medical Group, his experience includes health plan and provider group leadership with a focus on analytics, operations and creating value-based relationships between payers and providers. He has worked for several Healthcare organizations in the community, prior to his most recent role, he served as the Executive Director of Medical Economics for University of New Mexico Medical Group and as Assistant Vice President of Operations for Molina Healthcare. Joseph holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Computer Systems from New Mexico State University and a Master of Business Administration from the University of New Mexico.