About New Mexico Bridge
NM Bridge is a New Mexico Behavioral Health Services Division initiative.
The New Mexico Bridge Project is a state-funded initiative which seeks to support hospital-based Emergency Departments across the state in establishing Medication to treat Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) programs for Opioid Use Disorder in the acute setting (ED, hospital) with a bridge to community partners to continue treatment (medication and therapy).
This project is led by experts at the University of New Mexico and Presbyterian Health System and under the guidance of New Mexico’s Behavioral Health Services, to expand access to buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder in the acute care setting, with a focus on hospital emergency departments.
The New Mexico Bridge Project is based on an Implementation Team which is comprised of addiction trained specialists, nursing educators, billing expertise, and grants support. Our team works collaboratively with hospital and ED leaders to establish a state-funded budget to support the project, develop an implementation plan, establish protocols, provide education (e.g., X-Waivers, stigma/harm reduction training, nursing-specific training), and support the hospital and ED leaders every step of the way. Through the NM Poison Center, we also offer 24/7 addiction medicine telephone support in which you can contact an addiction specialist with clinical or technical questions.
Contact NM Bridge: NMBridge@salud.unm.edu
Meet Our Implementation Team
Rachel Abeyta, BFA
Snehal Bhatt, MD
Leslie Hayes, MD
Clinical Director of Women’s Health and Obstetrical Care
Margaret Greenwood-Ericksen MD, MSc
Director of Engagement and Dissemination
Donald Hume, CPSW
Director of Peer Support Supervision and Peer Education
Sergio Huerta, MD
Co-Director of Clinical Implementation; Co-Director for Statewide Infrastructure Development
Cindy M. Ketcham, RN, EdD, MSHE, BSN, NEA-BC, LNCC, HACP, CARN, CCHP
Director of Nursing Education
Eric Ketcham MD, MBA, FACEP, FASAM, FACHE
Director of Clinical Implementation; Co-Director for Statewide Infrastructure Development
Julie Salvador, PhD
Principal Investigator; Project Director
Phil Seidenberg, MD
Co-Director of Engagement and Dissemination
Sally Wait, BSN
Director of Community Outreach
Brandon Warrick, MD
Director for Statewide Infrastructure Development; Co-Director of Clinical Implementation
NM Bridge Media & Press
Article Publication
The Journal of Rural Health March 2025
“Statewide implementation for medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in urban and rural emergency departments”
Article Publication
National Governors Association December 2024
“New Mexico Bridge Team Presents to State Policy Officials on Best Practices for Engaging with Hospitals”
National Recognition
National Governors Association August 2023
“Implementing Best Practices Across the Continuum of Care to Prevent Overdose: A Roadmap for Governors” (pg.60)
Article Publication
ACEP Now: The Official Voice of Emergency Medicine March 2023 | Vo. 42 | No. 3
“The New Mexico Bridge Program: Implementation of medication for opioid use disorder in rural emergency departments” (pg.6-7)