Your Vaccination Records Get Vaccinated Measles Guidance Sign up for E-news! Reproductive Health NMHealth Helpline 988: 24/7 LIfeline
NMDOH Logo
Home Divisions Administrative Services Human Resources Training and Development

Office of Training and Development

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) recognizes that delivering the best possible services to New Mexicans requires a well-prepared, sustainable, and supported workforce. The Office of Training and Development, led by Director Shadee Lauer, plays a vital role in this effort. Grounded in our core values of health equity, communication, customer service, teamwork, respect, leadership, and accountability, the office taps into the deep expertise across NMDOH’s many fields to strengthen and grow a long-term workforce—one that is equipped internally to deliver exceptional service and care externally.

Flowchart detailing workforce training and development, including recruitment, onboarding, professional development, and community partnerships, all centered around compliance.

Team

Specialties by Department Area

Recruitment

In collaboration with our skilled Communications & Marketing team and Human Resources, we use modern, evidence-based strategies to attract top talent to NMHealth.

Internships

We create meaningful opportunities for students to explore the diverse services of NMHealth, building a strong pipeline into the public health workforce.

Onboarding

We welcome new employees with a structured, supportive onboarding experience that ensures they have the tools and training to succeed from day one.

Retention

Retention is at the heart of our strategy. We develop programs that not only prepare and recruit staff but also support long-term success and satisfaction within the workforce.

Professional Development

We offer continuous learning opportunities to help employees grow their skills, advance their careers, and stay current in their fields.

Job Skills Training

We deliver engaging, effective training programs to equip new and existing staff with the practical skills needed to perform their roles with confidence.

Community Training

We extend our reach beyond NMHealth by providing training and education to our community partners, helping strengthen public health across New Mexico.

Accreditation Standards for Workforce Development in Public Health

The Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB) Standards have placed added emphasis on workforce development. Domain 8 requires agencies to maintain a competent public health workforce. This includes:

  • Ensuring the development of a sufficient number of qualified public health workers; and
  • Assessing staff competencies and providing training / professional development.

Domain 8 also outlines the expectation that public health agencies have documented partnerships or collaboration with schools of public health and other related academic programs to develop qualified public health workers and promote public health as a career choice. NMHealth has strong relationships with our University partners and understand the importance of utilizing these relationships to better serve the community and promote NMHealth as a good place to work after students complete their schooling.

The Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG)

The Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) is a groundbreaking investment that supports critical public health infrastructure needs of health departments across the United States. Through this 5-year grant, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) awarded $4.35 billion to 107 health departments and three national public health partners. The grant aims to strengthen public health outcomes by allowing health departments to direct funds toward specific organizational and community needs. Key strategies include workforce development, foundational capabilities, and data modernization1. The goal is to create a more resilient public health system ready to face future health threats. NMHealth is a proud PHIG recipient and is thrilled about being able to leverage these resources to support the public health workforce!

More Information

If you have any ideas or questions about the Department's workforce initiatives or would like assistance with any of the activities in our purview, please feel free to reach out to any of the Office of Training & Development employees.