Lovelace Health System

Lovelace Health System Lovelace Health System has been a trusted health care provider for New Mexicans for more than 100 years. To learn more, visit lovelace.com/about.

The history of Lovelace Health System begins in the 1880s when missionaries and philanthropists from the Midwest extended their mission of caring to Albuquerque. In 1901, they built the city's first hospital and a year later, they opened a sanitarium to care for the growing ranks of tuberculosis patients seeking health in the high, dry air of Albuquerque. In 1913, a young doctor named William Randolph Lovelace moved his frontier practice to the city. Before long he was renowned for his skill as a surgeon and his extraordinary compassion for his patients. Joined by Dr. Edgar T. Lassetter and eventually by other physicians, Dr. Lovelace modeled his pioneering group practice, the Lovelace Clinic, after Minnesota's respected Mayo Clinic. World War II changed life in unimaginable ways, spurring technological, social and economic growth in the American West - and demanding a new vision for the delivery of health care. With medicine rapidly advancing, ace pilot and decorated veteran Dr. Randy Lovelace followed in his uncle's footsteps, joining the Lovelace Clinic in 1946. He had already made a name for himself in the field of aviation medicine. As a fellow in surgery at the Mayo Clinic, he worked on the development of the BLB mask, which delivered oxygen to aviators flying at high altitudes. In fact, the "L" in BLB stands for Lovelace. In the late 1950s, at the height of the Cold War, a new federal agency called NASA announced its first major undertaking: Project Mercury, which would launch the first national manned space capsule into orbit around the earth. Rigorous testing at Lovelace Medical Center narrowed the field to a handful of men who would be known to history as the Mercury 7. Today, Lovelace Health System is recognized as a force for economic vitality in New Mexico as well as a provider of high-quality care to residents of the state. Leading change has always been part of the Lovelace mission. Today, the Lovelace passion for change, innovation and caring lives on in our commitment to advanced medical technology, patient convenience and high-quality health care. Lovelace Health System is comprised of Lovelace Medical Center, Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center, New Mexico Heart Institute, Lovelace UNM Rehabilitation Hospital, Lovelace Women's Hospital, Lovelace Westside Hospital, Lovelace Regional Hospital and Lovelace Medical Group.

02/01/2026

This month, we honor the contributions and achievements of Black Americans in healthcare and beyond. Together, we celebrate diversity and the strength it brings to our communities.

Stay safe during your job search! As you explore career opportunities, we want to ensure you have a safe and secure expe...
01/30/2026

Stay safe during your job search! As you explore career opportunities, we want to ensure you have a safe and secure experience along the way to protect yourself from scammers:

Here are a few quick tips to keep your search safe and stress‑free:
• If applying on a third-party site, verify the job is real by confirming it is on our official career site.
• Interviews are always live. No text-only interviews, no chat-based platforms. You’ll always meet with a real person via phone, video, or in person.
• We never ask for sensitive info like your SSN, bank details or credit card during the interview process.
• Job offers come from real humans. You’ll never receive an offer from Gmail, Yahoo or other public email accounts.

Your dream job should be exciting, not stressful. We encourage you to stay alert and happy job hunting!

Lovelace Medical Center named Lori Monkarsh, PCT 1, its Healthcare Hero Award winner for November 2025. "Lori is a PCT t...
01/29/2026

Lovelace Medical Center named Lori Monkarsh, PCT 1, its Healthcare Hero Award winner for November 2025.

"Lori is a PCT that hustles. If Lori is at the desk and a call light goes off, it does not ring for more than 12 seconds before she is in the room with the patient answering it. She takes the time to make sure her patients are clean, fed, and happy. She cares about supporting the nurses she works with and asks for feedback. Lori is always learning and asking questions – it is evident she is set on growth and being better every day. Lori is a joy to work with and an example to every employee of what it looks like to grow and work hard."

Join us in thanking Lori for her dedication to patient care and be sure to nominate your Lovelace Healthcare Hero by visiting the link in the comments.

Lovelace Medical Group physicians were proud to stand alongside healthcare providers from across New Mexico for the annu...
01/29/2026

Lovelace Medical Group physicians were proud to stand alongside healthcare providers from across New Mexico for the annual “White Coat Day” at the 2026 New Mexico Legislature. Wearing their white coats as a visible symbol of the medical community, our doctors helped raise awareness, share real patient experiences and engage with legislators on issues vital to the health of all New Mexicans—especially the need for medical malpractice reform and stronger efforts to recruit and retain healthcare providers in our state.

Learn more about how all New Mexicans can bring awareness about the need for all to have access to timely, quality healthcare in our state by visiting Patient-Led NM at the link in the comments.

Think you've got the answer? Let us know whether you think this is true or false in the comments! If you're ready to see...
01/29/2026

Think you've got the answer? Let us know whether you think this is true or false in the comments! If you're ready to see the answer...
Answer: True — chest pain can signal a serious condition and should be evaluated immediately.

Congratulations to Michael Bestawros, M.D., MPH, an electrophysiologist with New Mexico Heart Institute/ Lovelace Medica...
01/27/2026

Congratulations to Michael Bestawros, M.D., MPH, an electrophysiologist with New Mexico Heart Institute/ Lovelace Medical Group! He just performed his 500th WATCHMAN™ implant at Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center.

The WATCHMAN implant device reduces stroke risk, helps eliminate blood thinners and is safer for high-risk patients by being implanted into the heart to close off the left atrial appendage (LAA), a blind pouch of heart tissue, to prevent blood clots from forming and causing a stroke.

Learn more about the state-of-the-art treatment options, innovative health care providers and award-winning quality initiatives at Heart Hospital of New Mexico at Lovelace Medical Center.

Getting ready for your first RN job interview? We’ve got you covered!Join us for a virtual webinar on Monday, February 9...
01/26/2026

Getting ready for your first RN job interview? We’ve got you covered!

Join us for a virtual webinar on Monday, February 9, from 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. MST, where our expert recruiters will share insider tips to help you stand out in the hiring process. From resume-building to interview prep and post-interview strategies, you’ll leave feeling confident and ready to land your dream job.

RSVP today at https://jobs.ardenthealth.com/event-30067/talentcommunity/form.

When your family needs care, you need options that fit your life.From urgent care to video visits, we’re here to keep yo...
01/26/2026

When your family needs care, you need options that fit your life.

From urgent care to video visits, we’re here to keep your loved ones healthy—fast and close to home.

Find care now at the link in the comments.

We honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his commitment to equity, dignity and service. His vision continue...
01/19/2026

We honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his commitment to equity, dignity and service. His vision continues to guide our efforts to build healthier, more inclusive communities.

Ready to take the next step in your career? Join a team that puts people first. At Lovelace Health System, we provide th...
01/15/2026

Ready to take the next step in your career? Join a team that puts people first.

At Lovelace Health System, we provide the support, benefits, and resources you need to succeed, because you’re more than just a number. Here, every team member plays a vital role in enhancing the patient experience and improving healthcare for our community.

We’re building something special and we’d love for you to be part of it.

Today, we recognize the pharmacists across our organization whose clinical expertise, dedication and patient-centered gu...
01/12/2026

Today, we recognize the pharmacists across our organization whose clinical expertise, dedication and patient-centered guidance strengthen the care we provide every day. We appreciate their essential contributions to safer, more effective treatment.

Meet Melissa Owens, chief nursing officer (CNO) at Lovelace UNM Rehabilitation Hospital. Melissa’s passion for nursing s...
01/12/2026

Meet Melissa Owens, chief nursing officer (CNO) at Lovelace UNM Rehabilitation Hospital. Melissa’s passion for nursing started in childhood—and today, she leads with that same dedication, advocating for patients and supporting her team.

Her journey at Lovelace began as a new nurse. Since then, she’s advanced to charge nurse, nurse manager, and now serves as CNO.

“I was excited to join Lovelace because of its reputation as a leader in our community. Our culture is collaborative and supportive, with a strong emphasis on teamwork and professional growth.”

Melissa’s story is proof of the career growth possible at Lovelace: “Lovelace provides many opportunities to advance your career while working in an environment that values respect, compassion and excellence in patient care.”

From helping patients regain independence to leading a team of dedicated professionals—thank you, Melissa, for your commitment to your team and community!

Address

601 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue NE
Albuquerque, NM
87102

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Our Story

The history of Lovelace Health System begins in the 1880s, when missionaries and philanthropists from the Midwest extended their mission of caring to Albuquerque. In 1901, they built the city's first hospital and a year later, they opened a sanitarium to care for the growing ranks of tuberculosis patients seeking health in the high, dry air of Albuquerque.

In 1913, a young doctor named William Randolph Lovelace moved his frontier practice to the city. Before long he was renowned for his skill as a surgeon and his extraordinary compassion for his patients. Joined by Dr. Edgar T. Lassetter and eventually by other physicians, Dr. Lovelace modeled his pioneering group practice, the Lovelace Clinic, after Minnesota's respected Mayo Clinic.

World War II changed life in unimaginable ways, spurring technological, social and economic growth in the American West - and demanding a new vision for the delivery of health care. With medicine rapidly advancing, ace pilot and decorated veteran Dr. Randy Lovelace followed in his uncle's footsteps, joining the Lovelace Clinic in 1946. He had already made a name for himself in the field of aviation medicine. As a fellow in surgery at the Mayo Clinic, he worked on the development of the BLB mask, which delivered oxygen to aviators flying at high altitudes. In fact, the "L" in BLB stands for Lovelace.

In the late 1950s, at the height of the Cold War, a new federal agency called NASA announced its first major undertaking: Project Mercury, which would launch the first national manned space capsule into orbit around the earth. Rigorous testing at Lovelace Medical Center narrowed the field to a handful of men who would be known to history as the Mercury 7.