Hi, we’re AXCES.
We’re passionate about healthcare.
We’re not kidding. We believe healthcare is a human right, so as a team, we’ve spent decades trying to create safe spaces where people can access exceptional healthcare without fear of stigma. Often, our patients have faced judgment and discrimination when seeking care in traditional medical settings, so it has always been important for us to cultivate affirming spaces that also have a reputation for clinical and research excellence.
As treatments have become better and simpler, we continue to ensure that the communities we serve always have access to the best clinical and research care available.
More than ever, healthcare choices are being limited, so we are committed to ensuring that access to exceptional, inclusive care in safe spaces remains available.
A ccess
e X cellence
C ommunity
E quity
S cience
The AXCES Mission
Our mission is to provide access to innovative, exceptional, and ethical care—based on the best science available—to everyone, including the most vulnerable in our communities.
We also strive to encourage and empower more underrepresented groups—specifically women and girls—to work in STEM roles.
The AXCES team has a longstanding history of using clinical trials as a gateway to care for all members of our community. Our aim is to provide innovative and ethical clinical care for all, including marginalized communities who have historically been under-represented in clinical trials. At AXCES, we recognize that good science needs to reflect the community it serves, and that scientific breakthroughs should benefit all of us, including the diverse communities of the areas we serve.
What We Do
We provide high quality healthcare for things like HIV, STIs/STDs, and more. We also conduct outpatient clinical trials for vaccines and new tests and treatments for infectious diseases, including HIV and Hepatitis.
We have locations in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, El Paso, and Salt Lake City to serve you and your community better.

OUR TEAM
Click to jump to a category:
Clinical Team
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Joel Gallant, MD, MPH
Principal Investigator (Santa Fe and ABQ)
Pronouns: he/him/his
Dr. Gallant is a world-renowned HIV expert, clinical investigator, professor, and author, and we are grateful for the expertise he brings. He spent 21 years on the faculty of Johns Hopkins University and more recently he was executive director of HIV Global Medical Affairs at Gilead Sciences.
He also just happens to be a really great guy with a wicked sense of humor and a passion for New Mexico. We couldn’t be happier to have him on our team!
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Lindi Hobongwana, AGNP, AAHIVS
Primary Clinic Provider and Sub-Investigator (Santa Fe)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Lindi received her undergraduate degree in Cultural Anthropology from Southern Oregon University and her BSN, MSN-AGNP and HIV Primary Care Certificate from Johns Hopkins University. She is credentialed by the American Academy of HIV Medicine.
She is passionate about working with underrepresented and vulnerable populations, especially people living with HIV, the LGBTQIA+ community, and those struggling with substance use disorder. Her circuitous path to clinical practice began with studying biodynamic small-scale farming for developing countries, which led to the study of herbalism and traditional ways of healing. After co-owning an herb store in Ashland, Oregon for several years, she went on to work in an integrative medical practice with a physician and NP/nurse midwife who constantly encouraged her to further her education and become a nurse practitioner.
Lindi’s clinical practice is holistic, informed by evidence-based medicine and her continued respect for complementary healthcare, as well her life experience as a biracial woman raised in central/southern Africa and the UK.
In her spare time, she loves to take long walks and hikes, checking out the local flora and gazing out into wide-open spaces, hanging out with her husband and sweet greyhound Opal, and gathering family and friends together for delicious home-cooked meals.
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Ogechika Alozie, MD, MPH, FACP, FIDSA, AAHIVS
Investigator (El Paso)
Pronouns: he/him/his
Dr. Alozie received his medical degree from the University of Benin in Nigeria, then completed an internship and residency at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis, MN. He is also a graduate of the University of Minnesota's Infectious Diseases fellowship and is one of only 100 physicians in Texas who are board-certified in clinical informatics by the American Board of Preventive Medicine. He believes that patient care is the most essential part of medicine, and so has has served as chair, co-chair, and member of multiple state and local committees advocating for excellence in care. He currently works as CEO of Sunset West Health, a program that has been recognized as the Minority Health Services Firm of the Year multiple years in a row. In addition to being voted El Paso’s Best Doctor and receiving the Award for Innovative Practice, he is well known to the nation for representing the El Paso/border community during the COVID-19 pandemic on CNBC, NPR, Bloomberg, and CBS. When he’s not too busy tending to his patients or his adoring fans, he likes to give TEDx talks and spend his time hiding his monumental sneaker collection from his wife and son….
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Susana Keeshin, MD, AAHIVM
Investigator (Salt Lake City)
Bio coming soon!
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Grecia Heredia, RPh, BCACP, AAHIVP
Investigator (El Paso)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Grecia Heredia graduated with a Doctorate of Pharmacy from the University of Texas at Austin and completed a post-graduate residency through the American Society of Health System Pharmacists. She is board certified as an Ambulatory Care Pharmacist and credentialed by the American Academy of HIV Medicine. She currently serves as the Director of Pharmacy at Sunset West Health and is Clinical Faculty at the University of Texas at El Paso School of Pharmacy and the Texas Tech Paul L. Foster School of Medicine. She is passionate about serving underrepresented communities and educating other healthcare providers. She enjoys running, reading, hot yoga, spending time with her daughter, and in spite of her brilliance, absolutely hates the spotlight, preferring to stand comfortably in the long shadow cast by the very tall Dr. Alozie.
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Wendy Johnson, MD, MPH
Investigator (Santa Fe)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Dr. Johnson has over 25 years of experience in community medicine, public health, and global health as a researcher, clinician, teacher, policy maker, technical advisor, and manager. She received her medical and undergraduate degrees from Ohio State University, her Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins University, and completed her Family Medicine Residency at the University of New Mexico. Her winding career path includes stints scaling up HIV treatment in Mozambique, overseeing the Cleveland, OH Department of Public Health, and most recently, directing a community clinic in Santa Fe. Her work has been focused on advocacy for marginalized populations, both in the US and internationally, and on designing health programs and interventions especially in the areas of primary care, women’s and children’s health, HIV, and addiction medicine. She currently lives in a half-wild valley on the outskirts of Santa Fe, where she works on rewilding her patch of earth. She believes her love of gardening, food, and mountains is genetic, inherited from her Italian grandmother who grew up in the Dolomite Alps.
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Sally Bowen, FNP, AAHIVS
Investigator (Salt Lake City)
Bio coming soon!
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Janeen Maas, MD
Investigator (Santa Fe and Albuquerque)
Bio coming soon!
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Terri Selvage, NP
Investigator (Santa Fe and Albuquerque)
Bio coming soon!
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Erika Benson, NP
Investigator (Santa Fe and Albuquerque)
Bio coming soon!
Leadership
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Wenoah Veikley, RN, BScN
CEO, Chief Clinical Officer, and Investigator
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Wenoah is an infectious disease nurse and healthcare leader specializing in public health, clinical research, sexual health, HIV, hepatitis, and forensic nursing. She’s worked in communities as diverse as rural New Mexico and Texas, Beverly Hills, and remote regions of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. She’s passionate about creating equity and access in healthcare, and she founded AXCES to be a beacon of clinical excellence, compassionate care, and scientific integrity. Wenoah is a needle-phobic nurse who loves her family and likes to crash into things at high speeds.
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Andrea Rodriguez, CCRC
Director of Research
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Andrea has been in healthcare since the mid-2000s, exploring family medicine, emergency medicine, and laboratory work before settling into clinical research. As a native Santa Fean, she is passionate about providing cutting-edge treatments to all the communities of New Mexico and building relationships with her patients. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family and being a unicorn.
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Erin Brummer, MPH
Director of Business Operations
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Erin received her undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado (go Buffs!) and completed her Master of Public Health at Grand Canyon University. She has a clinical background in specialty healthcare, including Infectious Disease, Gastroenterology, and Dermatology. Erin also holds certifications in Harm Reduction and Mental Health First Aid. She is passionate about creating access to healthcare and education in small and rural communities. When she’s not surfing in California or skiing in Montana, she is hanging out with her dog Beefy.
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Zoe Sananda Castro, BS
Research Manager
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Zoe received her BS in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of New Mexico. She has experience in family medicine and wilderness first aid. She is passionate about using clinical research as a bridge to healthcare for underrepresented populations and connecting with her patients. Sharing her research knowledge and experience is her superpower, so she often travels to AXCES sites to train our teams. After working long days, she likes to use her weekends for snowboarding or camping near a river in the Rocky Mountains.
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Joel Gallant, MD, MPH
Senior Medical Advisor (Santa Fe and Albuquerque)
Pronouns: he/him/his
Dr. Gallant is a world-renowned HIV expert, clinical investigator, professor, and author, and we are grateful for the expertise he brings. He spent 21 years on the faculty of Johns Hopkins University and more recently he was executive director of HIV Global Medical Affairs at Gilead Sciences.
He also just happens to be a really great guy with a wicked sense of humor and a passion for New Mexico. We couldn’t be happier to have him on our team!
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Trevor Hawkins, MD, Emeritus
Advisor
Bio coming soon!
Staff
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Sonia Arzabala-Santillan
Clinical Research Assistant (Santa Fe)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Sonia brings 7 years of diverse medical experience to her role as a Research Assistant. As a born-and-raised New Mexican, her love for her cultural roots includes using research to empower the Hispanic community through fostering an understanding of how science improves community wellbeing. In her spare time, she likes to ride her horses, spend time with her fam bam, and soak in local hot springs while taking in the gorgeous New Mexico views.
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Christopher Lopez
Clinical Research Coordinator (El Paso)
Pronouns: he/him/his
Christopher is an El Pasoan who has spent most of his life in El Paso and the southern border of the country Ciudad Juarez. He obtained a BS from UTEP and has many years of research experience, including clinical research. He is excited to be part of AXCES Research and helping others, especially the minority populations that need it the most. Chris has a passion for sports and food, especially when his wife cooks for him.
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Jessica Romero
Medical Assistant (Santa Fe)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Bio coming soon!
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Vanessa Gamboa
Clinical Research Coordinator (Albuquerque)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Vanessa is a dedicated Clinical Research Coordinator with nearly a decade of experience in the field, bringing compassion, professionalism, and a deep commitment to the work she does. Originally from Albuquerque, NM, she began her journey in research in 2015 and has since developed a strong passion for ensuring participants not only receive quality care but also have AXCES to resources that truly make a difference in their lives.
Outside the office, Vanessa loves spending time with her family—especially when they’re not getting on her nerves—and cheering on her kids from the sidelines of their soccer games. Her balance of warmth, humor, and dedication makes her a valued part of the team and a trusted guide for every patient she works with.
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Cinthia Callero-Flores
Clinical Research Assistant (El Paso)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Cinthia was born and raised in the culturally rich El Paso, Texas and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. From a young age, she developed a profound desire to make a positive impact in the lives of those around her. This passion for helping others has been a cornerstone of her personal and professional journey, inspiring her to pursue opportunities that align with her heartfelt mission. She cherishes the quiet moments spent in her favorite reading nook, surrounded by the comforting sounds of music.
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Tess Salazar
Clinical Research Assistant (Santa Fe)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Tess graduated from UNM in Family and Child Studies, holding a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Child and Human Development. Originally from Española, New Mexico, she was drawn to research by a deep commitment to supporting her community, particularly underrepresented populations. She is passionate about building meaningful connections with patients and participants, and believes that listening to their stories and experiences is key to conducting thoughtful, impactful research. Outside of work, Tess enjoys staying active and exploring the outdoors. You can often find her skiing, hiking, biking, camping, or paddle boarding—or catching live music whenever she gets the chance.
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Ernesto Gonzalez
Regulatory Specialist
Pronouns: he/him/his
Ernesto is the behind-the-scenes maestro of clinical research, orchestrating compliance and coordination with precision and passion. As a Clinical Regulatory Specialist, he partners with the study team to ensure every document is in place, every deadline is met, and no detail falls through the cracks. Off the clock, Ernesto swaps spreadsheets for circuit boards, happily tinkering with electronics or enjoying quality time with his family—the perfect balance of heart and hardware.
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Kristian Rivera
Clinical Research Coordinator (Salt Lake City)
Bio coming soon!
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Wendy Dionne
Program Administrator
Bio coming soon!
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Elina Compri
Data Coordinator
Bio coming soon!