Dr. Jana Williams is a familiar figure in our community. As a practicing pediatrician in Las Cruces, Dr. Williams has been integral to the health and wellness of infants and children for the last twenty-four years.
Her journey began in South Carolina, where she was born and raised. Dr. Williams attended undergraduate and medical school in her home state before completing her pediatric residency at Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston, TX. It was during her time in Houston that she met her husband, Richard. While expecting their first child, Richard was offered a position in Las Cruces. Just three months after their daughter was born, they made the trek to Southern New Mexico, with a goal to live in Las Cruces for two years. “Now we have been here for almost twenty-five years!,” Dr. Williams said.
Upon arriving in the City of the Crosses, Dr. Williams practiced at Rio Grande Medical Group. It was during this time that she was introduced to Aprendamos Family of Services CEO, Abel Covarrubias. “I learned about the full range of early intervention services Aprendamos provided for children from birth to 3 years of age. It was beneficial to know that children with developmental delays or those at risk for delays could receive speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy and developmental support through Aprendamos’ programing and funding through the State of New Mexico,” she shared.
This introduction also led to additional collaboration between Dr. Williams and the Aprendamos team. “In 2009, I was approached by a mom, Estee Hafassa, who was partnering with Aprendamos to provide services to children on the autism spectrum. She asked me to serve on the Hearts of Autism board and help support their yearly fundraiser, the MASCquerade Ball, as well as help provide additional support as needed,” Dr. Williams shared. She went on to serve on the Hearts for Autism board of directors for ten years. “It was great to see the impact the board made in supporting the autism community during a time when the diagnosis of autism continued to skyrocket. I have great memories of collaborating with fellow board members to plan and support the MASCquerade ball, organize and run in the annual Hearts for Autism run, and provide respite support for families caring for children on the autism spectrum.”
Now, Dr. Williams is an owner and physician at Full Bloom Pediatrics. She also opened Thrive MD in 2021, a practice focused on improving health through lifestyle changes, and completed a fellowship in culinary medicine in 2022. “I love practicing medicine and helping patients connect to the power they have in navigating their best health,” she shared.
The continued growth and expansion in services provided by Dr. Williams have also allowed sustained partnerships and collaborations with Aprendamos. “Aprendamos has continued to explore the needs of young families, families with children that have significant medical issues, mild and severe developmental delays, and mental health challenges. They have found ways to creatively address and support these needs,” she shared.
When we asked Dr. Williams what she sees in store for Aprendamos over the next 20 years, she said, “I believe Aprendamos will continue to be innovative in examining infants and young children in our community and finding ways to support their needs.” Thank you, Dr. Williams, for being a part of the Aprendamos journey over the last two decades and all you do to put families first! We are grateful to have you as a community partner and appreciate your dedication to the health and wellness of infants and children in Las Cruces.
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