State launches health literacy initiative

Michelle Lujan Grisham
Governor

​Gina DeBlassie
Cabinet Secretary

New Mexico Department of Health

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
October 14, 2025 
 
State launches health literacy initiative 
  
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Health is launching a statewide health literacy initiative to make health information clearer and easier to understand.
 
The department has hired a health literacy specialist to support this work. The specialist will identify needs and current successes, design a process to review written and digital communication, and oversee the creation of e-learning to train New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) staff. The work will be accomplished by partnering across the organization and with several state health councils.
  
“Health literacy is essential to achieving positive health outcomes,” said Susan Garcia, NMDOH director of community engagement and equity. “This is about making health information clear and accessible so every New Mexican can make informed decisions about their own care and their families.”
  
The effort coincides with October being Health Literacy Month. Started in 1999, Health Literacy Month brings awareness to the challenges most Americans experience reading, understanding, and acting on health information.
  
“Health Literacy isn’t the same as literacy or English language fluency,” said Susana Rinderle, NMDOH health literacy specialist. “It’s about making sure healthcare providers communicate clearly, while accounting for factors like stress, cultural differences, age, neurodivergence, and education levels.”
 
Personal health literacy empowers people to ask informed questions, raise relevant issues, and participate actively in their care. Organizational health literacy increases access to care, quality of care, health outcomes, equity, and reduces costs.
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NMDOH

David Morgan, Public Information Officer. | [email protected] | (575) 649-0754

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) works to promote health and wellness, improve health outcomes, and deliver services to all New Mexicans. As New Mexico’s largest state agency, NMDOH offers public health services in all 33 counties and collaborates with 24 Native American Tribes, Pueblos and Nations.  ​