Wednesday, October 4, 2023
San Juan Regional Medical Center Physician Honored by the University of New Mexico
San Juan Regional Medical Center is proud to announce that Dr. Sugar Singleton has been named Distinguished Alumna 2023 by the University of New Mexico’s School of Medicine. The award recognizes an alumnus who has made significant contributions to society, and whose accomplishments, affiliations and career exemplifies the School of Medicine’s legacy of excellence.
“Thank you for choosing me to be the recipient of this distinguished award. I am truly humbled and honored and absolutely grateful,” said Dr. Singleton. “It’s my greatest honor and privilege in life to be a physician.”
Dr. Singleton always dreamed of being a doctor, but her path to achieve that dream wasn’t a straightforward one. After graduating from UNM with a bachelor’s degree in biology, she went on to medical school but took a leave of absence a month later after finding out her mother had been diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. She moved back to Farmington where she cared for her mother and started a family of her own, putting her dream on the back burner. Several years later, she was able to go back to medical school, commuting between Farmington and Albuquerque every week to make her dream a reality. Dr. Singleton graduated from UNM in 2003 at the top of her medical school class and stayed in New Mexico to complete a Family and Community Medicine residency.
She has proudly served her hometown as a physician at San Juan Regional Medical Center for the past 20 years, providing care to generations of families and friends. She is continuously looking for ways to give back and has even traveled to Africa several times for medical mission trips, bringing her love and care to the tribes of the Maasai.
“Dr. Singleton is an incredible example of what it means to serve the community that raised you,” said Barbara Charles, Vice President of San Juan Health Partners. “She gives her all in everything she does, from treating ill and injured patients at Urgent Care with compassionate care to her passion as an advocate for better health and wellness.”
“Dr. Singleton is a true team player who demonstrates San Juan Regional Medical Center’s Core Values. In addition to providing excellent patient care, she is always willing to jump in and get involved in advisory groups and committees to support our mission to improve lives,” said Jason Rounds, President and CEO of San Juan Regional Medical Center.
Dr. Singleton also gives back as much as she can to her alma mater. She is a board member of the UNM Community Faculty Advisory Board and a Clinical Assistant Professor of the UNM Department of Family and Community Medicine. She continues to be a dedicated and supportive preceptor for UNM medical students, residents, and BA/MD students, serving as the co-coordinator for the BA/MD San Juan County program in 2023.
Dr. Singleton currently serves our community as a physician at San Juan Health Partners Urgent Care. She also runs an outreach clinic at San Juan Health Partners Family Medicine in Aztec where she does rubber band ligation of hemorrhoids.