Lovelace Medical Group recognized by ESGR NM for supporting NMNG during COVID Response

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Maj. Gen. Ken Nava, the Adjutant General of New Mexico, teamed up with Mike Kakusa, state chair for ESGR New Mexico, to present the Seven Seals and Above and Beyond awards to Dr. John Cruickshank and his staff at Lovelace Medical Group for their unwavering support of the New Mexico National Guard mission during the COVID-19 public health crisis.

When the pandemic hit full force and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and our agency partners requested New Mexico National Guard assistance, Cruickshank supported NMMG efforts by allowing six of his medical professionals employed with Lovelace, who also serve in the New Mexico Army and Air National Guard, to come on orders and carry out the vital role of planning, preparation and execution of COVID-19 medical missions to include expanding medical capacity for the potential shortage of ICU hospital beds, vaccinations and testing.

“On behalf of the New Mexico National Guard, thank you Dr Cruickshank and the entire medical group for your support,” said Nava. “As we all know, COVID has totally changed our lives and these six medical professionals have been very involved with our COVID medical response. To all the medical community – doctors, nurses, nurse techs and support staff, thank you for everything you have done to help us get through this. You have been instrumental in helping New Mexicans weather the storm.”

In addition to thanking the Lovelace Medical Group for the great support, Kakuza said that we as a nation could not survive without our Guard and Reserve or without our employers who allow our Guard and Reserve members to do what they do.

While accepting the awards, Cruickshank said, “this is an honor for us that is near and dear to our hearts here and across our entire Lovelace organization and I appreciate what you are doing here to recognize our clinicians. While we and our patients have missed them, getting called to work this mission was incredibly important. We couldn’t have succeeded in our mission without you as well.”

Col. Craig Gilcrease, the NMNG state surgeon who is employed by Lovelace, said he was grateful to his employer for their support so he nominated them for the awards.

“While Lovelace took a hit with their medical staffing, they were very supportive and flexible in us being able to carry out our Guard mission,” said Gilcrease.

Along with presenting Cruickshank with one of his coins for excellence, Nava also coined Dr. David Hoang for covering down in the hospital ICU while our Guard medical professionals served on the military side.

Gilcrease said Hoang is one of the hardest working and most valuable team members and was very grateful to him for all the patients he took care of during COVID in the ICU along with his leadership and all the emergency stuff he took care of in the hospital.

The Seven Seals award is presented in recognition of significant individuals or organization achievement, initiative, or support that promotes and supports the ESGR mission, to include the efforts of more than 4,500 volunteers who carry out ESGR’s mission across the nation on a daily basis.