Meet the 2023 NMOMA Board
President
Traci Groening, DO FACOOG FACOG
Dr. Groening is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Clinical Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, at the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She also serves as the OBGYN Division Chief and Clerkship Director.
After graduating from Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Vallejo, California, she returned to her hometown of El Paso, Texas, to complete OBGYN residency at the Texas Tech University Health Science Center El Paso/Paul L. Foster School of Medicine. She currently holds a Clinical Assistant Professor appointment there practicing General OBGYN with residents, midwives, medical students, nursing students, and midwifery students.
Her interests in academic medicine include OBGYN simulation, mentoring and preparing students and residents for a career in OBGYN, and modeling professionalism within the entire medical team.
Vice President
Muneer Assi, DO
Dr. Muneer Assi is a board-certified internist who received his B.S. in Biology from Baylor University and his D.O. from Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. After completing his residency in Cleveland, Ohio, he returned to his hometown of El Paso, Texas to open his private practice in internal medicine.
Dr. Assi was one of Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine’s founding faculty. He currently sits as the Regional Assistant Dean of the El Paso region, serves as the Division Chief and Clerkship Director for Internal Medicine, and is a clinical preceptor for third and fourth-year medical students. Inaddition to managing a thriving practice, he is the Medical Director for Envision Hospice in El Paso, an exam writer for the National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners, a clinical accreditation surveyor for the Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation, and has been the President of District 11 of the Texas Osteopathic Medical Association since 2003.
His past honors include participating in AOA’s Health Policy Fellowship, the Costin Institute for Osteopathic Medical Educators, and Dr. Michael DeBakey’s Summer Surgery Program. Dr. Assi is a Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic Internists and has received several awards, including the Sierra Providence Health Network Diamond Award for Excellence in Patient Care, Texas Monthly Super Doctor, National Who’s Who, and Outstanding Young Men in America.
In his free time, Dr. Assi enjoys spending time traveling with his wife and three children.
Kate Nixon, DO
Dr. Nixon is an osteopathic neuromusculoskeletal specialist who practices osteopathic medicine in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She is the program director of the MountainView Regional Medical Center ONMM residency program and the Director of Osteopathic Education for the MountainView internal medicine residency program. She earned her Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine in Vallejo, California. She did an osteopathic internship in Pueblo, Colorado. Before attending medical school she was a weapons engineer and has a Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering. As an undergraduate, she minored in Japanese and studied abroad in Kanazawa, Japan. She enjoys hiking, offroading, and spending time outdoors.
Tieneka Baker, DO, FACOG
Dr. Tieneka Baker was raised in Gallup, New Mexico and attended the University of New Mexico for her undergraduate degree. She graduated from Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, California in 2010. From there Dr. Baker completed her OBGYN residency at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center followed by a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS). She then moved from the Washington D.C. area to San Antonio, Texas where she was staff at Brooke Army Medical Center.
After completing her activity duty obligation to the Army Dr. Baker looked for opportunity to return to New Mexico to be near family. In 2020 she accepted a joint position with the University of New Mexico and the New Mexico Veteran Affairs Health Care System as the only MIGS trained physician in the state of New Mexico. As the demands have increased in her role at the VA as the Gynecology Section Chief she has transitioned to a full time position there, but remains faculty at UNM School of Medicine.
Dr. Baker’s ongoing focus has been on complex gynecologic surgical cases and comprehensive care of the female Veterans of New Mexico. Her passions in academic medicine are teaching residents the techniques of surgery and importance of treating the whole-person.
Past President
Brad Scoggins, DO
Dr. Scoggins received his undergraduate degree in forensic science from Baylor University in Waco, Texas, and his doctor of osteopathic medicine from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. He completed a pediatric residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. Scoggins’ background also includes pre-hospital emergency medicine, life support training, and field work as a paramedic, including his most recent employment with Adair County Ambulance in Kirksville.
"Being a parent is hard! I chose to be a pediatrician in order to partner with parents to make the best choices for their children, in times of wellness and when illness strikes. I also firmly believe that children are usually best served by staying close to home when needing to be hospitalized."
Resident Chair
Gregory Powell, DO
Gregory Powell is an alumnus of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Seton Hill Campus. Dr. Powell is now pursuing a career in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation as a resident physician at the University of New Mexico, with highlights in EMG, interventional pain/spine, and general rehabilitation. A member of the UNM PM&R residency wellness committee, they focus on generating positive experiences for residents during a high intensity part of their lives and serve as a university wide wellness model for other UNM programs.
Previous work experiences include over six years in the fitness industry as a personal trainer, strength and conditioning coach, and certified in Functional Movement Screening.
To help medically underserved populations, Dr. Powell spent part of medical school in Togo, West Africa developing treatment plans for individuals with chronic low back pain.
When not at work, Dr. Powell enjoys exploring the natural beauty of New Mexico through birdwatching and hiking.
ABOUT US
The New Mexico Osteopathic Medical Association(NMOMA) has served NM Osteopathic Physicians since 1959. NMOMA Advocates, Educates, and provides networking opportunities
We promote universal acceptance of our diverse and unique provision of high quality health care,to serve our members and the public. Our goals are to encourage outstanding education for students, interns, residents, and osteopathic physicians, to educate the public and the legislature, provide educational opportunities for medical professionals, promote leadership in the health care arena, to increase public awareness of the value and unique skills offered by DOs,to monitor legislative action assuring that DOs have practice rights,to provide a professional network to assist our members in their practice,to help recruit DOs to New Mexico,to provide a fiscally stable state organization to provide services for our members.NMOMA provides Continuing Medical Education twice a year by symposiums giving New Mexico DOs the necessary CME credits and a forum to network with their colleagues. NMOMA provides opportunities for members to develop and advance their leadership skills.