Team Taos: Growing Our Own, Strengthening Our Community
Holy Cross Medical Center is committed to building a strong, stable workforce by prioritizing the people who know Taos best — the individuals who call this community home. Team Taos is our ongoing initiative to recruit and retain local talent, reduce reliance on traveling staff, and create long-term career pathways across every department of the hospital.
Originally launched in 2023 to address the nationwide nursing shortage, Team Taos has already made a substantial impact. Through focused recruitment efforts, Holy Cross successfully hired 28 full-time nurses — surpassing our initial goal — and reduced traveling nurse positions by half. Encouraged by this momentum, Team Taos has expanded beyond nursing to include clinical, administrative, and support roles throughout the hospital, from dietary and registration to our clinics and specialty departments.
At the heart of this effort is our dedicated HR team: Vivian Santistevan, HR Director; HR Generalists Amanda Cortez-Romero, Vanessa Garcia, Anna Lucero, and Susan Shivas. Nearly all born and raised in Taos County, the team brings deep roots, cultural understanding, and a shared passion for serving our community. Their hometown pride shapes every interaction, ensuring that applicants and employees feel welcomed, supported, and valued.
Team Taos focuses on three key goals:
- Encourage former employees and local residents to bring their skills back to Holy Cross Hospital.
- Offer long-term opportunities to current traveling professionals who want to make Taos their permanent home.
- Recruit and nurture emerging local talent, including UNM-Taos Nursing students and individuals pursuing healthcare careers.
With a people-first approach, the HR department is committed not only to hiring locally, but also to supporting career advancement from within the organization. Holy Cross believes in “growing our own” — helping employees build long, fulfilling careers through continued education, training, and leadership development.
As Holy Cross Medical Center continues to expand, we welcome skilled and dedicated individuals to explore employment opportunities in all departments. Whether you’re an experienced professional, a recent graduate, or someone ready to begin a new path in healthcare, Holy Cross is here to support your journey.
For more information about employment opportunities view the full list of job openings or contact our HR team at (575) 751-5782.
Join Team Taos — and help shape the future of healthcare in our community.