What inspired you to join Project ECHO?
I was invited to give a diabetes talk for the long-running Hepatitis C ECHO program and, upon observing a session in action, was struck by how collegial and interactive the intervention was. The specialists and rural primary care providers all seemed to know one another, and it almost seemed like the learners were specialists themselves! It was clear that, as a learning model, ECHO could significantly impact community health, compared to seeing patients individually in my clinic.
How does your background prepare you for this role?
As a diabetes specialist at an academic medical center, receiving referrals from all over the state and sometimes beyond, it is disheartening to see patients wait several months for their appointment with me, when we know from numerous studies that early intervention is key to preventing all of the complications of diabetes. In reality, most people with diabetes can receive the care they need in the communities where they live, by professionals they know and trust rather than be referred to a specialist. Project ECHO makes this possible by engaging rural primary care providers in a virtual community of practice. Medical education doesn’t need to end with completion of medical school and residency. I learn something new with each virtual session, and the collaborative problem-solving involved when we discuss actual patients with diabetes makes it fun!
What’s one moment at ECHO you’re especially proud of?
The goal of our diabetes ECHO program is to foster an environment where anyone with diabetes, no matter how rural the community is where they live, can receive diabetes care that is equal in quality to the care they would receive if they were referred to a specialist. When we looked at clinical outcomes, we were very excited to find that those cared for by rural ECHO providers did just as well, if not better, than the patients at the specialist clinic! I’m proud of the diabetes workforce in rural New Mexico that connects with us every week through Project ECHO.
What excites you most about the future of ECHO?
There is so much to be excited about when you look at all the different ways that the ECHO Model is being used around the world. It started as an intervention to improve access to high quality health care, and now we are seeing ECHO programs that are elevating education, public safety, agriculture, water management, and the list goes on. However, my “biased” answer would be that I would love to see more diabetes ECHO programs, particularly in the Global South where diabetes rates are projected to skyrocket in the coming years – they already are!
What do you enjoy outside of work?
When I’m not at work, I am a music nut – I love guitar and all types of music. I also enjoy karate and rock climbing. And, one of my favorite pastimes is a videogame date with the kids!
To connect with Dr. Bouchonville, email the Project ECHO Communications Team. To join the New Mexico Endocrinology ECHO Program, or any other ECHO programs, register on iECHO.org, Project ECHO’s proprietary telementoring platform.
Featured Image: Dr. Bouchonville in PLACE NAME in July 2025. Photo Credit: Rose Bouchonville.