DR. LAURA CHANCHIEN PARAJÓN, MD

Dr. Laura Parajón is a family physician, former medical missionary with International Ministries, and public health leader whose career has been shaped by a call to serve. She co-founded AMOS Health and Hope with her husband, David, and spent nearly 20 years in rural Nicaragua walking alongside communities to improve maternal and child health, build community-based primary care, and train local leaders. Working in partnership with churches and community health workers, she sought to bring practical expressions of Christ’s love through healthcare, prevention, and hope.

Today, Dr. Parajón serves as Director of the Center for Health Protection at the New Mexico Department of Health, where she helps lead efforts to monitor illnesses, understand health trends, and respond when communities face health threats. She previously served in senior leadership at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), guiding national efforts to prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. She has also served as the Deputy Cabinet Secretary and State Health Officer for New Mexico and as Associate Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of New Mexico.

Dr. Parajón earned her medical and public health degrees from the University of New Mexico and is board certified in Family Medicine. Throughout her journey, she has remained committed to living out her faith through compassionate service and practical action — strengthening health, supporting families, and helping communities thrive.