Carlos R Gonzales

Biography

Carlos R. Gonzales, M.D., FAAFP, resides in Nogales and Tucson, Arizona. He is the Assistant Dean for Medical Student Education and Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine (FCM) at the University of Arizona-Tucson, College of Medicine. As Assistant Dean, he is the director of two important UA COM- Tucson programs: the Rural Health Professions Program (RHPP) and the Commitment to Underserved Peoples (CUP) volunteer program. Also, he is in charge of the two Distinction Tacks associated with these programs: the Rural Health Distinction Track and the Community Service Distinction Track. Another program he is intimately involved with is the Societies Learning Communities, where he is 1 of 20 Mentors for medical students at the UA COM- Tucson; and he is also the mentor for the Pre- Medical Admissions Program (P-MAP), our post-baccalaureate program. Dr. Gonzales is an Adviser on Traditional Indian and Western Medicine Collaboration at the College of Medicine. He was a Family Physician and the Medical Director at the El Rio Neighborhood Health Center for 8 years; and was a rural Family Physician in Patagonia, AZ for 13 years. Dr. Gonzales was a member of the United States-Mexico Border Health Commission. In 1997, he was named Arizona Family Physician of the Year. He was on the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Board of Directors. He is a Past-President of the Arizona Academy of Family Physicians (AzAFP). In addition, he has been initiated into the Association of American Indian Physicians. Dr. Gonzales received his B.A. from Carleton College in Northfield, MN in 1977 and his M.D. from the University of Arizona, College of Medicine in Tucson, AZ in 1981. He completed a Family Medicine Residency at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, NM in 1984. He also completed Fellowships in Adolescent Medicine from the University of New Mexico's Department of FCM in 1985, and in Faculty Development from the University of Arizona's Department of FCM in 1986. Carlos is a sixth generation Tucsonan of Yaqui and Mexican descent who grew up on Tucson's southside, and is one of the first high school graduates in his family. Dr. Gonzales is married to Debbie, and has four children, Michael, Evelinda, Carlos Alejandro, and Felip. He also participates in the Traditional Easter Ceremonies at the New Pascua Yaqui Pueblo in Tucson. He also leads Yaqui-Inipi Way Sweat Lodge Ceremonies.

Degrees

• M.D. Allopathic Medical Practice
• University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona, United States
• B.A. Biology
• Craleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, United States

Awards

• Legendary Rural Health Professions Program Director Award,
• Arizona Rural Health Association, Summer 2022
• Faculty Excellence in Diversity Equity and Inclusion Award
• University of Arizona, College of Medicine Dean of the COM, Summer 2021
• Med-Start Lifetime Achievement Award
• University of Arizona Med-Start program, Summer 2019
• Dean’s List for Excellence in Teaching Years 3 and 4
• University of Arizona, College of Medicine,, Fall 2018
• Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition
• U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Raul Grijalva, Spring 2017
• Pueblo High School Inaugral Warrior Achievement Hall of Fame
• Pueblo High School Alumni Foundation Board, Fall 2015