Our Providers

All professionals at Northern New Mexico Gastroenterology maintain the highest levels of accreditation and pursue ongoing education to stay abreast of the latest trends in the medical field. Read on to learn more about our staff's experience and training.

Cornelius P. Dooley, M.D., F.A.C.G., F.A.G.A.

 Specialty: Gastroenterology
Dr. Cornelius Dooley attended University College Dublin School of Medicine for his M.B., B.Ch. and B.A.O. degrees. He completed Internships at Mater Misericordiae Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, and L.A. County-U.S.C. Medical Center in Los Angeles, where he also served as Research Scholar and Fellow in the Section of Gastroenterology. He was awarded his medical degree by thesis from National University of Ireland, and he is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. He is a fellow of the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Gastroenterological Association. He is a member of the American College of Physicians and the New Mexico Medical Society.

Alejandra I. Castillo-Roth, M.D.

 Specialty: Gastroenterology
Dr. Alejandra Castillo-Roth received her medical degree from Luis Razetti Medical School at Central University of Venezuela. She then served as Intern, Resident and then Chief Resident at State University of New York. She also served as a Fellow and Research Fellow in the Division of Digestive Disease and Hepatology there. She completed an Advanced Endoscopy Fellowship at Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina. Dr. Castillo-Roth is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology and is a member of the American Gastroenterology Association, American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American College of Gastroenterology, and the New Mexico Medical Society.

Daniel E. Bujanda M.D.

Specialty: Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine
Dr. Bujanda was born and raised in El Paso, Texas. He completed his medical school and internal medicine residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. He then completed his gastroenterology fellowship at Saint Louis University in 2019. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterology Association, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Dr. Bujanda is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology.

Christopher Atkinson, M.D.

Specialty: Gastroenterology
Dr. Christopher Atkinson obtained a Bachelor’s of Science degree at Duke University prior to completing medical school at Albany Medical College. He completed a Residency in Internal Medicine at Boston University Medical Center, and a Fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of New Mexico. He has also spent an additional two years at the Boston University Photonics Center, and the VA Boston Healthcare System where he worked as a research fellow developing novel modalities for detecting colon and esophageal cancer. Dr. Atkinson is board certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology.

Geoffrey A. Kitzman, M.D.

Specialty: Gastroenterology
Dr. Geoffrey Kitzman received his medical degree and master's degree in public health from Tulane University School of Medicine. He also completed his Internal Medicine Residency at Tulane. He completed his Gastroenterology Fellowship at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. He is board certified in Gastroenterology. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

Tomas Valerio, M.D.

Dr. Tomas Valerio grew up Taos, New Mexico, and studied Biology and Spanish at the University of New Mexico. He spent a semester abroad in Argentina where he learned Spanish and much about a different part of the world. He attended the University of New Mexico School of Medicine where he was a member of AOA. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency in Boston at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. He was selected as Chief Resident and spent his fourth year focusing on education and working as an attending. Upon completion of residency, he returned New Mexico to train as a Fellow in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the University of New Mexico. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and is a member of the American Gastroenterology Association. He is excited to be back and practicing in New Mexico and to be able to serve his community. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys cooking, spending time with his family, and exploring the hiking trails of northern New Mexico.

Dr. Evan K. Daugherty, M.D

 Dr. Evan Daugherty grew up in Kansas City, Missouri, and studied Medicine at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. He completed the second half of medical school at Creighton University in Phoenix, Arizona. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency in Salt Lake City, Utah at the University of Utah. Upon completion of residency, he returned to Creighton University in Omaha to train as a Fellow in Gastroenterology. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and is a member of the American Gastroenterology Association. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys skiing, hiking, cooking, and exploring Northern New Mexico with his wife.

Juddson Baldwin, PA-C

Juddson Baldwin attended college at Grand Valley State University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He has a Bachelor's of Science in Chemistry and a Master's in Physician Assistant Studies. He worked in Primary Care and Internal Medicine, on the Navajo Reservation (Fort Defiance) for 6 years before moving to Santa Fe in 2017.
He is board certified by the NCCPA. He is member of the AAPA. He is licensed to practice as a PA in New Mexico.

Desiree Barela, PA-C

Desiree Barela, PA-C was born and raised in Santa Fe, NM and graduated from St. Mikes High school then attended UNM and obtained a Bachelor's of Science in Biology and Chemistry. She attended the Physician Assistant's Program at UNM. She worked in General Surgery at Christus St. Vincent for 5 years and then took a position with UNM General Surgery and Colorectal Surgery for almost 2 years before joining Northern New Mexico Gastroenterology. She enjoys art, spending time with family/friends and home projects!

Sarah E. Aragon, RN, MSN, ACNP

Sarah grew up in Las Vegas, NM and attended New Mexico State University where she completed her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. After working as an ICU nurse and nurse educator, she attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN and obtained her Master’s degree in Acute Care. Since becoming an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in 2012, she has worked in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Cardiovascular ICU, Thoracic surgery, and Hospitalist medicine. She has served as adjunct faculty for nurse practitioner programs at both Oregon Health and Sciences University and University of New Mexico. She is licensed to practice in New Mexico and is ANCC certified.

Amy Pendergraft FNP-C, LRD

Amy Pendergraft was born and raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After earning a BS in Hotel/Restaurant Administration from Oklahoma State University, she obtained her Registered Dietitian at the University of New Mexico. She moved to Phoenix, Arizona where she completed her BSN at Arizona State University and her Family Nurse Practitioner at the University of Phoenix. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In her free time, she volunteers, explores new foods, and collects local art.