Bio:

Dr. Vaughn is the coordinator of the Geriatrics and Palliative Care program at Gallup Indian Medical Center.

Originally from Philomath Oregon, a small logging town in the Willamette Valley, he obtained his bachelor’s in microbiology from Oregon State University.  In 1999 he moved to NYC to start medical school at Mount Sinai School of Medicine.  It was at Mount Sinai Hospital where Dr. Vaughn first witnessed the specialty of palliative care in action.   Inspired by the tremendous compassion and quality of care the Palliative Care Team provided, he endeavored to make palliative care a part of his practice.  In 2003, Dr. Vaughn returned to the Pacific Northwest to attend the University of Washington’s rural family medicine residency in Boise, ID.  After graduating in 2006, he moved to Gallup NM and has been working at GIMC ever since.  Dr Vaughn practiced broad-spectrum family medicine for 10 years before transitioning to solely pain and palliative care in 2016.  He has been board-certified in hospice and palliative care since 2012.

Dr. Vaughn lives in Pinehaven, NM with his wife and two sons. 

Bio:

Marlene Taha is one of the Patient Advocates at Gallup Indian Medical Center and a member of the Palliative Care Team. Assists the Palliative Care Team with Navajo Language interpretation, assists with family meetings to discuss goals of care, code status, and surrogate decision making. Do this while respecting Navajo patient’s culture and belief systems.

Worked at Gallup Indian Medical Center since 1994. Have been a Patient Advocate at this facility since 2003. Has worked in all areas of the facility before becoming a Patient Advocate. Teaches Navajo Language Interpretation to Gallup Service Unit employees who provide Navajo Language Interpretation for our patients. 

Originally from Rock Springs, New Mexico which is just north of Gallup, New Mexico, reside there with husband and family.