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David R. Brown
MD
After graduating from the University of Missouri – Columbia with a BA in chemistry (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa), Dr. Brown received his medical degree from the University of Missouri – Columbia School of Medicine (cum laude). He then completed his residency at University of Texas Southwestern Health Science Center in Dallas, Texas. He is board certified in otolaryngology – head and neck surgery and a Fellow in American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy.
As a founding member of Southwestern Ear, Nose & Throat Associates, Dr. Brown had an active ear, nose, throat and allergy practice until 2018 when Christus St. Vincent acquired the practice. Dr. Brown is now an independent non-surgical ear, nose and throat physician with an emphasis in allergy, hearing and balance medicine. He serves our community in a caring private medical service.
Dr. Brown and his family have lived in Santa Fe, NM since 1987. Both of his children were born at St. Vincent Hospital and grew up in Santa Fe and are now each pursuing doctorate degrees. He and his wife, Leigh Ann, enjoy skiing, hiking and participating in a wide variety of Santa Fe activities.
Education & Training
- University of Missouri – Columbia: Phi Beta Kappa, Magna Cum Laude
- University of Missouri – Columbia School of Medicine: Cum Laude
- University of Texas – Southwestern Health Science Center – Dallas
- American Academy of Physician Executives
Board Certifications
- American Academy of Otorhinolaryngology
- American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy
David R. Brown
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Nizhoni Denipah
MD
Dr. Nizhoni Denipah is a board-certified otolaryngologist with over 13 years of experience delivering high-level care in disorders of the ear, nose and throat. Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, she provides precise, evidence-based care at Santa Fe ENT with a direct, patient-centered approach focused on clarity, access and results.
Born and raised in Santa Fe, Dr. Denipah comes from a family deeply rooted in community, culture and the arts. Her family has played a meaningful role in the cultural landscape of New Mexico—her late brother, Nakotah LaRance, her sister, Shandien Sonwai LaRance, and her daughter, Shadé-Phea Young, are renowned hoop dancers who, alongside her father, Steve LaRance, helped bring hoop dance back to the state and community. These cultural foundations, along with the teachings of her mother, Marian Denipah-LaRance—who instilled humility, kindness, resilience and a love of life—continue to shape both her personal and professional life. She also carries forward a legacy of caregiving and service inspired by her grandmother, Natalie Denipah, a nurse and educator in Northern New Mexico.
A defining element of Dr. Denipah’s approach to medicine is the integration of art and science. She supported herself through college by creating jewelry —and an experience that refined her hand-eye coordination and precision, which now define her surgical practice. This perspective—combined with her academic and surgical training—continues to inform her work as a physician, enhancing her precision, attention to detail and ability to approach complex anatomical problems with clarity and intention.
As a physician of Navajo, Ohkay Owingeh, Hopi and Assiniboine heritage, Dr. Denipah brings a broader perspective to health and healing, grounded in cultural teachings. She carries a deep respect for Indigenous knowledge and traditional healing practices. This perspective shapes her patient care philosophy, emphasizing respect, connection and a deeper understanding of each patient’s experience.
Dr. Denipah serves on the board of the Association of American Indian Physicians and the Native American Advised Fund. She has also contributed to national efforts through her work with the American Medical Association, the Indigenous School of Medicine, the Native American Surgical Society and We Are Healers.
Education & Training
- University of Arizona — Master of Science in Physiological Sciences
- University of New Mexico School of Medicine — Doctor of Medicine
- University of New Mexico Hospital — Residency in Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
Nizhoni Denipah
