Richard “Ricky” Lovato was born in Alamosa, Colorado to Toribio and Erlinda Lovato. After obtaining his degree and teaching license at Adams State University, Rick’s father Toribio became a high school teacher of biology and chemistry, which eventually led him and his family to jobs in New Mexico. As a young child, Lovato found himself looking through his father’s books that were lying around their house and became intrigued with science. Rick and his younger brother Randy lived in northern New Mexico in their formative years in places like El Rito and Cuba until just before Rick’s tenth birthday, when his parents were lost in a tragic motorcycle accident.
This tragedy led the two brothers to Costilla to be raised by their uncle Demetrio and aunt Casilda Lovato. Rick lived in Costilla and attended Questa High School until ninth grade. “One of the main reasons I left the area was that between school, sports, and a commute, there was little time for anything else. My cousin Alma was living in Albuquerque. She encouraged me to consider attending Menaul High School. I decided to make the move and attended from the tenth grade on. My cousin Alma has been instrumental in my journey.”
There was something that people started noticing in the young Rick. “I remember at a very young age my uncle Demetrio (Dee) saying that I would be the first doctor in the family. From that moment on I knew that was what I wanted to do. I wanted to go to medical school and I wanted to be the first doctor in the family.” Getting the best education became the ultimate goal for Lovato and in 1980 he graduated from Menaul High School as valedictorian. After high school, through scholarships, student loans, and grants, both he and his brother put themselves through college. His brother Randy obtained his degree in architecture and eventually became a project manager at a large construction company at Sandia Labs. Lovato obtained his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from UNM and ultimately obtained his doctorate from UNM-School of Medicine in 1994. Of the various medical fields to pursue, he felt general surgery was his calling.
Up to this point, all of Lovato’s education had been in New Mexico and he was ready to broaden his horizons. He was fortunate to be accepted into a well respected training program at the University of Kentucky. “I left with my car full and a tiny little trailer, thinking I was probably never coming back to New Mexico.”
Fast forward five years and Lovato found himself leaving Kentucky with a wife (Rhonda), daughter (Erika), a dog (Romeo), and large U-Haul, moving back to New Mexico! Lovato had met his wife, Rhonda, at the hospital where she was an ICU nurse. After a few visits to New Mexico she grew to love the “Land of Enchantment.” Rick says, “My wife fell in love with the culture and just like everybody else, she fell in love with the food! I believe she eats chile more often than I do now.”
While Lovato was in surgical residency in Kentucky, one of his uncles back in New Mexico was in need of a kidney transplant. With a little networking from his wife and connections with his uncle’s surgeons, Lovato made his move back to New Mexico and started working for the New Mexico Surgical Associates in 1999, where he worked for the next 15 years. The surgeons Lovato worked with helped him continue to develop surgical skills through training, education, and experience, including kidney transplants, general surgery, and vascular surgery. “For a while I was doing more kidney transplants than any other surgeon in New Mexico. I loved my job, but it was very demanding. I was working 17 days straight with four days off.”
After many years of a demanding schedule, both Rick and Rhonda decided that it was time for a change. “My wife was kind of like my recruiter at the time and a move to Denver made sense for us. I had family from both my father’s and mother’s sides in Denver.” With an impressive resume, experience, and the numerous skill sets Lovato had established, he was able to land a position at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Lakewood, a suburb of Denver. There he continued to do general surgery and some transplants as well.
About eight years ago, Lovato became involved with robotic surgery. This allowed him to specialize in minimally invasive surgery and that has become the majority of his surgical work now. “I do a lot of abdominal reconstruction, and I’m the highest volume general surgeon at St. Anthony’s in this area. I’ve completed over 1,200 robotic surgeries.”
Three years ago, Lovato became the program director for residency at St. Anthony’s Hospital. Never intending to get into academics, Rick found himself enjoying the role, eventually turning the program around and making it a role model for other residency programs within the consortium. Currently, Lovato splits his time between his private practice, doing robotic surgeries, and administrative work as the residency program director.
When asked what a busy surgeon does in the little free time he has, Lovato says that he enjoys spending time with his family, specifically his grandchildren Brooks (5) and Sophia (3). “I love my grandchildren immensely and they are my world. Recently, I introduced my grandson Brooks to golfing. Every Saturday when it’s warm we go golfing together.” Rick also mentioned that he loves watching college basketball and roots for both Kentucky and the Lobos. “March Madness is my favorite time of year!”
Along with his cousin Alma, there were a few others who were influential in his journey. “Dr. Alonzo Atencio, who was from Antonito, Colorado—the dean of student affairs at the School of Medicine—helped me get into various programs in college and medical school. At the University of Kentucky, Dr. Paul Kearney helped mold me as a young surgeon. He was very instrumental during my time in Kentucky. As far as my work ethic goes, that comes from the people of Costilla. Those are hardworking people. My uncle Dee was one of the hardest working men I’ve known. There was not a lazy bone in his body. Laziness was never an option.”
With a truly esteemed career in the medical field and becoming the first doctor in his family and perhaps Costilla, just as predicted by his Uncle Dee, ultimately Lovato feels he was blessed. “I enjoy what I do and I have been very fortunate and blessed with the knowledge that allowed me to become a surgeon. I find it a privilege and honor to be able to take care of people to make them better. People saw potential in me and I was fortunate to be around those who fostered that potential. I am very grateful to my aunt and uncle for taking me and my brother in after we lost our parents.” The advice Lovato offers readers is this, “You don’t need a silver spoon to be successful. If you have the desire and are willing to work hard, the answers to your dreams will be fulfilled.”
