Medical Director – Gateway Medical Sobering, Bernalillo County, MD
About James
Dr. James Besante is a board-certified internist and addiction medicine specialist who helped open the Horizon Medical Sobering Facility in Bernalillo County, the first sobering center in New Mexico.
A native New Mexican, Dr. Besante has focused his career on expanding access to evidence-based treatment and strengthening crisis and stabilization pathways for individuals with substance use disorders. He currently serves as Chief Medical Officer of the Santa Fe Recovery Center, where he oversees integrated medical and behavioral health services across multiple campuses.
He received his medical degree from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and completed internal medicine residency at Mount Auburn Hospital and addiction medicine fellowship training at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
In 2022, Dr. Besante received the Inspirational Young Alumnus Award from the University of New Mexico Alumni Association for emerging leadership in addiction medicine and community health.
Areas of Focus
Addiction medicine
Board-certified internist and addiction medicine specialist expanding access to evidence-based treatment.
Sobering center development
Helped open the Horizon Medical Sobering Facility in Bernalillo County, the first sobering center in New Mexico.
Crisis and stabilization
Strengthening crisis and stabilization pathways for individuals with substance use disorders.
Education & Credentials
- Doctor of Medicine (MD) — University of New Mexico School of Medicine
- Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine
- Internal Medicine residency — Mount Auburn Hospital
- Addiction Medicine fellowship — Mount Sinai Hospital, New York City
- Inspirational Young Alumnus Award, University of New Mexico Alumni Association (2022)
Where James Works
New Mexico Medical Sobering Center
Medical sobering in Bernalillo County, New Mexico.
Everyone is welcome here
Horizon Treatment Services provides substance use and co-occurring mental health care across the Bay Area. Most services are no-cost or covered by Medi-Cal for those who qualify.