Serving and empowering our community through medical forensic services
The Speakers
include dynamic presenters such as Survivor Leaders, Victim Family Members, representatives from the International Association of Forensic Nursing, and local leaders from Law Enforcement, SANE, First National Community Health and the Crime Lab.
Rachel D. Fischer is a survivor leader and trailblazer in the fight against human trafficking. A registered ER and forensic nurse specializing in adult and pediatric care, she is also a licensed private investigator and personal protection officer. Rachel’s lived experience fuels her passionate advocacy and training for anti-trafficking professionals. Featured in the documentary Surviving Sex Trafficking, she collaborates with agencies worldwide, conducts undercover missions, and helps recover missing children.
An expert witness in state and federal courts, Rachel provides critical insights on domestic violence, trafficking, and forensic nursing. As a consultant, she develops anti-trafficking strategies, trains law enforcement on investigative techniques, and educates healthcare professionals and first responders on identifying victims. Her work strengthens communities, law enforcement, and judicial systems in the fight against modern slavery.
Tracy is a proud Fort Worth native and University of Oklahoma graduate in Elementary Education. Over the years, she has embraced roles as a teacher, realtor, and mission coordinator, but being a mom has always been her most cherished job. Inspired by her daughter Molly Jane, whose life and loss led her to found Project Beloved, Tracy has become a passionate advocate for sexual assault survivors. Her work has helped drive important legislative changes in Texas including the passage of Molly Jane’s Law which mandates the use of ViCAP and HB 4628 which establishes a framework with timelines when there is a CODIS hit. In 2022, Tracy was honored with the Ignite Award by the Conference on Crimes Against Women. Tracy remains dedicated to using her story to spark change and honor her daughter’s legacy. She believes we can do better. We must.
Sarah Tafoya is a highly skilled forensic nurse born and raised in Albuquerque, with seventeen years of nursing experience. She holds an Associate’s, a Bachelor’s, and a Master’s in the Science of Nursing with a specializing in Forensic Nursing. Sarah is nationally board-certified as a Certified Emergency Nurse (CEN) and a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner for Adults and Adolescents (SANE-A). Her extensive career has been primarily in emergency and trauma nursing at Level 1 trauma center emergency departments across the country. For the past four years, Sarah has also been dedicated to her role as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, initially with the Forensic Assessment Consultation Team (FACT) in Northern Virginia and more recently with the Albuquerque SANE Collaborative. In her current roles as the Assistant SANE Director, Community Outreach Coordinator, and member of the Leadership Team at Albuquerque SANE, Sarah is committed to advancing forensic nursing practices with a strong focus on supporting communities of color. She works to address the unique healthcare needs of diverse populations, emphasizing an intersectional approach to care that acknowledges the complexities of race, culture, and identity. Through her leadership, Sarah strives to create more inclusive, equitable, and culturally sensitive healthcare systems that serve marginalized communities.
Alanna Williams, APD Crime Lab Forensic Scientist & Supervisor, DNA Section
Alanna Williams is a Forensic Scientist and Supervisor in the DNA section of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) Crime Lab. She began her career in forensic science in 2005 and has since accumulated over 20 years of experience in the field, witnessing the evolution of forensic techniques and the increasing role of DNA evidence in criminal investigations. Throughout her career she has worked on numerous high-profile cases. Three of which being featured in different Dateline episodes. Alanna appeared in one of these episodes, highlighting her work on the case.
In 2018, Alanna played a key role in the APD Crime Lab’s project to clear the sexual assault kit (SAEK) backlog. The project was completed in early 2022, marking a major milestone for the DNA lab. Additionally, the lab has remained committed to maintaining a 90-day turnaround time for SAEKs in Bernalillo County, successfully preventing the creation of a new backlog.
Outside of her professional accomplishments, Alanna enjoys spending quality time with her family and supporting her boys as they play sports.
Genevieve Chavez is from the Pueblo of Santa Ana in New Mexico. She is a mother of four wonderful daughters, of whom she is very proud, and a grandmother of ten. She enjoys being the number one supporter of her daughters, cheering and rooting for them as they take on life’s challenges. Her grandchildren hold a special place in her heart—there are not quite enough words to describe her love for them. They are her world, her strength, and her happiness. For that reason, she continues the work she does.
She is the Program Manager for the Education and Advocacy against Sex Trafficking (EAST) Program at First Nations Community Healthsource (FNCH) in Albuquerque, NM.
She joined the First Nations EAST Program in October 2020, bringing approximately 17 years of direct client care experience. Over the years, she has gained expertise in various aspects of client care, working with individuals of diverse backgrounds, genders, and ages. Many years ago, she began her career at the Albuquerque Rape Crisis Center as a Victim Advocate. She later worked at All Faiths Receiving Home as a Client Intake Coordinator, Business Manager, and Finance Assistant. After taking a four-year break from direct client care to work for her Pueblo in Santa Ana, she returned to the field as a Program Manager at Haven House Domestic Violence Shelter before joining FNCH.
The last four years have provided her with extensive experience working directly with human trafficking survivors. This line of work requires compassion, understanding, and a willingness to go the extra mile to provide the best services possible to those in need. Each day, alongside her Human Trafficking Case Managers, she actively seeks resources to support victims and survivors, striving to make a meaningful difference in their lives.
She is currently a member of the Department of Justice NM Murdered and Missing Indigenous People (MMIP) Task Force, the NM Human Trafficking Task Force, and the Sex Trafficking Allied Response Team (START). With 21 years of direct client care experience, she has developed a deep sense of compassion, knowledge, and understanding for the people she serves, recognizing that they are the true educators in this work.
