MARK BJORKLUND
May 31, 1954 - June 6, 2025
Mark was born on May 31, 1954, in Los Alamos, NM, the son of Los Alamos National Lab chemist Carl and his wife Marilyn Bjorklund.
Mark attended Aspen Elementary School, growing up in a neighborhood with future running elites. He ran cross country and track in high school, training on the many mountain trails that surround Los Alamos with his fellow XC team and his sister. A common weekend run was to start from home and run up to Camp May before breakfast. Sometimes Marilyn and Carl would meet them with breakfast.
After graduating from Los Alamos High School in 1972, Mark attended the University of New Mexico, where he ran cross country for UNM on scholarship and double-majored in Biology and Chemistry. He received his Doctorate in Medicine from UNM Medical School and completed a residency in Family Medicine in Hershey, PA, at Penn State's College of Medicine. He earned extra income during his residency by moonlighting at emergency rooms near Hershey.
After residency, he worked eight years in emergency medicine. He then returned to northern New Mexico for a career in Family Medicine at Health Centers of Northern NM, later named El Centro Family Health. Providing health care to the communities in northern NM was the fulfillment of a longtime desire to serve the region.
Growing up in the relative wealth and privilege of Los Alamos, he had an awareness that things were quite different in the surrounding communities. He wanted to serve and give back to New Mexico. After 30 years as a doctor in New Mexico-and many as Chief Clinical Officer at El Centro Family Health-Mark accomplished his goal.
He was recognized by his peers as NM Family Medicine Provider of the Year in 2018. He provided leadership at Española Hospital, serving on review committees. He also helped start a residency program in Family Medicine in the valley to bring new doctors to northern NM. Many of his former patients and colleagues became lifelong friends. In the final months during his battle with cancer, many of them came by to say "thank you," wanting to give back to the doctor who made a real difference in their lives-not just with medical knowledge and prescriptions, but with heartfelt care and compassion.
In addition to his career in medicine, Mark was a beloved husband, father, brother, and grandfather. He was also a photographer, naturalist (especially fond of birds, dragonflies, damselflies, wildflowers, and plants), runner, mountain climber, and cherished friend to many.
Mark is survived by his wife of 45 years, Heidi Holm Bjorklund; children: Renee Johnson (Morgan) and David Bjorklund (Chloe); siblings Eric Bjorklund (Kathy) and Lynn Bjorklund; and eight grandchildren: Peyton, Tristan, Kieran, Connor, Brooklyn, and Wyatt Johnson, and Ian and Aria Bjorklund.
He is preceded in death by his daughters, Rachel and Erin Bjorklund, and his parents, Carl and Marilyn Bjorklund.
Mark and Heidi would like to thank all the family and friends who provided prayer and support.
Mark was loved and will be missed by everyone.
The family is grateful for any comments and stories, which can be left on the website: www.RiveraFamilyFuneralHome.com
His Celebration of Life will be held on July 26th at 2PM at the United Church of Los Alamos, with a reception to follow.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Santa Fe New Mexican from Jun. 28 to Jun. 29, 2025.

Memories and Condolences
for MARK BJORKLUND

Sponsored by Rivera Family Funerals & Cremations of Los Alamos.

5 Entries

Margaret Franke

July 19, 2025

Dr Bj meant much to those of us who lived in the villages of northern New Mexico. He had time to listen and he listened with compassion.

Tom Grothus & Wendy Slotboom

Planted Trees

Julian Espinoza

July 3, 2025

I met Dr. Bjorklund in the early 90's while working in the Espanola Valley in a Healthcare setting. He practiced and provided services to many who were and continue to be challenged with many barriers in accessing basic medical needs. He demonstrated his understanding for social determinants of health. He will be missed. My heart felt condolences to his family and friends.

Ron Voorhees

June 30, 2025

I knew Mark initially from running on the LAHS cross-country team. Well, I ran behind him - he was consistently near the top of the team. I later knew him as a dorm neighbor and fellow student at UNM. We spent many hours working out organic chemistry issues together. He even made himself a chalkboard for his dorm room to help study.

We were classmates in medical school, and shared the experience of learning anatomy and physiology and all else, and also shared taking time off after basic sciences to explore our place in the world.
Mark was always inquisitive and wanting to understand. He was a truly gentle soul and always sought to be helpful.
I was sorry to lose touch with Mark for many years while we were both working, only to finally reconnect when he had become ill. I was deeply moved by his dedication to serving the people of northern New Mexico. I was also moved by the thoughtful ways in which he approached his own life, his family, and how he responded fully to his own illness.

Godspeed, Mark - you had a rich life, with joy and sorrow but especially full of commitment and meaning. I will miss you.

Laurie A Martinez

June 29, 2025

WOW.........
Mark sounds like he was an AMAZING individual. I did not know Mark, however, reading his many accomplishments and his efforts for New Mexico, I would have loved meeting him. May he RIP and may his family be comforted at this difficult time. We definitely need more "Marks" in this world!

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