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Amy Greene, right, director of Communities to Careers, a program under the ��˿������Ƶ Health Sciences Center Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, speaks during the beginning of the Asset Mapping for Health Career Pathways event at ��˿������Ƶ-��˿������Ƶ on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.

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Categories: Students   Faculty   Staff   Community  

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Collaborators identify resources and gaps throughout New Mexico to help improve health care access

By Richard Reyes, Friday, August 30, 2024

GALLUP, N.M. — The University of New Mexico-��˿������Ƶ hosted a collaborative meeting in early August focused on improving health career pathways and ensuring New Mexico communities have the health care resources and services they need.

The and organized an Asset Mapping for Health Career Pathways event on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in the Student Services & Technology Center at the ��˿������Ƶ-��˿������Ƶ branch campus.

The asset mapping event was a continuation of the Health Sciences DEI office’s ongoing commitment to health career pathways and workforce development.

Due to an internet outage, only in-person attendance was possible, but the room was filled with people from various organizations who wanted to join the conversation and contribute their knowledge and perspective.

��˿������Ƶ-��˿������Ƶ Chancellor Dr. Sabrina Ezzell opened the meeting with a warm welcome to everyone and a reading of the branch campus’ Land Acknowledgement.

��˿������Ƶ-��˿������Ƶ Nursing Director Jonathan Lumibao shared information about the branch campus’ nursing program, which includes a certified nurse assistant certificate, an associate degree in nursing, and a Bachelor of Science in nursing. It now also includes a high school licensed practical nurse program, as of the Fall 2024 semester.

The LPN program is part of ��˿������Ƶ-��˿������Ƶ’s recent partnership with the local school district, ��˿������Ƶ-McKinley County Schools, to provide more health career pathways for high school students. The program encourages more students to pursue careers in health care related fields.

“We are in dire need of not only nurses with associate degrees, but bachelor’s degrees as well,” Lumibao said. “Studies show that nurses with higher degrees have better health outcomes among their patients.”

Later in the meeting, participants broke out into six groups for an asset mapping activity. Each group looked at different regions of the state and identified the health care resources and individuals they know about in those areas.

“What we’re concerned about here is where are the voids,” said Dr. Chenoa Bah Stilwell-Jensen, senior projects manager with the ��˿������Ƶ HSC Office of the Executive Vice President. “Where are the gaps? Where are the places that need these programs? How can we honor existing communities that need increased funding support and increased policy support?”

Amy Greene, the director of , a program under the ��˿������Ƶ Health Sciences DEI office, said all the guidance and resources that were shared during the meeting would be incorporated into a digital map, so people around the state will be able to go online and locate the information.

The outcome of the asset mapping will also be shared during the in Albuquerque in October.

“I do appreciate your support today in making this as robust and quality as possible,” Greene said.

Dr. Valerie Romero-Leggott, the vice president and executive diversity, equity and inclusion officer for the ��˿������Ƶ Health Sciences Center, participates in an asset mapping activity at ��˿������Ƶ-��˿������Ƶ on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.