VALUING TRADITIONS AND NEW PATHWAYS IOM of the National Academies Roundtable on the Promotion of Health Equity and the Elimination of Health Disparities Advancing Health Equity for Native American Youth May 6, 2014 Valerie Romero-Leggott Vice Chancellor for Diversity Professor, Family & Community Medicine UNM Health Sciences Center Jaron Kee Undergraduate Junior and BAMD student University of New Mexico
Working with community partners, UNM HSC will help NM make more progress in health and health equity than any other state by 2020
DIVERSITY IN HEALTH CARE The United States is rapidly becoming a more diverse nation where non-white racial and ethnic groups will soon constitute a majority of the US population Diversity prepares effective health providers for NM s multicultural environment Healthcare workforce diversity is a strategy for eliminating health disparities and a key to excellence in health care for our nation
NEW MEXICO
New Mexico s Tribal Communities
GEOGRAPHIC CHALLENGES Population: 2 million Income: $38,000(43/50) Uninsured 23% (49/50) Hispanic 46.3% Native Amer 9.4% African Amer 2.1% 17/33 Frontier Counties 32/33 Counties HPSA/MUA
GROWING OUR OWN DIVERSE HEALTH WORKFORCE
FOUR FUNDAMENTAL PILLARS TO HEALTH NM
INITIATIVES Office for Diversity and Santa Fe Indian School Partnership http://hsc.unm.edu/programs/diversity/ 505-272-2728 Native Health Initiative (NHI) Contact Shannon (shannon@lovingservice.us) for more information Center for Native American Health Indians Into Medicine (InMed) grant For more information please contact Mikaela Crank-Thinn at (Mcrank-thinn@salud.unm.edu Institute for Indigenous Knowledge and Development IIKD@salud.unm.edu 505-925-7471 Four Corners Alliance/AAIP Pre Admissions Workshop (PAW)
Spending 6 weeks in a small rural town during the Clinical Education Program made me aware of the health disparities in small rural New Mexican communities. The biggest impact that is immediately felt in my community is that I am filling a cultural void with Spanish speaking individuals, especially females. Erika Garcia, MD Clovis, NM Graduate of UNM SOM and Family & Community Medicine Residency
PREDICTORS OF RURAL PRACTICE Rural Background Underrepresented minorities Training in rural and underserved areas Graduation from primary care training programs
BA/MD PROGRAM OVERVIEW Partnership degree program between the School of Medicine and the College of Arts & Sciences. Designed to help alleviate New Mexico s physician shortage, especially in our medically-underserved areas. Expands medical school class from 75 students to 103 students. Admits a diverse class of 28 NM high school seniors committed to practicing medicine in New Mexico communities with the greatest need.
CURRICULUM & SUPPORT SERVICES Supportive Learning Environment: -Specialized Academic Advising -Scholarship & Financial Aid -Peer & Faculty Clinician Mentors -Living & Learning Communities -Tutoring & Supplemental Instruction -MCAT Preparatory Course Participation in summer service-learning experiences: In rural communities that are medically-underserved
SUMMER PRACTICUMS Adolescent Diabetes and Hypertension Youth Empowerment Healthcare Resources Available to Native Elders and Youth in McKinley County Farmington Gallup Taos Las Vegas Depression Childhood Obesity Health Needs of Seniors Avoiding Substance Abuse through healthier lifestyle choices Silver City Las Cruces Hobbs Teen Pregnancy Drug & Alcohol Abuse
2006-2013 COHORT DATA 18
2006-2013 BA/MD COHORTS Female 56% Rural 68% NM Resident 99% Male 44% Urban 32% Navajo Nation 1%
2006-2013 BA/MD COHORTS BY ETHNICITY
COHORT ETHNICITY: 8YEAR TREND
COHORT ETHNICITY: 8YEAR TREND
INITIATIVES Memorandum of Agreement with SFIS-2007 SFIS Specialized Admissions Workshops Application navigation Interview guidance Personal statement review Navajo Nation outreach To include AZ
NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS Josh Sheak -MD/PhD-Farmington (Navajo) Julian Benevidez-Udall Scholar-Isleta Pueblo Clint Brayfield-Udall Scholar-Las Vegas (Navajo) Jaron Kee-National Institutes of Health Student Excellence for Research -Window Rock (Navajo), Acknowledged through AISS Outstanding AI Service Award Lisa Antonio-Udall Scholar-Laguna
IDEAS FOR IMPROVEMENT Educational Preparation AP and dual credit Encourage students Ensure access in school districts Standardized testing support Spread awareness of summer enrichment programs Provide scholarships and funding to qualified applicants These experiences have proved beneficial since entering college. Not only has the knowledge I gained from these programs made a difference in my studies, but the study skills and work ethic that was instilled in me has done just as much, if not more. Also being exposed to the rigor and competitive nature of students outside of my high school has encouraged me to academically push myself. Jaron Kee Culture, Identity & Tribal Community Connectedness Continue to foster
SERVING NEW MEXICO..ONE PHYSICIAN AT A TIME http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bifju7vvqdk
Sheep, Ceremony, and Textbooks; A Native Undergraduate s Testimony By: Jaron Kee (Navajo), 3rd Year BA/MD Student
Introduction Crystal, NM Home: Crystal, NM High School: St. Michael Indian School Majors: Biology (BS), Chemistry (BA) Minor: Health, Medicine, and Human Values (HMHV)
Times Before College I. Summer academic enrichment opportunities A. Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, MA B. ASU s Math-Science Honors Program, Tempe, AZ 1. Early involvement with Health A. Shadowing at the local IHS Clinic 2. Participation in ceremonies and upkeep of livestock
Harmonizing My Life 1. Abrupt change 2. Creating a family A. BA/MD B. CAPS C. NHI 3. Paralleled improvement 4. Aspirations A. NIH B. BA/MD s Practicum C. AAIP
Conclusion 1. Continued involvement within my community has allowed me to remain committed to my educational endeavors. 2. My traditional upbringing has had a tremendous influence on my life. 3. Having a network of support has been the most important.
Anyone has the ability to create for themselves a good life from their hands and thoughts now go do it! James D. Kee, Sr. (Navajo)
THANK YOU QUESTIONS?