About the UNM Center for Native American Health

Jessica and SemanaThe UNM Center for Native American Health (CNAH) at the University of New Mexico's Health Sciences Center (UNMHSC) was established in 2002 to build and strengthen health alliances between Native American communities and the University, for the overall purpose of improving Native American health in New Mexico. CNAH has established strong networks with tribal communities, based on principles of consultation and collaboration in all aspects of public health policy, research and service provision. CNAH has also been a vigorous advocate of tribal and Indigenous values and perspectives within UNM and HSC. CNAH’s cross-cutting theme of Native American student development in the health professions is the responsibility of CNAH’s all Indian faculty and staff who collectively create a physically, culturally, socially and academically supportive student environment.

In 2004, CNAH received state legislative funding and matching institutional funds to build and strengthen health alliances between Native American and UNM communities to improve Native American health in NM. The CNAH leverages UNMHSC resources to address the health priority needs of NM’s 22 tribes and off-reservation Native American communities. The approximately 200,000 Native Americans in NM comprise 10% of the state’s population. CNAH builds sustainable relationships with area tribes, IHS, NM State agencies, Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board (AAIHB) and off-reservation communities.

CNAH’s goal is to create measurable improvements in the health of Native American communities by:

  1. Developing partnerships with NM’s 22 tribes and off-reservation AI communities to address their identified health issues
  2. Addressing the major NM AI health disparities through research, education and training
  3. Delivering an AI student recruitment and retention program at UNMHSC that is unique to the needs of Native American students
  4. Enhancing the research support of Native American communities
  5. Communicating information to NM tribes, tribal organizations and others on issues related to Indian health

Background

The University of New Mexico is the state’s principal education and research institution, supported by New Mexico (NM) legislative dollars and is located in Albuquerque, NM. UNM is a federally designated Minority-Serving Institution with an enrollment of 26,098 students, of which 1,626 (6%) are American Indian (AI). The UNMHSC enrollment is 1,860, of which about 6% are AI. The UNMHSC, adjacent to the central UNM campus was established to improve the health of New Mexicans by providing critically needed health care services, research, and programs. UNMHSC is NM’s principal education, clinical and research institution and houses the state’s only School of Medicine (SOM) and College of Pharmacy. UNMHSC includes the College of Nursing, Masters in Public Health, Physician Assistant, Dental Hygiene, Occupational and Physical Therapy, and Medical Laboratory Sciences programs.

The UNMSOM is internationally recognized for reducing health disparities and its education excellence in rural and primary care. It ranks 2nd nationally for best SOM in rural medicine. This is achieved through delivery of community-based, integrated health care to indigent, minority communities and the involvement of students in these efforts. The UNMSOM currently has a total of 16 (5%) Native American medical students, including 9 first year Native American medical students (12%) for the class of 2013, the largest class ever of AI medical students.

The UNMSOM Family Medicine (FM) Residency program provides a clinical training site for 6 FM residents at the Albuquerque Indian Health Center (IHS), currently 2 are Native American. This program is an excellent recruitment tool for FM physicians to work in rural IHS sites once theirresidency is completed. Approximately 50% of these FM residents are Native American and about 70% work at IHS sites.