A New Research Opprotunity

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Shari's Corner

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June 25, 2007
Volume 1, Issue 1

by Casey Burnett

Dr. Marie Lobo, PhD, RN, FAAN, and Professor here at UNM has, as Principal Investigator, dedicated her time and knowledge to creating a proposal for developing a concentration in Health Policy within our current Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing program. The goal of the program is to add additional knowledgeable leaders with Native American and Hispanic backgrounds to guide the future direction of national health policy. A proposal is being reviewed by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in order to make this possibility a reality. The Health Policy experts in nursing will participate as members of the RWJF Center for Health Policy at UNM. College of Nursing Faculty would serve in the administrative structure of the Center, including participating as a member of the Steering and Operations Committees. Students, as well, would be involved in the center, by taking Center courses as their electives, as those courses will support their research in health policy issues... Center faculty would be included on their disertation committees, as well.

We took a moment to interview Dr. Lobo on the proposal. The following are a few comments to help inform people about the RWJ Proposal and its many possible assets to the community as a whole.

Q: What type of opportunities would this program open up for our students and faculty?

Dr. Lobo: “This program will open up opportunities for interdisciplinary courses, as well as research. It will broaden the way nurses look at Health Policy issues by incorporating diverse ideas.”

Q: How will this be accomplished?

Dr. Lobo: “Our goal is to hire a Senior Faculty member with experience in Health Policy. We are currently seeking funding for an endowed chair in Health Policy. The grant from RWJF will provide some research support for this faculty member. This will be very helpful in encouraging a senior faculty member to move to UNM. Three students will be designated each year as health policy scholars. They will receive full tuition, a stipend, additional support for conferences and for their dissertations. By year three of the grant we plan to have post doctoral fellows participating in the program. Throughout New Mexico, as well as other areas of the country, Native American and Hispanic populations are severely underrepresented within this field. Recruiting qualified Native American and Hispanic students, with excellent potential for career commitment to health policy, is at the core of this program.

Q: In what ways could recruiting and graduating Native American and Hispanic students benefit their communities?

Dr. Lobo: “You have to have the background to even be at the table. Additional education, with a focus in Health Policy, will allow our students to have the knowledge and information needed to be able to influence Health Policy at the state and national level.”

Q: If these students are provided with the necessary tools for entrance / completion of this program, do you think more candidates for the program will step forward?

Dr. Lobo: “Yes. It is our responsibility to prepare all students for Graduate School. We need to target recruitment efforts at groups less represented in Graduate School.”

Q: How do you intend to persuade these students?

Dr. Lobo: “We encourage high school students to attend college in order to obtain their Bachelor’s Degree. Once in college, we make all efforts to convince students to complete their Masters and Doctoral Degrees.” We have arranged for Dr. Antonia M. Villaruel, PhD, RN, FAAN, to visit as our ‘07 - ’08 Carter Fleck Professor. With a background in Health Policy, as well as recognition as being a leader among Hispanic nurses, Dr. Villaruel will be there to consult with faculty on the development of the courses for the health policy concentration in the doctoral program. She will also be available by appointment for both students and faculty for consultations and leadership as we embark into this new territory.

Thanks for assistance with this proposal go to: Karen L. Carlson, PhD, RN, Professor and Interim Dean; Susan Fox, PhD, RN, Senior Associate Dean; Louise Kahn, MSN, PNP, RN, Visiting Clinical Instructor; Cindy Mendelson, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, Coordinator; Charlene Porsild, Program Director, RWJF Health Policy Center; Rosemary Gregory, Director of Development and Alumni Relations; and Brian Ibson, UNM Development.