From the state of border health in southern New Mexico to pharmacy-based preventative programs for heart disease and diabetes and many more community health initiatives that will help all New Mexicans thrive, this year’s Health Equity Summit will bring together the voices of wisdom from communities and the state’s health care providers. This community gathering will bring forth the sharing of resources, research, and innovative practices to illuminate health equity in action. We celebrate the diverse cultures and of our state while learning about the challenges and barriers while creating an inclusive and compassionate community of thought partners, policy advocates, public health professionals, clinical providers, health administration, community health representatives and community health workers as they serve the wellbeing of children, families and community members.
The 2024 Health Equity Summit is scheduled for Oct. 28-29th. The schedule of the Summit will include:
Registration: 10:00am-1:00pm
Plenary Session: 1:00-5:00pm
Evening Reception: 5:30-7:30pm
Registration
Panel: Empowering Community Health in New Mexico
The importance in engaging families in mental health and addiction services, through a cultural lens, Brian Serna, LPCC, LADAC, Serna Solutions LLC
Statewide County and Tribal Health Councils & Share New Mexico: Valeria Alarcón Executive Director, New Mexico Alliance of Health Councils, and Gerilyn Antonio, Tribal Liaison, New Mexico Alliance of Health Councils
Break
Break out sessions (1 hour and 20 min)
Exploring Resources for New Mexico’s Pre-Health Students – Amy K. Greene, MPA, PMP, Director, Communities to Careers, Sr. Program Manager, NM Workforce Diversity Center of Excellence, UNM Health Sciences Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Roberta Zayas, MCRP, MPA, Program Manager, UNM Health Sciences Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Luis Carlos Muñoz, Program Specialist, UNM Health Sciences Center Office for Diversity, Equity & Inclusion; Laura Burton, PhD, Associate Director, Business Operations and Director, Pre-Health Scholars Certificate Program, UNM Health Sciences Rio Rancho Campus
Border Health, Mary Alice Scott, PhD, NMSU, Dept Anthropology, Southern Family Medicine Residency in Las Cruces
Project ECHO Diabetes – Matt Bouchanville, MD and W. David Selvage, MHS, PA-C, Strategic Support, Project ECHO
Gallup Cultural Center: Connecting Community and Culture Through Art and 100% Thrives Initiative– Sandra Freeland, Educational Professional Development, Owner, Indigenous Cultural Advisors, Gallup-McKinley County
County and Tribal Health Councils - Valeria Alarcón Executive Director, New Mexico Alliance of Health Councils, and Gerilyn Antonio, Tribal Liaison, New Mexico Alliance of Health Councils Housing Justice in New Mexico– Eirena Begay, MCHA Community Housing Justice Community Organizer; Monet Silva, Executive Director, New Mexico Colation to End Homelessness; Anita Cordova, Board President, Albuquerque Affordable Housing Coalition; Renia Ehrenfeucht, PhD, MUP, Professor, Community + Regional Planning, Associate Dean for Research, School of Architecture and Planning, The University of New Mexico; Michaele Pride, Assoc. AIA, NOMA, Professor of Architecture, Associate Dean for Student Equity and Success , Director of DPAC (UNM Design and Planning Assistance Center), Co-convener of the UNM HIVE (for Health, Inclusion, Vibrancy, and Equity)
Break – transition to closing discussion
Closing Discussion: Supporting Community Health in New Mexico and Wellness Activity
Wellness Activity: Charlotte Tenorio, CHR/TIPCAP Generalist and Tai Chi Instructor,
Kewa Pueblo Community Health Representative (CHR) Program
Chamiza Pacheco de Alas, Director of New Mexico Programs, W.K. Kellogg Foundation
and Michelle Gutierrez, Senior Program Officer, W.K. Kellogg
Evening Reception:
Celebrating Community Health in New Mexico
Registration, morning refreshments and networking
Welcome and Orientation to the day:
Emcee
Land Acknowledgement and Blessing
Keynote: Asha Atwell, MD, “Sih Hasin Street Medicine Program: A First for
Indian Health Service”, Northern Navajo Medical Center
Break – transition to break out sessions
Break out session #1 (1.5 hours)
Perinatal health: Systems of care and improving birth outcomes in rural and urban NM: Felina Ortiz, DNP, CNM, RN, FACNM, UNM College of Nursing; Kelly Camden, MPA, Program Manager, UNM Office of Community Health: HEROs, HIVE; Janet Johnson, Tribal Liaison, Office of Tribal Liaison, Office of the Secretary, New Mexico Department of Health; Mary Ben, PhD, BEN Initiative, Bidii Baby Foods, LLC; Marnie Nixon, Licensed Midwife, HERO; Abigail Reese, PhD, CNM Maternal Health Program Manager, New Mexico Department of Health
Food Security for New Mexico Children – Daniel Velarde, Director of Strategy and Community Outreach, New Mexico Appleseed
Advancing Health Equity for People with Disabilities: Gary D. Housepian, Chief Executive Officer, Disability Rights New Mexico and Katie Gordon, Senior Advocate
Indigenizing Radical Public Health “Healing Our Roots”: Anna Marie Rondon, Program Director, New Mexico Social Justice and Equity Institute; Zunnebah-Jim, Community Organizer, New Mexico Social Justice and Equity Institute; Akeemi Martinez, Communications Hub Coordinator, New Mexico Social Justice and Equity Institute
State of Black Health in New Mexico: Cathryn McGill, Founder and Director, New Mexico Black Leadership Council
Gender Affirming Care: Toolkit “I Am Me” – Cameron Crandall, MD, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, UNMHS/HS, Associate Vice President for LGBTQ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Break transition to the next sessions
Breakout session #2 (1 hour 15 min)
Perinatal health: Systems of care and improving birth outcomes in rural and urban New Mexico - Felina Ortiz, DNP, CNM, RN, FACNM, UNM College of Nursing; Kelly Camden, MPA, Program Manager, UNM Office of Community Health: HEROs, HIVE; Janet Johnson, Tribal Liaison, Office of Tribal Liaison, Office of the Secretary, New Mexico Department of Health; Mary Ben, PhD, Bidii Baby Foods, LLC, Abigail Reese, PhD, CNM Maternal Health Program Manager, New Mexico Department of Health
Cultivating Nourishing Foods for NM Communities: Kirsten Hansen, Program Manager, Fresh Rx, Bryce Townsend, Owner, Black Mesa Farms, San Felipe Pueblo and Sahar Alahyari Beig, Pre Med Student and Community Health Advocate
Housing for Families, Addiction Treatment and Community Wellbeing: Jessica Cruz, Senior Director of Homeless Housing Services, Native American Connections
Indigenizing Radical Public Health “Healing Our Roots”: Anna Marie Rondon, Program Director, New Mexico Social Justice and Equity Institute, Zunnebah-Jim, Community Organizer, New Mexico Social Justice and Equity Institute; Akeemi Martinez, Communications Hub Coordinator, New Mexico Social Justice and Equity Institute
Hispanic Health: Francisco J. Ronquillo, MA, PA, Health Extension Regional Officer, Hispano/Latino Health Specialist, Office for Community Health, UNM - Health Sciences Center
Place-based Strategies to Achieve Health Equity Across New Mexico: Leigh Caswell, MPH, Vice President, Community and Health Equity, Presbyterian Healthcare Services; Carrie Thielen, Director Regional Community Health and Andrea Botero-Tompkins, Manager Population Health Integration
Break and transition to Lunch
Lunch, Networking and Panel (main ballroom)
Panel (in the same main ballroom as lunch)
Luncheon Speakers: Health Extensions Rural Outreach (HEROs) and Tribal HEROs - Helen Tso, HERO, Northwest Region, and Evelyn Rising, HERO, Southwest Region; Ray Sanchez, CHW, UNM Partner HERO and Director, Northern AHEC
Break – transition to break out session #3
Break out session #3 (1 hour and 30 min.)
Perinatal health: Systems of care and improving birth outcomes in rural and urban NM, Felina Ortiz, DNP, CNM, RN, FACNM, UNM College of Nursing; Kelly Camden, MPA, Program Manager, UNM Office of Community Health: HEROs, HIVE; Janet Johnson, Tribal Liaison, Office of Tribal Liaison, Office of the Secretary, New Mexico Department of Health; Mary Ben, PhD, Bidii Baby Foods, LLC, Abigail Reese, PhD, CNM Maternal Health Program Manager, New Mexico Department of Health
Disability-led Health Equity: Kathlyne Gish, Disability Pride New Mexico Governing Board Vice-President and Kendra Garcia, New Vistas Independent Living Advocate/ Youth Coordinator, Governing Board member of Disability Pride New Mexico
Prospects for Pharmacy Based Preventive Programs for Heart Disease and Diabetes: Tesia Buszkiewicz, RPh, Pharm.D., Lifestyle Coach/ Diabetes Prevention Educator, Duran Central Pharmacy
Natsiilid Initiative- Indigenous-led and coalition-driven Community Development Collaborative (CDC): Carmi Holguin, Executive Director, and Cara Dukepoo, Director of Community Programs
Cultural Humility - Eric Romero, PhD, Assistant Professor, Languages & Culture, Interim Director, Native American Hispano (NAHS)
Behavioral Health Crisis Center (BHCC): Mauricio Tohen, MD, DrPH, MBA, University Distinguished Professor and Chairman, Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico School of Medicine
Break – transition to closing session
Wellness Activity, Health Equity Calls to Actions and Reflection Discussion, and Blessing – facilitated by Anthony Fleg, MD
Secretary Patrick Allen, New Mexico Department of Health, NMDOH North Star
Michael Richards, MD, Interim Executive Vice President, UNMHS/HS
Janet Johnson, Tribal Liaison, NMDOH
Health Equity in New Mexico - Susan Garcia, Health Equity Director, New Mexico Department of Health
Sanjeev Arora, MD, MACP, FACG, Distinguished and Regents Professor of Medicine, Founder and Director, Project ECHO®
Blessing
Please consider giving to the UNM Health Equity Summit Fund. Contributions will help support ongoing efforts eliminating disparities, advancing access to resources, and promoting conditions that support the health and wellbeing of every person in our state.
In 2022, UNM, in partnership with communities across New Mexico, launched the first Health Equity Summit. The wisdom from the experience of communities range from the Hobbs community in the southeast corner of NM to the Las Cruces in the Border region to Gallup’s Native American community partners informed the first Summit both in content and form.
We’ve since realized the importance of addressing inequities in NM communities with their local knowledge, strengths, leadership and needs and that of public institutions, whether in higher education, in healthcare delivery systems, or in local or state government that have technical and financial resources. Community engagement embodied in the first Summit gave voice to these community priorities that have helped guide institutional decisions affecting community health and well-being. The second Summit provided ways to help achieve health equity in one’s home community or organization, such as a Social Determinants curriculum, how to help eligible uninsured enroll in Medicaid or how to help low-income families obtain Earned Income Tax Credit. Additionally, the Summit centered on filling gaps in resource availability between urban and rural areas such as lack of public transportation, access to healthy food choices, building a statewide, internet-based, closed-loop social referral platform, building a local health workforce via pipeline programs with diverse ethnic and geographic background, with diverse options for training for a more inclusive health team to serve the broader health and social needs of the community including CHWs, HEROs, MAs, RNs, PharmDs, MDs, MSWs, et al. Ultimately, these collective forums created statewide learning networks that share common goals, that collaborate rather than compete to build upon local strengths and guidance such as the Social Determinants of Health Collaborative or the collaboration between the DOH’s Health Promotion Specialists, UNM’s HEROs and NMSU’s 100% County network.