The University of New Mexico's Office of Community Health Rural Technology Initiative won third place at the prestigious 2024 T-Mobile Unconventional Awards. The ceremony, held last week at the Mobile World Congress in Las Vegas, honored businesses and organizations using T-Mobile's 5G network to make groundbreaking advancements in their fields.
As part of the recognition, the UNM Office of Community Health will receive a $25,000 donation to a charity of their choice, underscoring their commitment to addressing digital inequities in underserved communities.
Access to high-speed internet is increasingly recognized as a crucial determinant of health, influencing education, employment, social connections, and access to telehealth services. New Mexico currently ranks 48th in the nation for high-speed internet access, with rural and Tribal communities facing the most significant challenges. To help bridge this digital divide, the UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New Mexico, T-Mobile, UNM, and local partners are collaborating on initiatives to improve digital access and literacy.
These efforts include providing low-income households with T-Mobile internet services and devices, offering tech support, and delivering digital skills training through Goodwill Industries of New Mexico. The UNM Office of Community Health plays a key role by training outreach workers to enhance digital health literacy in rural and underserved areas. The goal of these initiatives is to reduce health disparities by expanding digital access across the state.
Click here for more information about the Third Annual Unconventional Awards. You can also learn more about the UNM Office of Community Health at UNM here.