The Dream Makers recently toured Gila Regional Medical Center to learn about possibilities they could pursue to fill the gap in rural New Mexico's health care workforce.Deming, NM ' Dream Makers Club members and their families packed Deming's Red Mountain Middle School cafeteria last week to celebrate the students' year of exploring the diversity of health care careers.
Over 30 middle school students from Grant and Luna Counties participated in the clubs, which foster students' interest in the health care field in hopes they will return as professionals to fill rural New Mexico's major gap in the health care workforce. Studies have shown that rural students are more likely to enter the health care field, and more likely to return to their roots to practice their chosen profession, especially when they have received support during their formative years.
"These graduates are our future health care professionals in touch with our culture and community," said Miriam Kellerman in her speech to the graduating students. Kellerman is the Director of FORWARD NM, a program that partners with the University of New Mexico's Health Sciences Center Office of Diversity and local school districts to make the Dream Maker Clubs possible.
The Club has chapters in Deming's Red Mountain Middle School, Silver City's La Plata Middle School and Aldo Leopold Charter Middle School. Teacher Katrina Bustillos has been sponsoring the club at La Plata Middle School for over three years. Teacher Maya Chaney, sponsor teacher at Aldo Leopold Charter middle school, has been a Dream Makers sponsor for two years.
Bustillos said, "The Club is an eye-opening experience for our students. It teaches them there is more to health care than being a doctor or nurse. They can be a technician, a social worker or a researcher."
Dream Makers Club gives students a chance to experience the diversity of careers in the medical field. Students participate in hands-on labs, visit with health care professionals, tour local health care facilities and explore a helicopter ambulance. Their club experience culminates with a visit to the prestigious University of New Mexico School of Medicine and other departments of the Health Sciences Center, and sight-seeing while in Albuquerque.
Dena Hillyer, an 8th grader at Aldo Leopold Middle School, said, "I wanted a healthcare career before the Club, but now I can see the other possibilities of what I could do." Hillyer said her favorite club experience was the tour of a helicopter ambulance.
La Plata Middle School 8th grader, India Moreno said the demonstration by an acupuncturist was her favorite activity. Moreno plans a career as an obstetrician and gynecologist.
Aldo Leopold Middle School student, Morgan Chaney was the youngest Dream Maker. Only a 6th grader, Chaney plans to "learn more about science" so he can join the Search and Rescue Team and slide down from the helicopter the Dream Markers Club toured.
Kellerman added, "Dream Makers work hard the entire school year to earn the recognition they are receiving today. We are very happy for all the students who just graduated Dream Makers, and we hope to see them at SMASH."
The natural path for the Dream Makers is to attend the upcoming S.M.A.S.H Academy. Offered in June, the free week-long academy focuses on math and science studies at Western New Mexico University in Silver City. The S.M.A.S.H. Academy is open to all students interested in a career in health care and entering their freshman year of high school in southwest New Mexico.
For more information on FORWARD NM contact Kellerman at (575) 597-0036or email: mkellerman@swchi.org.
Cutline: The Dream Makers recently toured Gila Regional Medical Center to learn about possibilities they could pursue to fill the gap in rural New Mexico's health care workforce.
About FORWARD NM (GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION)
FORWARD NM seeks to enhance access to quality health care, particularly primary and preventative care, by improving the supply and distribution of healthcare professionals through community and academic partnerships. To accomplish its mission, FORWARD NM sponsors Dream Makers Clubs at regional middle schools so students can the experience the diversity of careers in the medical field. Dream Makers participate in hands-on labs, visit with health care professionals, tour local health care facilities. FORWARD NM, in collaboration with other local partners, sponsors summer academies to support the success of high school and college students pursuing careers in health care. Additionally, FORWARD NM coordinates undergraduate and graduate medical students' summer residencies and internships in the southwest New Mexico. For more information, visit swchi.org/forward-nm/.
About the Southwest Center for Health Innovation (GENERAL ORGANIZATIONAL INFORMATION)
The Southwest Center for Health Innovation (CHI) is a nonprofit focused on bettering community health in underserved and underrepresented populations. CHI empowers groups and individuals at a local, state and national level to determine the future wellbeing of their communities through the development and implementation of innovative policies, strategies and evidence-based models. Founded in 2015, CHI is headquartered in Silver City, with additional offices located throughout New Mexico. For more information, visit www.swchi.org.