February 27, 2017; Silver City, NM: FORWARD NM offered three medical-inspired sessions for this year's Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) Conference held at Western New Mexico University on Saturday, February 25 2017. EYH is a conference for young women in grades 5-8 that encourages them to pursue opportunities and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Over 200 participants attended the conference this year.

QUOTE: FORWARD NM Coordinator, Miriam Kellerman said, "We wanted to introduce teens to the diverse variety of careers available in health care and emphasizes that a strong STEM education ensures the future success for these young women." FORWARD NM encourages students to enter health care careers and supports them through their education to attain their goal by offering educational opportunities, summer academies and information about financial support for college.

The EYA workshops are made possible with the help of health care professionals who kindly volunteered to lead the sessions for the teens. The workshops FORWARD NM helped facilitate were Open Wide, Stitch It Up!, and Tools of the Trade.

Open Wide was led by Dr. Salcido, Hidalgo Medical Services (HMS) Chief Dental Officer, and her team. The session demonstrated how to conduct a basic dental exam, and showed the groups of young women how dental molds are made.

In the Stitch It Up Session, Dr. Rachel Sonne also of HMS, led a demonstration of suturing basics and allowed teens to practice their skills.

Dr. Magda Ramirez, a third-year resident of Family Medicine Family Medicine at HMS, facilitated the Tools of The Trade Workshop. Ramirez taught about the basics of a physical exam, and taught the group how to use some of the tools providers use daily, such as a stethoscope and blood pressure cuff.

FORWARD NM Staff would like to thank everyone that donated their time and expertise to make the sessions a success:
Dr. Kaiyra Salcido, Chief Dental Officer, HMS
Dr. Rachel Sonne, Medical Service Provider, HMS
Dr. Magda Ramirez, 3rd year Family Medicine Resident, HMS
Laura Moss, Registered Dental Hygienist, HMS
Monica Fiore, Dental Assistant, HMS
Chela Cardenas, Dental Assistant, HMS
Alex Benjarano, Dental Assistant, HMS
Marisol Chavez, Dental Assistant, HMS
Marisella Rodriquez, Dental Sterilization Technician, HMS
Anna Daggett, Social Work Intern, WNMU
Dr. Margarita Wolftange, Professor of School of Education, WNMU
Angel Jordan, Student, Silver High School

FORWARD NM has more opportunities for young women, and men, to pursue the goal of a career in health care. Their summer academies program is now accepting applications for S.M.A.S.H. Academy (Summer Math and Science Health Career Academy) for high school freshmen; Summer Health Career Academy (HCA) for sophomore, juniors and seniors; and Summer MCAT+/DAT preparation academy for college juniors, seniors and recent graduates. To apply visit http://outreach.wnmu.edu/ and click on the Summer Programs tab or contact the FORWARD NM office.

For more information on FORWARD NM contact Kellerman at (575) 597-0036 or email: mkellerman@swchi.org. For more information on FORWARD NM visit http://www.swchi.org/FORWARD-nm.