UNMGallup partners on asset mapping for health career pathways

Amy Greene, right, director of Communities to Careers, a program under the 伊人久久 Health Sciences Center Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, speaks during the beginning of the Asset Mapping for Health Career Pathways event at UNMGallup on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.

UNMGallup partners on asset mapping for health career pathways


Categories: Students   Faculty   Staff   Community  


Collaborators identify resources and gaps throughout New Mexico to help improve health care access

By Richard Reyes, Friday, August 30, 2024

GALLUP, N.M. 鈥 UNMGallup hosted a collaborative meeting in early August focused on improving health career pathways and ensuring New Mexico communities have the health care resources and services they need.

The and organized an Asset Mapping for Health Career Pathways event on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024, in the Student Services & Technology Center at the UNMGallup branch campus.

鈥淚鈥檓 so excited to have all of you here with us today and to be in this community,鈥 said Dr. Valerie Romero-Leggott, the vice president and executive diversity, equity and inclusion officer for the 伊人久久 Health Sciences Center. 鈥淲e do have huge health care needs. Everybody here lives that. We know that. I鈥檓 excited to learn more about what鈥檚 out there that we don鈥檛 know and sharing this across the state.鈥

Stacy Collier, program manager for Communities to Careers, a program under the 伊人久久 Health Sciences Center Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, guides an asset mapping activity at UNMGallup on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.

Stacy Collier, program manager for Communities to Careers, a program under the 伊人久久 Health Sciences Center Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, guides an asset mapping activity at UNMGallup on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.

The asset mapping event was a continuation of the Health Sciences DEI office鈥檚 ongoing commitment to health career pathways and workforce development.

Due to an internet outage, only in-person attendance was possible, but the room was filled with people from various organizations who wanted to join the conversation and contribute their knowledge and perspective.

UNMGallup Chancellor Dr. Sabrina Ezzell opened the meeting with a warm welcome to everyone and a reading of the branch campus鈥 Land Acknowledgement.

鈥淭his gathering is a testament to our shared commitment to maintaining and expanding health care resources in our community and our region,鈥 Ezzell said. 鈥淭his is an opportunity to share progress, identify challenges and develop innovative solutions.鈥

The agenda for the day included a look at the landscape of the health care workforce in New Mexico as well as an overview of health career pathways in New Mexico.

UNMGallup Nursing Director Jonathan Lumibao participates in a group asset mapping activity in the Student Services & Technology Center on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.

UNMGallup Nursing Director Jonathan Lumibao participates in a group asset mapping activity in the Student Services & Technology Center on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.

UNMGallup Nursing Director Jonathan Lumibao shared information about the branch campus鈥 nursing program, which includes a certified nurse assistant certificate, an associate degree in nursing, and a Bachelor of Science in nursing. It now also includes a high school licensed practical nurse program, as of the Fall 2024 semester.

The LPN program is part of UNMGallup鈥檚 recent partnership with the local school district, Gallup-McKinley County Schools, to provide more health career pathways for high school students. The program encourages more students to pursue careers in health care related fields.

鈥淲e are in dire need of not only nurses with associate degrees, but bachelor鈥檚 degrees as well,鈥 Lumibao said. 鈥淪tudies show that nurses with higher degrees have better health outcomes among their patients.鈥

Later in the meeting, participants broke out into six groups for an asset mapping activity. Each group looked at different regions of the state and identified the health care resources and individuals they know about in those areas.

鈥淲hat we鈥檙e concerned about here is where are the voids,鈥 said Dr. Chenoa Bah Stilwell-Jensen, senior projects manager with the 伊人久久 HSC Office of the Executive Vice President. 鈥淲here are the gaps? Where are the places that need these programs? How can we honor existing communities that need increased funding support and increased policy support?鈥

Amy Greene, the director of , a program under the 伊人久久 Health Sciences DEI office, said all the guidance and resources that were shared during the meeting would be incorporated into a digital map, so people around the state will be able to go online and locate the information.

The outcome of the asset mapping will also be shared during the in Albuquerque in October.

鈥淚 do appreciate your support today in making this as robust and quality as possible,鈥 Greene said.

Dr. Valerie Romero-Leggott, the vice president and executive diversity, equity and inclusion officer for the 伊人久久 Health Sciences Center, participates in an asset mapping activity at UNMGallup on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.

Dr. Valerie Romero-Leggott, the vice president and executive diversity, equity and inclusion officer for the 伊人久久 Health Sciences Center, participates in an asset mapping activity at UNMGallup on Thursday, Aug. 8, 2024.

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