Health SubCluster
Health Disparities. The U.S.-Mexico border region experiences many of the same health problems found in other parts of the nation, but in greater concentration. For example, the per capita rates of diabetes, asthma, and breast and cervical cancer are much higher than in other regions of the U.S. Suicide rates, particularly among the elderly, are very high. The populations on both sides of the border suffer from significant levels of poverty and poor access to health care. The challenges to providing adequate health care and education to border residents are exacerbated by the rapid growth of population (between 2.4 and 3.5 percent per year), the high number of border crossings (over 1.1 million legal crossings per day), and the lack of coordinated epidemiological surveillance and strategies to address the spread of infectious diseases.
NMSU proposes to respond more comprehensively to these regional needs, which are also of concern in other parts of the country, by creating the Southwest Institute for Health Disparities Research (SIHDR). Headed by the newly created Stan Fulton Chair for Health Disparities, the SIHDR would reside within a $5 million, 24,000 square foot building. SIHDR will house research facilities; outreach programs based on culturally appropriate interventions addressing urgent health disparities; a Border Health Discovery Center (BHDC) designed for public clients, such as K-12 students and their families; curriculum development projects for K-12 schools; web- and site-based educational programs; and professional development, continuing education, and mentoring programs for practicing health professionals. The BHDC will be the region’s first health science discovery museum. This will provide educational opportunities for K-20 students in the region to be exposed to the excitement of health professions in a virtual and interactive environment. The programs within SIHDR will promote service learning and research opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students.
SIHDR will build on existing partnerships among colleges at NMSU and with public/private health and social service agencies, including the New Mexico Department of Health’s Office of Border Health, the Border Epidemiology Center (located at NMSU), the faculty of the NMSU Systems Biosciences Cluster, and local community health centers. With these partners, NMSU will be able to develop culturally appropriate interventions to address the most pressing health disparities, including diabetes, asthma, cancer, and mental health. SIHDR and the BHDC will work together to develop curriculum enhancements, workshops, and summer camps for K-12 students that will assist with recruitment of minority students into the health and social service professions, serving up to 500 students a month. The goal of all NMSU programs in nursing, social work, community health, environmental and occupational health, and human and community services is to prepare culturally competent graduates who can work with diverse clients to address their health concerns. In partnership with Illinois State University Mennonite College of Nursing, NMSU will develop models and strategies for the preparation of registered nurses who can assist the rapidly growing population of senior Latino citizens. The products of this partnership will assist healthcare providers across the country in working with this unique population.
Through these approaches to improved education and health services that target the minority populations of the Southwest, NMSU will help ensure that those currently unable to participate in high technology jobs driving economic development will have the educational, health, and workforce support needed to gain entrance into and contribute to the growth of the Southwest’s developing economy. The human benefits of these improved services—healthier, better educated, more productive citizens—contribute not only to economic development, but also to the reduction of social problems that so often accompany poverty, poor health, and inadequate education.