The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center (UNM HSC) recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Santa Fe Indian School (SFIS) to officially announce a collaborative effort intended to prepare SFIS students for possible admission to the UNM School of Medicine and provide educational guidance and opportunities to Native American students interested in becoming health professionals.
The signing ceremony, which took place in the Francis Abeyta Memorial Gymnasium at the SFIS in Santa Fe, represented a commitment from both parties to being of greater service to the Native American communities of New Mexico.
The UNM HSC is dedicated to developing and implementing programs designed to reach out to various areas and diverse communities in New Mexico that are focused on improving the health status of New Mexicans and the people of the Nations, Tribes and Pueblos.
As a flagship school in Indian education, SFIS strives to provide a challenging and stimulating academic program of excellence which shares the responsibility with students and their parents in developing their potential to meet obligations to themselves and their communities.
Principals at the signing included the 19 Pueblo Governors and Tribal Officials, State of New Mexico Representatives, including Speaker Ben Lujan, UNM Regent President James Koch, UNM Regent Carolyn Abeita, Dr. Paul Roth, executive vice president for the HSC and dean of the UNM School of Medicine, Dr. Valerie Romero-Leggott, vice president of the HSC Office of Diversity, Dr. Gayle Dine’Chacon, director of the UNM Center for Native American Health, SFIS Superintendent Joseph Abeyta, AIPC Chairman Joe Garcia, SFIS Parent Advisory Council and the SFIS Board of Trustees.
Posted by scarr at December 17, 2007 11:54 AM