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The New Mexico Area Health Education Center at the
University of New Mexico School of Medicine was
established in 1986 in an attempt to improve access
to primary care in New Mexico. The University of New
Mexico (UNM) entered into a collaborative agreement
with New Mexico State University (NMSU), College of
Health & Social Services to establish the Southern
Area Health Education Center (SoAHEC) in the late
1980's. The New Mexico Border Health Education
Training Center (BHETC), also through the University
of New Mexico School of Medicine, was established at
NMSU in the early 1990’s respectively. Both SoAHEC
and BHETC are housed under the Department of Health
Science.
The mission of both programs is:
To serve as a culturally competent regional resource
and training center for youth, the health workforce,
and communities of New Mexico.
The original primary functions of both programs were
to:
Provide partial support
for the placement of health professions
students and residents performing clinical
and community health experiences across the
17 southern counties in New Mexico.
Provide school-based
health career
awareness programs for under-represented
middle and high school students from around
the state in an effort to increase the
applicant pool for ethnic minorities,
prepare them for a college education in a
health profession, and ultimately place them
in health professional shortage areas
(HPSAs).
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Coordinate and co-sponsor continuing
education and training programs across New
Mexico to promote the retention of health
professionals in the southern part of the
state.
Additional functions now include:
Coordination and
implementation of bilingual
community health
leadership trainings
aimed at strengthening
partnerships between health professionals
and community groups and/or residents.
Providing environmental
health and
home safety education
to families and
communities throughout the New Mexico border
region.
Plan and coordinate
regional health conferences and workshops
that offer continuing education
opportunities for health professionals from
around the SW region.
Development of a cadre
of local bilingual trainers/peer educators
around diabetes, nutrition, physical
activity, and healthy lifestyles. -
Provide hand washing, health and hygiene and
sun safety education to families and
communities throughout the New Mexico border
region.
Coordination of a variety of women-centered
health services for women in southern New
Mexico
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