Dream Makers Health Careers Club educator sponsors at their UNM training (pictured left to right) Silver High School’s Nathan Nolan, Aldo Leopold Charter School’s Maia Chaney, and Cobre High School’s Dr. Kenneth Ludeke. Not pictured is Red Moutnain Middle School’s educator spronsor Irene Irene CarbalaFriday, August 23, 2019; Bayard, NM: This year, High School students in Grant County have a chance to make their dreams of pursuing a career in the healthcare field come true.
The Dream Makers Health Careers Club is now offered at Cobre and Silver High schools. The Clubs are designed to help students experience the diversity of health care career opportunities and learn what it takes to pursue such careers directly from local health professionals.
University of New Mexico’s (UNM) Health Sciences Center Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion developed the Dream Makers Health Career Program and partners with community sponsors like FORWARD New Mexico (FNM) Area Health Education Center (AHEC) to offer the program to residents in rural and urban New Mexico schools. FNM AHEC sponsors the clubs in southwest New Mexico, and is a program of the Center for Health Innovation.
Director of FNM AHEC Baudelia “Bala” Salgado said, “This was an opportunity to expand the clubs available in the county that we couldn’t pass up! We are grateful to Cobre and Silver Consolidated Schools for including Dream Makers at their high schools.”
For Cobre Consolidated School District, this is a return to offering healthcare career training opportunities, according to Cobre High School Principal Sandra Montoya. “When I started at Cobre 22 years ago, we had all kinds of programs including a Certified Nurse Assistant classes. The District is dedicated to reviving and expanding those programs. Now we offer drones, computer coding, sports medicine and culinary arts. We are hoping to bring back CNA program, too.”
Science educator, Dr. Kenneth Ludeke sponsors of the Dream Makers’ Club at Cobre High is excited to teach his students the plethora of health careers. “There are so many health care career opportunities like the environmental aspects, equipment and maintenance of equipment that students aren’t familiar. There’s more health care jobs available than before with hands-on applications.”
Ludeke said he plans to make the Dream Makers Club experience immersive with his students by walking participants through what a doctor office visit including the patient inventory. “The students will realize what happens when you go to the doctor’s office with the exam conducted. Why are they looking at your eyes, ears and throat? Students will have better idea of what’s happening during an exam, and better understand their health.”
At Silver High, science educator Nathan Nolan will be sponsoring the Dream Makers Club. He has a long history with FNM AHEC, for three years he has been the instructor at their summer Teen Academy for Health Sciences.
“There is such a shortage of health professionals in the community,” said Nolan. “Dream Makers Club is a good orientation to the diversity of medical professions that students might have not seen before.”
Nolan adds that the free club experience gives the chance for “students to better identify what profession they want to pursue earlier in their education, giving them a leg up when entering a trade school or college.”
Club participants learn the healthcare field is more than just doctors or nurses. Students visit emergency services helicopters, interact with therapy animals, tour health care facilities, and learn about all the scholarships and supports available to help them be successful in whatever career path they choose.
The Dream Makers Clubs are also offered at Aldo Leopold Charter Junior High School also located in Silver City sponsored by educator Maia Chaney, and Red Mountain Middle School in Deming sponsored by educator Irene Carbala.
For more information on Dream Maker Clubs in southwest New Mexico contact Salgado at (575) 597-0030 or email: bsalgado@swchi.org.