Silver City -- The power of women and their many contributions to health care is the topic of the Silver City Museum's latest "Community Conversation," happening from noon to 1:30 pm Wednesday in the auditorium of the Besse-Forward Global Resource Center on the campus of WNMU. This discussion is free to the public, and moderated by Museum Director Bart Roselli. The museum's community conversation series complements the current exhibition, "Healers & Heroines: Women and the Shaping of Local Health Care," which is open to visitors in the Dodge Gallery.
This powerful panel discussion features four women at the forefront of health care, health policy and advocacy in our region. Gail Stamler, Gayle Simmons, Dr. Kimberly Petrovic and Serene Vannoy, bring decades of experience as healers, educators, and change-makers, tackling the urgent issues facing rural health care today. This conversation will explore the ever-changing roles of women in health care, the impact of policy on individuals, families and communities, and the fight for a more just, equitable and accessible health care system.
From midwifery to nursing education, community organizing and policy advocacy, these women have dedicated their lives not only to providing care, but also to challenging the status quo and pushing for better access, equity and systemic change. Each panelist brings extensive knowledge and experience to the conversation, and together will explore the ever-changing roles of women in health care, the impact they've had to date, and their vision for a healthier future for all New Mexicans.
Gail Stamler served as a nurse-midwife in Grant County for 40 years before retiring in 2022. In the early days of her career, Stamler was a licensed midwife, helping women reclaim the birth process and deliver their babies at home. She then completed her nursing degree at WNMU, and became a certified nurse-midwife at San Jose State University. Stamler is also a certified menopause practitioner, and is a member of the Gila Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees, where she advocates for improved community healthcare policies and access to care.
Gayle Simmons, a Silver City resident since 1986, has dedicated her career to education and environmental initiatives in Grant County. After earning her teaching degree from WNMU, she became a leader in renewable energy education, running the SunChaser Program in K-12 schools from 2007 to 2015. Simmons also helped establish the WNMU Women's Center, has served on the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign board, and also helped found Aldo Leopold High School in Silver City.
Dr. Kimberly Petrovic is the Associate Dean of WNMU's School of Nursing and Kinesiology. Dr. Petrovic spent 16 years in academia, earning multiple, advanced degrees. She oversees the university's nursing program, and is developing a family nurse practitioner program focused on rural healthcare. Her expertise in geriatrics and gerontology particularly addresses the needs of New Mexico's aging, rural population.
Serene Vannoy is an advisor at WNMU's School of Nursing and Kinesiology, and has many years supporting students in higher education, helping them to navigate academia and access the resources they need to graduate and launch their careers. She holds a B.A. in English and Creative Writing from California State University, East Bay.
The next Community Conversation takes place April 2, with board-certified psychologist Dr. Marie Weil. For more information about the museum's community conversation series, please contact Brittany Beers, community engagement manager, at (575) 597-0230 or
The Silver City Museum creates opportunities for residents and visitors to explore, understand, and celebrate the rich and diverse cultural heritage of southwestern New Mexico by collecting, preserving, researching and interpreting the region's unique history. The museum is nationally recognized through its accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums.
Museum admission is free, though a suggested donation of $5 helps support the museum's education programs, collections care and exhibitions. For more information, to donate or learn of volunteer opportunities please contact the museum at (575) 589- 0221 or visit the museum's website at www.silvercitymuseum.org.
