2016-2017 Conference
Cross-Border Opportunities
for Health Promotion Over the Life Span

This conference took place Friday, September 30th, 2016 at New Mexico State University. Topics included Zika Virus, Binational Student Research, Maternal and Child Health, Binational Health Policy, Mental Health, and Healthy Aging.

Thank you to all who make the 2016-2017 SWIHDR Conference a success!

Program Agenda

Poster Winners

Keynote Presentations

Panel Planerary

Breakout Sessions

Program Agenda

Poster Winners

This year, 25 students presented posters at the Southwest Institute for Health Disparities Research conference. Each NMSU college was represented as well as the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) and El Colegio de la Frontera Norte (COLEF) in Cd. Juarez. The posters were impressive for their relevance to broder health, level of collaboration, organization, and appearance. The following were judged as the first, second, and third place winners

1st Place: “Predicting the Number of Multiple Chronic Conditions in Arizona”
Najah M. Al-Shanableh

Najah is an NMSU interdisciplinary doctoral student in computer science and nursing. Her main research interest is in applying data mining techniques to the study of multiple chronic conditions in the US-Mexico border area. Najah also conducts workshops on data mining at NMSU.

2nd Place: “Culturally Tailoring the Enhancing Connections Program for Hispanic Mothers Diagnosed with Cancer in the Border Region”
Lauren Freeman & Clara Reyes

Freeman is a first year dual Masters student in Social Work and Public Health who has community experience as a nutrition educator and mental health provider. Reyes is a first year Masters of Public Health student with experience as a community rural health and sanitation specialist. Both are Graduate Research Assistants working with Dr. Palacios on the Enhancing Connections Program.

3rd Place:“The Effects of a University Mindfulness Course on Mindful Attention, Self-Compassion, Life Satisfaction and Perceived Stress”
Wiley W. Stem

Wiley is a second year doctoral student in counseling psychology, advised by Dr. Eve Adams. Wiley has researched and practiced mindfulness-based interventions for over three years and seeks to provide education and skill building of mindfulness to a diverse array of adults in the NMSU and Las Cruces communities.

Keynote Presentation

“Zika Virus: A Cross-Border Opportunity to Reduce Border Health Disparities”

Charlan Kroelinger, PhD, MA
Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program Lead,
Zika Virus Pregnancy and Birth Defects Task Force,
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Dr. Charlan Kroelinger is currently a scientific expert on the Contraception Access Team, located within the Pregnancy and Birth Defects Task Force of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Zika Virus Response. Her focus in the response is to increase access to the full range of FDA-approved contraceptives among women of reproductive age who are at risk for unintended pregnancy and may be exposed to Zika virus infection. She is also the lead for the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Epidemiology Program housed in the Division of Reproductive Health at the CDC. The goal of the program is to provide direct assistance to states, territories, localities, and tribes on issues related to pregnancy, infant, and women’s health. This direct assistance is provided by senior MCH epidemiologists placed in agencies, health departments, and epidemiology centers to build capacity and increase infrastructure in the development of MCH programs and policies.

Before taking leadership of the program, Dr. Kroelinger was the senior scientist for the program ensuring production of high quality science, and prior to that, was assigned in the field to the Delaware Division of Public Health as the State Maternal and Child Health Epidemiologist. In Delaware, she worked as a Director of Science with the state health department to implement the Governor’s Infant Mortality Initiative to decrease the rate of infant deaths in the state. She has spent her career working with mothers and infants, and is dedicated to improving the health of women, children, and families.

Dr. Kroelinger received her doctorate in epidemiology and biostatistics from the University of South Florida, and her Master’s Degree in applied medical anthropology from The University of Alabama.

Panel Plenary

Cross-Border Opportunities for Health Promotion Over the Life Span

View pictures from the Panel Plenary here.

Held at the Yates Theatre, Fishbowl format (see description below)

Fishbowl Format Description:

Plenary panelists will each speak briefly and discussion with active audience participation will follow. Audience members can participate in two ways: (1) by writing down questions and passing them to the aisle where staff members will read the questions to the panel member(s), and 2) by taking an open chair and joining the panel in the front of the theatre.

Speakers

Freida Adams
US-Mexico Border Health Commission, New Mexico

Kathryn Hanley
New Mexico State University

Charlan Kroelinger
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Lydia Macklin
La Clinica de Familia

Yolanda Palma
El Colegio de la Frontera Norte and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Felipe Uribe Salas
El Colegio de la Frontera Norte

Marta Sánchez
US-Mexico Border Health Commission, Chihuahua, Mexico

Breakout Sessions

Overview of US and Mexican Healthcare Systems and the Cross-Border Population
(Mojarro, CECOFIN & Herrera, UTEP)

Learning Objective: Participants will learn how health services and operations are organized along the United States and Mexico border. Participants and moderators will discuss access to different health institutions and infrastructure available to people living in both countries, as well as health care coverage and services provided. Financing forms and primary services of maternal and child health programs will also be discussed.

Healthy Aging in the Border Region
(Ali, NMSU, Moderator)

This breakout will facilitate discussions concerning healthy aging in the US/Mexico Border region. Topics covered include geriatric mental health, stigmas specific to the aging population, and refuting the idea that “aging is a disease.” Additionally, participants will learn about local research opportunities, as well as ways to empower older adults to age gracefully.

Reproductive Justice: Adolescent Health and the Border Region
(Nixon, HERO/UNM with Esparza, YWU & Nissen, Adolescent Pregnancy Work Group)

In this session participants will gain insight into the efforts of two community-centered, long standing groups that focus on reproductive health and justice for adolescents. Both groups have supported pregnant and parenting teens through advocacy that increased awareness, education and access to contraception in the state of New Mexico. This session will explore the philosophical differences and similarities of these two groups as well as identify possible collaborative strategies for moving forward.

Building an Interdisciplinary Pipeline for Binational Research
(Scott, NMSU with Gard, NMSU; Palma & Uribe, COLEF; Sobin, UTEP)

This work group session will focus on strategies to build capacity and infrastructure in the region to conduct interdisciplinary and interinstitutional health research. Topics for discussion and planning will include advising students, funding opportunities, collaborative training across institutions, field experiences, available binational data sources, communication strategies across languages, and developmental training for students at different levels. The goal of the session is to develop an action plan of coordinated next steps.

Mental Health Disparities in the Border Region
(Moralez, NMSU & Ontiveros, LCDF)

This breakout will focus on giving participants a better understanding of mental health across the life course, as well as how mental health impacts concurrent chronic illnesses commonly seen in the US/Mexico border region. Additionally, research areas around mental health will be covered to promote the inclusion of improving mental health outcomes as part of regional research agendas. Topics covered will include depression, stress/anxiety, issues around self-value, as well as violence and trauma.

Creating a Healthy Built Environment in the Border Region
(Bachman, DACU)

The built environment (our human-made surroundings, including buildings, green space, stores, and streets) has a tremendous impact on our health. This interactive session will explore how community members can work as equals with decision makers to create built environments that promote health. Through a series of hands-on activities, participants will explore methods for engaging with community members and reflect on how to incorporate such approaches into their own work.

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2016-2017 ConferenceCross-Border Opportunitiesfor Health Promotion Over the Life Span

This conference took place Friday, September 30th, 2016 at New Mexico State University. Topics included Zika Virus, Binational Student Research, Maternal and Child Health, Binational Health Policy, Mental Health, and Healthy Aging.

Thank you to all who make the 2016-2017 SWIHDR Conference a success!

Table of Contents

Program Agenda

Poster Winners

Keynote Presentations

Panel Planerary

Breakout Sessions

Program Agenda

Poster Winners

1st Place: “Predicting the Number of Multiple Chronic Conditions in Arizona”Najah M. Al-Shanableh

Najah is an NMSU interdisciplinary doctoral student in computer science and nursing. Her main research interest is in applying data mining techniques to the study of multiple chronic conditions in the US-Mexico border area. Najah also conducts workshops on data mining at NMSU.

2nd Place: “Culturally Tailoring the Enhancing Connections Program for Hispanic Mothers Diagnosed with Cancer in the Border Region”Lauren Freeman & Clara Reyes

3rd Place:“The Effects of a University Mindfulness Course on Mindful Attention, Self-Compassion, Life Satisfaction and Perceived Stress”Wiley W. Stem

Keynote Presentation

“Zika Virus: A Cross-Border Opportunity to Reduce Border Health Disparities”

Charlan Kroelinger, PhD, MAMaternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program Lead,Zika Virus Pregnancy and Birth Defects Task Force,Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Dr. Kroelinger received her doctorate in epidemiology and biostatistics from the University of South Florida, and her Master’s Degree in applied medical anthropology from The University of Alabama.

Panel Plenary

Cross-Border Opportunities for Health Promotion Over the Life Span

View pictures from the Panel Plenary here.

Held at the Yates Theatre, Fishbowl format (see description below)

Fishbowl Format Description:

Speakers

Freida AdamsUS-Mexico Border Health Commission, New Mexico

Kathryn HanleyNew Mexico State University

Charlan KroelingerCenters for Disease Control & Prevention

Lydia MacklinLa Clinica de Familia

Yolanda PalmaEl Colegio de la Frontera Norte and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Felipe Uribe SalasEl Colegio de la Frontera Norte

Marta SánchezUS-Mexico Border Health Commission, Chihuahua, Mexico

Breakout Sessions

Overview of US and Mexican Healthcare Systems and the Cross-Border Population(Mojarro, CECOFIN & Herrera, UTEP)

Healthy Aging in the Border Region(Ali, NMSU, Moderator)

Reproductive Justice: Adolescent Health and the Border Region(Nixon, HERO/UNM with Esparza, YWU & Nissen, Adolescent Pregnancy Work Group)

Building an Interdisciplinary Pipeline for Binational Research(Scott, NMSU with Gard, NMSU; Palma & Uribe, COLEF; Sobin, UTEP)

Mental Health Disparities in the Border Region(Moralez, NMSU & Ontiveros, LCDF)

Creating a Healthy Built Environment in the Border Region(Bachman, DACU)

Southwest Institute for Health Disparities Research

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2016-2017 Conference
Cross-Border Opportunities
for Health Promotion Over the Life Span

1st Place: “Predicting the Number of Multiple Chronic Conditions in Arizona”
Najah M. Al-Shanableh

2nd Place: “Culturally Tailoring the Enhancing Connections Program for Hispanic Mothers Diagnosed with Cancer in the Border Region”
Lauren Freeman & Clara Reyes

3rd Place:“The Effects of a University Mindfulness Course on Mindful Attention, Self-Compassion, Life Satisfaction and Perceived Stress”
Wiley W. Stem

Charlan Kroelinger, PhD, MA
Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program Lead,
Zika Virus Pregnancy and Birth Defects Task Force,
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Freida Adams
US-Mexico Border Health Commission, New Mexico

Kathryn Hanley
New Mexico State University

Charlan Kroelinger
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Lydia Macklin
La Clinica de Familia

Yolanda Palma
El Colegio de la Frontera Norte and Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Felipe Uribe Salas
El Colegio de la Frontera Norte

Marta Sánchez
US-Mexico Border Health Commission, Chihuahua, Mexico

Overview of US and Mexican Healthcare Systems and the Cross-Border Population
(Mojarro, CECOFIN & Herrera, UTEP)

Healthy Aging in the Border Region
(Ali, NMSU, Moderator)

Reproductive Justice: Adolescent Health and the Border Region
(Nixon, HERO/UNM with Esparza, YWU & Nissen, Adolescent Pregnancy Work Group)

Building an Interdisciplinary Pipeline for Binational Research
(Scott, NMSU with Gard, NMSU; Palma & Uribe, COLEF; Sobin, UTEP)

Mental Health Disparities in the Border Region
(Moralez, NMSU & Ontiveros, LCDF)

Creating a Healthy Built Environment in the Border Region
(Bachman, DACU)