Ministry of Health of Mexico Signing Agreement

On Friday May 3^rd we had the honor to attend an important signing ceremony at the Mexican Consulate. The Ministry of Health of Mexico, represented by the Director for International Affairs, Hilda Dávila Chávez, signed three cooperation agreements between: The University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC), Children’s Mercy Hospital (CMH) and Truman Medical Centers.

KUMC we represented by the Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little and its CEO Dr. Douglas Girod. CMH was represented by its Vice-president Dr. Karen Cox. Truman Medical Centers was represented by its CEO John Bluford.
These agreements will strengthen the cooperation in health between Mexico and United States and will benefit Mexican and American communities on both sides of the border, through the exchange of knowledge and best practices in the medical field. After the ceremony we also had the opportunity to attend the art exhibit “Imagenes de mi Mexico”, which was absolutely amazing.

Thanks to Head Consul Alicia Kerber, without whom this would have never been possible.

Congratulations!

First generation of Promotores de Salud obtaining their CNA certification in Liberal, KS

It is a pleasure to inform the successful graduation of the first group of Promotores de Salud, obtaining the state Certified Nurse Aid (CNA) certification at the Seward County Community College (SCCC). Juntos organized a graduation ceremony at Ruffino’s restaurant this past March 4^th at Liberal, KS.

The AOK continuing education program in nursing, is a collaborative effort between KUMC-Juntos, the Mexican Consulate in Kansas City, MO, and SCCC in Liberal, KS. In fact, in the early hours of the morning of March 4^th there was an executive board meeting to strengthen the communication, collaboration, and contribution between these entities.

For the graduation event, representing SCCC we had Professor Sonia Hernández CNA program coordinator and Lucina C. Henness, for Juntos director Dr. Paula Cupertino, Yazmin Reyna, Alejandro Gutierrez and Ventanilla de Salud Coordinator in Liberal, KS Arturo Ponce were present, and for the Mexican Consulate, Dora Ponce, Advisory Council of the Institute of Foreign Affairs.

The following Promotores de Salud received their CNA diplomas:

• Lucina Perez
• Erika Rosales
• Raquel Susana Hernandez
• Hortencia Villezcas
• Victoria Varela

We also took the opportunity to give certificates of recognition for their work on the successful completion of the second phase of the “Cancer Clinical Trials” by interviewing community members in the city of Liberal, KS to:

• Dora Ponce
• Rudy Alfaro
• Lucina Perez
• Carme Castillo

The event came to a successful conclusion with a reception and delicious food from Ruffino’s Italian Restaurant. Congratulations to all of you and SI SE PUEDE!!

UAEM Visit to Kansas City

From Thursday, April 11^th to Tuesday, April 16^th, 2013 we had a visit from the Universidad Autonóma del Estado de Morelos (UAEM). Our guests were:
Dr. Rodolfo Gatica Principal of the School of Medicine
Dr. Jesus Santa-Olalla Head of Graduate Studies and Research of the School of Medicine
Dr. Martha Andalco Academic Secretary of the School of Medicine
Dr. Patricia Castillo Academic Secretary of the UAEM
Dr. Norma Juarez Director of International Cooperation and Development of the UAEM.

On Friday April 12^th, we organized a tour at the University of Kansas Medical Center. We began our visit at the Ovarian Cancer Research Laboratory, were we met Dr. Kathy Roby. She explained her current research approach regarding ovarian cancer, emphasizing in multidisciplinary groups.

Next, we visited the Nursing Clinical Learning Lab and Neis Clinical Lab, were we met with Dr. Mary Meyer. Our guests had the opportunity to see these labs that are equipped with the latest computer technology in the form of both tablets and computers on wheels, allowing students to document care in a simulated electronic record at the point of care. It includes home-health areas, a birthing bay and a critical care room with a human patient simulator. They currently have an adult, a birthing, and a baby simulator.

After that we had a chance to tour the Clendening History Museum of Medicine which houses an extensive collection of artifacts illustrating healing and medicine across historical time and through the variety of human cultures. Among the strengths of the collection are instruments from nineteenth and twentieth-century American medicine, with special emphasis on medical practice in Kansas. In fact, they hold an original copy of “De Humani Corporis Fabrica” by Andreas Vesalius.

After a quick coffee break, we continued our tour at the OB/GYN unit. We met Dr. Carl Weiner, who personally walked us through the whole unit. This unit is equipped with labor suites that combine comfort and state-of-the-art technology, to provide the highest level of patient service.  Our Mexican guests were really impressed and exited with all the research and infrastructure found at KUMC.

Continuing our activities on Monday April 15^th, we took our guests to visit the Children’s Mercy Hospital. They have more than 40 pediatric specialty services, a neonatal intensive care unit, and a trauma center. Our Mexican guests were impressed, because from the beginning the building does not look like a hospital. They really have the children’s comfort as their main priority.

After the tour, we had a meeting with the executive board, including Dr. Randall O’Donnell CEO and Dr. Karen Cox Vice President. We had a chance to discuss the goals of the agreement, and what measures need to be implemented in order to achieve them.
Our guests also had the chance to meet and interact with the Head Consul Alicia Kerber.

We are very glad to have hosted our Mexicans guests visit. Hope we see you soon!

Juntos with the Latino Youth

Last March 16^th Yazmin Reyna, Johana Bravo de los Rios, and Alejandro Gutierrez from Juntos gave a presentation on social and communication skills to an eager group of middle and high school students at the Latinos of Tomorrow Scholarship Fest Spring 2013. Juntos staff members enthusiastically talked with students about best practices in communication and had them role play some of the social skills needed to succeed in high school. It was a very interactive presentation which students enjoyed by much.

The Scholarship Fest is a day-long extended program that introduces students from the Kansas City metro area to the elements for planning and preparing for college. Some of the topics covered in the program include scholarships and financial aid, resume and academic vitas, college and scholarship timelines and deadlines, financial literacy, personal statement writing and dual credit courses in high school.

Juntos Working for Latina Women

In an effort to recognize the work that Kansan women dedicate to their community, Dos Mundos newspaper highlighted the work of Juntos’ graduate research assistant, Mariana Ramirez.

Through the Breast Cancer Initiative that she coordinates, over 250 women in the Kansas City community have received education on breast cancer and breast cancer screening. In addition, those meeting the eligibility criteria have been connected to local resources for free or low-cost mammograms.  This work has been done in a strong partnership with the Ventanilla de Salud at the Mexican Consulate, Viva Saludable en Kansas, and the Promotora program from El Centro. Sandra Flores, the project-based promotora in this initiative, has been instrumental reaching out to the community

The Breast Cancer Awareness Initiative funded by the ACS and NFL is one of the several projects that Juntos has in place to fight disparities and advance the health of the Latino community in Kansas City.

If you would like information on breast cancer or resources for breast cancer screening, you can contact Mariana at 913 945 7872. She will be happy to help you!

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