The University of New Mexico College of Population Health (COPH) announces the name of Carmella Kahn, DRPH, MPH as the first research and practice teacher research and practice of prevention of Davis-Kozoll, marking an important step for research in public health and academic leadership in new-mexic.
This professor endowed, made possible thanks to the vision and generosity of Sally Davis, PHD and Richard Kozoll, MD, MPH Pioneers in prevention and community commitment sciences, support this important work within research, teaching and community well-being. As a first teacher with COPH, this creates a lasting basis to advance disease prevention practices through New Mexico and beyond.
“La Chair Davis – Kozoll Feetté is a powerful example of how philanthropy can shape the future,” said Bill Uher, development vice -president of UNM Health Center of the UNM Foundation. “When donors invest in visionary leaders and community -oriented solutions, they create a lasting change. This step is just the beginning-we invite others to join us to advance the equity and the leadership of Aboriginal health to new-mexic and beyond. ”
I feel deeply humiliated and grateful for the generosity of the DRS. Davis and Kozoll, and the UNM Foundation, to offer this opportunity to serve as a teacher with COPH. This is a role that illustrates UNM’s commitment by honoring the tribal communities of New Mexico by providing new paths of higher education and community well-being through public health practices and research.
– Carmella Kahn, Drph, MPH, First Davis – Kozoll, professor with research and prevention practice, UNM College of Population Health
Kahn (Dine / Navajo) is from Lake Mariano, New Mexico, the bitter water clan and born for the Polledd Arms People clan. It provides more than 14 years of experience in work with urban and rural Native American communities. His work is rooted in community participatory research and focuses on the prevention of diabetes, the consumption of substances for young people, traditional food systems and community resilience. She has also become a leader in the training of academic journeys for Amerindian students in public health.
In August 2024, Kahn and other Aboriginal teachers (Rebecca Rae, Lorenda Belone, PHD, MPH and Crystal Lee, PHD, MPH) created the Aboriginal Lobos for Welfare (ILW) to promote, connect and support the native students of COPH, staff and teachers and future students. Kahn uses the momentum of the dominant chair to help ILW launch a new Aboriginal public health initiative. This effort will establish stronger links between the college and the tribal communities of the New Mexico, with the aim of supporting Aboriginal students from college to the Higher School.
“I feel deeply humiliated and grateful for the generosity of the DRS. Davis and Kozoll, and the UNM Foundation, to offer this opportunity to serve as a teacher endowed to the COPH,” said Kahn. “This is a role that illustrates the commitment that UNM has in honor of tribal communities to new-mexic by providing new paths of higher education and community well-being thanks to public health practices and research.
“One of the biggest challenges we face is the under-representation of Native American students and professors in a health profession, but that will change as we meet as a community to supervise and support each other,” said Kahn. “Dr. Davis explained how students can overcome challenges in their professional career while keeping” fires in their belly “.
In his role as assistant teacher, Kahn helped launch the planning of an indigenous health concentration and co -framed students who pursue careers in public health. With this pulpit, she plans to work with the Faculty of ILW to extend these efforts and build a stronger network of students, alumni and Aboriginal community partners.
This professor reflects our deep commitment to associating indigenous communities to advance equity in health. Dr. Kahn brings a deep understanding of indigenous cultures and exceptional academic expertise to this role. His leadership will help shape a more inclusive and more impactful future for education and public health research.
– Dean Tracie C. Collins, MD, MPH, MHCDS, Unm College of Population Health
“My goal is to work with the Faculty of ILW to meet the social, cultural and educational needs of our students to allow them to succeed, to obtain their diploma and to enter the labor market,” said Kahn. “ILW prioritizes community engagement, partnership with local schools, creating scholarship programs and the development of an indigenous health track for COPH.
“Our work focuses on the promotion of indigenous public health, which understands that our health is linked to our culture and everything around us, including land, water and animals. As indigenous peoples, our cultural knowledge and our oral history are the framework of our health and our well-being. This knowledge is important to honor and encourage in our university systems. ”
Professor Davis – Kozoll reflects Davis and Kozoll’s dedication to the improvement of rural and native health. Their generous endowment will support leadership, scholarships and the commitment of supported students aligned with the needs of the community.
“This teacher reflects our deep commitment to associate with indigenous communities to advance health equity,” said COPH Dean Tracie C. Collins, MD, MPH, MHCDS. “Dr. Kahn brings a deep understanding of indigenous cultures and exceptional academic expertise to this role. His leadership will help shape a more inclusive and more impactful future for public health education and research. ”
COPH invites philanthropic partners to join this critical work, ensuring that future generations of Aboriginal public health leaders have mentoring, academic resources and the support they need to prosper.
Please contact Kahn or the UNM Foundation to donate or learn more about the opportunities to support the work of the COPH ILW (ckahn@salud.unm.edu or contact@unmfund.org).
About UNM College of Population Health
COPH prepares students to meet the challenges of public health thanks to a practical and interdisciplinary approach which promotes equity, prevention and innovation in the various communities of new-mexic. For more information, visit Coph.unm.edu