The 61st annual American College of Nurse Midwifery (ACNM) conference and exhibit was held in Albuquerque, New Mexico on May 21-26, 2016 with hundreds of attendees from all over the country. Frontier Nursing University students Michelle Gragg and Ximena Rossato-Bennett represented FNU and the diversity program as recipients of the annual Student Ambassador essay contest hosted by FNU’s Diversity PRIDE Program. The essay contest is an initiative aimed at fostering student-leadership retention, professional networking and continued nursing education.

Frontier PRIDE attends ACNM 2016

The overall conference goal of ACNM encouraged opportunity for FNU students to enhance their skills, and also experience the restorative side of caring for themselves as well as their patients. FNU PRIDE Student Ambassadors kicked off the ACNM conference by joining in the celebration of Kitty Ernst's 90th birthday at FNU’s reception (pictured below). PRIDE students also had the opportunity to attend the Midwives of Color Committee (MOCC) reception at the conference in support of diversity in nursing.

ACNM sessions included discussions on race, socioeconomic disparities, and cesarean epidemic delivery rates in the U.S. Premier Speaker Dr. Vernellia Randall (pictured below), explained the interaction of embedded social and racial inequalities with particular attention on the impact of racial stress on maternal health, and micro-aggressions. Micoagressions are the little comments or behaviors expressed, intentionally or unintentionally, towards another cultural group that may make them feel marginalized. FNU PRIDE student Ximena shared on social media, “Her talk was wonderful. She made me think about many things (like microaggression) that I've been trying to fully understand.” FNU received a high volume of interest from attendees at the exhibiting booth. Prospective students expressed interest in FNU’s new Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing program. The event also provided a platform to inform students of FNU’s Diversity PRIDE student organization. One highlight at ACNM was a focus on restorative health practices using southwest-integrated healing and traditional indigenous practices to heal the mind, body, and spirit. Attendees also visited and toured the Dar a Luz Birth and Health Center, a non-profit birth center located in Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, where they explored a full-scope of women's healthcare options provided in patient-care. FNU PRIDE student Michelle sums up her tour experience, “…that was amazing!” The networking opportunities at ACNM’s annual conference continue to serve as a platform to increase FNU’s visibility and Diversity Initiative collaborations with the organization. PRIDE student Michelle concludes, “One thing I’m impressed about is that ACNM supports all types of births and all types of midwives.” Click here to view the PRIDE student ambassador video diary for ACNM. Contributor, Wilvena McDowell-Bernard, FNU Diversity PRIDE Program Coordinator/Student Services 6/28/2016