Jennie Holmes (Sandia & Isleta Pueblo)
Graduate Student

My journey in healthcare began with my love for sports. That passion led me to the Athletic Training program at the University of New Mexico, where I completed my undergraduate degree. As an Athletic Training, I quickly noticed a gap — much of the care I was providing centered on preventable injuries and illnesses. This realization pushed me toward a broader, more holistic understanding of health and inspired me to pursue a masters degree in Health Education.

In the UNM Community Health Education program, Dr. Magdalena Avila reminded me of a teaching I first learned from my grandmother in Sandia Pueblo — we are not healthy unless our community is healthy. That trust has guided my path ever since. It deepened my commitment to community-centered, multicultural health work and revealed the urgent need for equity and respect for Indigenous knowledge within health systems. This ultimately led me to the Indigenous Health Ph.D. program at the University of North Dakota where my goal is to help bring Traditional Knowledge to the forefront of health education and healthcare practice.

I am continually inspired by the traditional and professional leaders who walk in both worlds and show us how to do the same. The youth I work with remind me of my purpose. They motivate me to grow academically, spiritually, and personally, and to strive to be a good person in all that I do. I believe that Indigenous-centered health education and Sports Medicine for youth can help cultivate a future where Western and Indigenous knowledge are woven together, strengthening our communities and supporting healthier, safer generations to come.