by Erin Raterman
Daily Lobo
A UNM Health Sciences Center administrator has been selected by Attorney General John Ashcroft to be on a 20-member national committee that identifies solutions for domestic violence.
Pamela Galbraith, administrator of the Behavioral Health Hospitals and Programs at UNM's Health Science Center, accepted the nomination to be on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Advisory Committee on Violence Against Women.
Galbraith said that some of the committee members include lawyers, district attorneys, a minister, a parole officer and businessmen.
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Galbraith has been working at the UNM Health Sciences Center since 1972, and has more than 30 years experience in the healthcare field. She is also a member of the American Hospital Association, the New Mexico Psychiatric Task Force and is vice president of the Rural Development Council.
Galbraith said that among other items, the committee will examine raising public awareness using public service announcements, providing increased training for law enforcement agencies and possibly introducing new legislation against domestic violence.
Galbraith expressed her concern that domestic violence is a "closet issue" and that with her participation on the committee she hopes to make it a topic more open to public discussion and less shameful for victims.
She said that the committee is not only focused on domestic violence against women, but also on violence against men and children.
"Domestic violence is not gender specific," Galbraith said.
Galbraith said that the committee members want to develop a "road map" for preventing domestic violence on a national level. She also stressed the importance of breaking the cycle of abuse, which is when adults who have been abused as children become abusers themselves.
According to FBI statistics, 1,500 American women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends each year.
Galbraith pointed to a recent triple homicide in Albuquerque as an indicator of how severe the domestic-violence problem is in New Mexico.
Galbraith believes that her job at the Health Sciences Center has exposed her to the damaging effects of domestic violence. Her involvement in the mental health center and prior experience with a rape crisis center, as well as her exposure to domestic violence in hospital emergency rooms, have showed her the negative impact of domestic violence.
Galbraith said she has high hopes for the success of the committee.
"I hope the work of the committee can make a difference," Galbraith said.
She considers her role on the committee to be something more than just an appointment.
Galbraith describes the other members of the committee as passionate, energetic, creative and eager to get to work.
Kathryn Chaney, executive director of the Women's Community Association, who is involved with the treatment and care of domestic violence victims in New Mexico, is excited about the committee.
"State collaboration with a national group will bring about good," Chaney said.
The committee will have its second meeting in Dallas, next week. Galbraith and the other members of the committee will begin developing legislative priorities against domestic violence and are taking measures to increase public awareness about domestic violence not only in New Mexico, but across the nation.
