Replying to my own last question, since I figured it out, for posterity.
Code:
~ find the cure moderate wounds spell
var cmw as string
cmw = "Cure Moderate Wounds"
foreach pick in hero from BaseSpell
var spellname as string
spellname = eachpick.field[shortname].text
validif (compare(cmw,spellname) = 0)
nexteach