Although progressive in its interest in different academic field, the CNMI's youth remains uninterested in the medical field, according to Area Health Education Center director Dr. Faye Untalan.
She said that majority of the Commonwealth's youths do not have the enthusiasm to be a health provider or professional, despite the widespread need for such professionals on the islands.
“The problem in the CNMI is that we don't have enough manpower,” Untalan said.
To remedy this situation, AHEC, together with the Public School System, held a Summer Health Careers Program, which ended last Saturday in a graduation ceremony held at the Charley's Cabaret, Pacific Islands Club.
Untalan said the summer program was the first to be organized in the Pacific. It aimed to introduce young members of the CNMI to the world of medicine and related subject areas. The program was held from July 2 to 16. Some 23 high school students from private and public high schools on Saipan, Rota and Tinian attended the training.
The federally funded Summer Health Careers Program also flew in young mentors to inspire the students and open their eyes to the advantages and the benefits of taking a medical degree. The mentors were University of Hawaii and Chaminade University students Vina Saures, BJ Tudela Ada, Shy Maravilla, Annette Chong Pladevega and Ana Blossom Inos.
Teachers Stanley Iakopo from Kagman High School, Jesse Manglona from Rota and Jovita Paulino from Tinian facilitated the summer program. Bree Reynolds, a science teacher from Hopwood, was the program's project coordinator.
The students visited different clinics, interviewed physicians, and observed the emergency room, hemodialysis and pediatric wards at the Commonwealth Health Center.
Untalan said the participants also conducted a group research study on the prevalence of diabetes in the CNMI.
Board of Education chair Roman Benavente was the guest speaker during Saturday's awarding ceremony. Acting Department of Public Health Secretary Joe Santos and deputy secretary Lynn Tenorio also attended the graduation ceremony.
Kagman High School student Nadia Benjamin, 15, said she was satisfied with the summer program because she became aware of the different opportunities in medical studies. She said she couldn't forget her experiences in the laboratory.
Fifteen-year old Rota High School student Cheyenne Songsong, who had previously only considered a law degree, said the training was informative. “It was really good. It got me interested in the medical field,” she said.
Songsong said she could still make a difference in the lives of the CNMI community in the medical field.
Johora Paeda, 15, a Rota High School student, also said it was a great experience for all of them and thanked her mentors for being very helpful and inspiring.
Other successful trainees for the program were: Daniel Quitugua, Roque Indalecio, Kayla Techur, Evelyn Pangelinan, Tracy Babauta, Jessielynn Quitano, Jaxmin Lizama, Nadia Benjamin, Pagelyn Falig, Chrislaine Lely, Joy Uy, Dawnee Hofschneider, Danica Acebedo, Porsha Palacios, Ricalyn Barcinas, Tasi Taitano, Nina Manglona, Cheyenne Songsong, Champ Untalan, Nathaniel Mateo, Sam Nepaial and Pomaikai John T. Aldan.
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