NMI scholarship office teams up with medical university

CNMI Scholarship Office administrator Rose Pangelinan, right, poses together with first-ever WUMI participant Liezel Tiples at Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine after Tiples’ research presentation. Tiples was the first student from the CNMI to participate in the WUMI summer program established between CSO and WUSTL School of Medicine. (Contributed Photo)

The CNMI Scholarship Office has teamed up with the Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine in hopes of giving CNMI students a chance to study and do research at one of the leading medical schools in the nation.

The CNMI Scholarship Office created the partnership with university in February 2017 with a goal of providing opportunities for pre-med and healthcare students from the CNMI. That began the first Washington University and Mariana Islands Summer Program partnership during the summer of 2017.

It is hoped that involvement in summer research training programs at WUSTL School of Medicine will give CNMI students mentored research experience at a top ranked school of medicine.

“…The WUSTL and CSO partnership offers world-class education and training for CNMI students, which is critical to Pacific Islander healthcare and national interest,” said Dr. Joe Pangelinan, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine assistant professor of Medicine and director of Cultural Awareness & Diversity. “We are calling this partnership the Washington University and Marianas Island Program.”

CNMI Scholarship Office administrator Rose Pangelinan said, “We have many brilliant young minds in the CNMI. …Through this partnership, we hope to develop STEM pipeline programs during the summers for our junior/senior high school students here in CNMI…for our undergraduate to get the lab and research experiences that play a significant part in being accepting into medical schools. Lastly, our graduates will be able to participate in a one-year post baccalaureate programs at WUSTL, which will include taking additional courses, preparing them for the MCAT, and shadowing top doctors at the Barnes Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and the WUSTL School of Medicine.”

Among the various summer research programs offered by WUSTL, the McDonnell Genome Institute Opportunities in Genomics Research became the first summer research program from this partnership to select a qualified CNMI student to study genomics.

Among the various candidates, it was Liezel Tiples, a Marianas High School graduate studying biology at the University of Guam, who was chosen to participate during summer 2017.

“I chose to major in biology because of my love for science and medicine. I want to pursue a career as a physician because it has always been a passion of mine to care for others in terms of their health and wellbeing,” said Tiples. “I applied for the OGR summer program because I wanted to gain research experience. This was a great opportunity to develop and expand my current knowledge and skills I need to make an impact in the fields of medicine and science because they are very limited in Guam and the Marianas.”
At the summer OGR program, Tiples was a part of a top lab team mentored by leading scientists, involved in intensive research, and presented to other participants on behalf of her findings.

“I was able to work in Dr. Kristen Naegle’s lab at the biomedical engineering department where we had to develop a high-throughput screening to optimize dual protein expression in E.coli. I learned and became more proficient in many wet lab skills in microbiology, biochemistry, as well as genetics. I was also taught how to put together and conduct a scientific presentation. Other than our lab work, the OGR program also provided a graduate school preparatory course that we all found to be very beneficial. It gave us great insight on how to apply for graduate school, as well as how to write personal statements and do well in interviews.”

Tiples’ extracurricular activities while pursuing her summer research training included participation in a journal club, career counseling and workshops, presentation and writing skills help sessions, GRE preparation, and bioinformatics workshops.

“Attending an off-island program has many benefits because of the advancements in research, technology, and equipment that they have in the schools you go to. It is also great way to represent the Marianas and Pacific in the STEM field,” said Tiples.

From the success of Tiples, CSO will continue their efforts in equipping students with more opportunities through the Washington University and Mariana Islands collaboration.

The WUSTL summer training programs will give any undergraduate student interested in a career in medicine or the biomedical sciences the opportunity to work for eight to 10 weeks under the guidance of faculty or research mentor at WUSTL.

Students will also be exposed to one-on-one collaborations to gain theoretical knowledge and practical training in academic research and scientific experimentation.

In addition to learning research skills, CNMI students will make friends from different backgrounds, learn presentation skills, practice taking tests required for advanced degrees, receive assistance with navigating the graduate application process, and participate in career counseling.

The summer research programs will allow CNMI college students the opportunity to be around highly motivated, committed and excellent physician, scientists, and educators.

Once a CNMI student has been accepted into a summer research program, WUSTL will subsidize costs by providing a stipend up to $4,000, housing allowance, travel to and from WUSTL, Metro bus and Metrolink pass, food allowance and any other cost associated with travel to conferences. All other expenses not covered under the WUSTL summer program will be covered by WUMI depending on availability of funds.

“We are hopeful that this will serve as a successful beginning to a wonderful collaboration in advancing STEM education for [the] Marianas and to increasing Pacific islander representation in medicine and the biomedical fields,” said Dr. Pangelinan.

A list of the various summer programs and their application links can be found on the www.cnmischolarship.net under the “Internship & Fellowship Programs.”

Interested undergraduates are encouraged to begin the application process as most applications are due as soon as Feb. 1, 2018. For more information regarding the WUMI program, contact Monique Sablan at monique@cnmischolarship.net or call 664-4752. (PR)