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REPUBLIC OF THE MARSHALL ISLANDS
A growing population with limited space has presented the islands with diseases such a leprosy and tuberculosis. These issues along with obesity and noncommunicable diseases have made it difficult for the Marshall Islands to maintain a healthy community.
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In 2012, a STEP-UP training lab was set up in the Republic of the Marshall Islands in order to establish a means for high school students to get involved in research. The local program coordinators, Walton Bohanny and Moses Sumaoang, assist students who are interested in applying to the program as well as those who have been accepted. Accepted students are paired with a experienced research mentor and together work to complete a summer research project at the STEP-UP Training Lab located at the College of the Marshall Islands or at another local agency. At the end of the 8-week program, selected interns travel to Washington, DC for the annual National High School STEP-UP Scientific Research Symposium where they present their summer research projects to both peers and professionals from academia and the research industry. Additionally, a participation allowance is given to interns upon successful completion of the program.
PROGRAM COORDINATORS
Walton Bohanny
College of the Marshall Islands
Mr. Walton Bohanny is a faculty member of the Nursing Department, and Director of Area Health Education Center (AHEC) at the College of the Marshall Islands. Mr. Bohanny graduated from the College of the Marshall Islands in 1993 with an Associate of Science Degree in Nursing. Shortly after, he attended Viterbo University, Wisconsin and received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing in 1996. Mr. Bohanny then attended the Taipei National University of Nursing and graduated with a Master of Science Degree in Nursing in 1999. Mr. Bohanny was born and raised in the main atoll of the Marshall Islands, named the Majuro Atoll.
Moses Sumaoang
College of the Marshall Islands
Mr. Moses Sumaoang earned his BS from the University of the Philippines, Dliliman in Quezon City, Philippines and his BS in Nursing from Mountain View College – Mt. Nebo in Valencia City, Bukidnon. He is currently a nursing instructor at the College of the Marshall Islands. Previously he served as a Nurse Supervisor at the Ministry of Health in Saudi Arabia for 18 years.
Florence Peter
College of the Marshall Islands
Born and raised in the Marshall Islands and attended primary and secondary public schools on the islands. Graduated with an AS in Nursing from the Community College of Micronesia (CCM) in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia in 1983. Continued with nursing education at the University of Guam and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1989. Obtained an MPH from the University of Hawaii School of Public Health in 1998. Married with 3 daughters and 3 lovely grandkids.
STEP-UP TRAINING LAB
NIH NIDDK STEP-UP High School Laboratory in Partnership with the College of the Marshall Islands
