Navy highlights science and medicine for top Kauai students

Ens. Christi Morrissey, student naval aviator, speaks with local Kauai students at Lihue Airport. Morrissey was part of a group of Oahu-based multi-service personnel who flew to Kauai in support of the science, service, medicine and mentoring (S2M2) program. The goal of S2M2 is to get college-bound high school students energized for careers in science and medicine and cultivate capable professionals, particularly in health-related career paths. The outreach is open to all students, but has a focus on minority students.

Pacific Missile Range Facility Public Affairs

In 2004, Capt. Cynthia Macri, Chief of Naval Operation’s (CNO) special assistant for diversity, noticed an alarming lack of diversity among health care professionals.

After looking across the room at multiple medical classes, she saw few people of color and especially no Native Hawaiians. The lack of diversity alerted her to the growing cultural disparity between health care providers and their patients.

In response to the lack of representation in the medical field, Macri developed a program called science, service, medicine and mentoring (S2M2).

The program has reached hundreds of students since it began.On Oct. 2, Macri brought the program to nearly 30 students from three Kauai high schools who were the first on the island of Kauai to participate in the program. They met at the Kauai Veterans Center and transitioned to the Lihue Airport to view aircraft static displays featuring an SH-60 Seahawk helicopter and a C-20G Gulfstream IV.

“I want to encourage students of all backgrounds to attend medical school to improve the health of our nation. We need to expose kids to medical and technical professions. We need physicians who understand all cultures to improve competent health care delivery,” Macri said.

A group of Oahu-based multi-service personnel flew to Kauai in support of S2M2. Participating personnel included physicians, pilots, dentists, optometrists, nurses, pharmacists, corpsmen and aircrew. The personnel presented their careers in a classroom setting and again later at a roundtable discussion during lunch where they engaged students oneon-one.

Dr. Glenda NogamiStreufert played a pivotal role in bringing S2M2 to Kauai. She engaged Bill Arakaki, Hawaii Department of Education Kauai Area Complex superintendent, and Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho over the past two years and spear-headed the outreach program in cooperation with Macri.

“We wanted this program on Kauai. Education has always been important to us. Kauai is a great place to start. I’ve always supported education and I wanted the kids to have an idea of different professions they can aspire to by exposing them to pharmacists and doctors that talk about their jobs,” Nogami-Streufert said.

“Asians and Pacific Islanders need more opportunities. This program is designed to reach under-served populations,” Macri emphasized.

The goal of S2M2 is to get college-bound high school students energized for careers in science and medicine and cultivate capable professionals, particularly in health-related career paths. The outreach is open to all students, but has a focus on disadvantaged and under-represented students. The Kauai S2M2 visit was conducted in collaboration with the Kauai Department of Education, three local Kauai high schools and several local Kauai veterans groups.