MANHASSET, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Baldwin High School took home the title of Medical Marvels in this year’s 10th annual science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) research competition, hosted by The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health’s Center for Workforce Readiness and Northwell Health Talent Acquisition. Regional high school freshmen and sophomores were asked to address in virtual video presentations and via a scientific poster the issue of stopping human trafficking and helping its victims. This is the second year in a row Baldwin High School won the competition, with 2021’s competition theme centered around gun violence prevention.
Students from 18 schools across Nassau and Suffolk counties were tasked with hypothetically developing educational programs, drafting policies and identifying services for human trafficking victims to spotlight this very real and serious public health issue. Teams were required to submit a scientific poster and three-minute recorded presentation, including a scientific research assessment of the topic, a technological component and public health policy strategy to raise awareness and assess proposed solutions to this crisis.
A panel of scientists, clinicians and health care administrators evaluated each video using a five-point scale scoring rubric. The applications were judged for qualities such as innovation, clarity, approach and measurement of success.
“Our hope is to raise health in our communities by creating formative opportunities that will introduce career paths for future top researchers, innovators, leaders and clinicians,” said Ines Vanboom, assistant vice president of Workforce Readiness at Northwell Health. “For a decade now, the Medical Marvels program has challenged Long Island’s brightest high school minds to tackle some of the most urgent public health and scientific issues, we are grateful to empower these amazing students.”
The team from Baldwin High School presented a solution of a task force approach to human trafficking, including a coalition of community members to provide support with a focus on educators who can see changes in students throughout the year. They also presented their ideas on awareness in schools, the community and a presence on social media to educate a wide array of audiences.
More than 140 students participated in the Medical Marvels competition, which included a virtual conference day on March 4. During the conference, leaders across Northwell Health shared valuable insight around the issue of human trafficking, including a welcome message from Santhosh Paulus, MD, director of Northwell’s Human Trafficking HEART Program. In addition, students attended a workshop presented by James Murphy, a Suffolk County Police Department detective in the Human Trafficking division.
“At the Feinstein Institutes, it is important that we encourage the process of discovery and ongoing education,” said Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes. “By listening to these students, it is clear that the future of STEM and medical research is bright.”
Students at Commack High School placed second while JFK High School (Bellmore-Merrick) and JFK High School (Plainview-Old Bethpage) tied for third place. An honorable mention was also given to New Hyde Park High School.
About the Feinstein Institutes
The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research is the home of the research institutes of Northwell Health, the largest health care provider and private employer in New York State. Encompassing 50 research labs, 3,000 clinical research studies and 5,000 researchers and staff, the Feinstein Institutes raises the standard of medical innovation through its five institutes of behavioral science, bioelectronic medicine, cancer, health system science, and molecular medicine. We make breakthroughs in genetics, oncology, brain research, mental health, autoimmunity, and are the global scientific leader in bioelectronic medicine – a new field of science that has the potential to revolutionize medicine. For more information about how we produce knowledge to cure disease, visit http://feinstein.northwell.edu and follow us on LinkedIn.
About Medical Marvels
An annual STEM competition for ninth and tenth grade high school students, The Medical Marvels program believes in the academic promise of all students, and that by investing in their ideas, the future health and well-being of our community will be served. They also believe that by investing in youth and giving them a sense of place and responsibility for problem solving in the community, a community ensures that it will have bright and capable future leaders for STEM careers. Any New York State-accredited educational institution in Nassau, Suffolk, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Staten Island, or Westchester is eligible to participate. Medical Marvels was established in 2013 by the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research and Northwell Health’s Center for Workforce Readiness.
