A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa undergraduate had the opportunity to observe a pathologist perform an autopsy and shadow forensic investigators at a crime scene during her Poʻokela Fellowship.
This hands-on experience with the City and County of Honolulu’s Medical Examiner’s Office gave Nanami Mehring, a fourth-year molecular biosciences and biotechnology major at the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resilience (CTAHR), a profound lesson in personal resilience, solidifying her interest in a field that demands both scientific precision and empathy.
While the technical skills and pre-med knowledge she gained from her CTAHR courses such as biochemistry were essential, Mehring discovered that her most valuable insight was the compassionate nature of the work.
The Medical Examiner’s Office provides clarity and closure to families whose loved ones have died in mysterious circumstances.
“It’s a job full of compassion,” she said. A pathology career asks for a blend of objectivity and a “strong soul.”
Solidifying career aspirations
For Mehring, the Poʻokela Fellowship solidified her career aspirations and prepared her for a future where she can provide answers and much-needed closure to families in their time of grief.
The Po’okela Fellows Internship Program introduces college students to the City and County of Honolulu’s departments, connects them with City leaders and encourages them to apply classroom knowledge to various projects and make a difference in their communities.
The internship gave Mehring confidence in her career path and a sense that she can handle the emotional and physical demands of pathology. Investigators and pathologists at the office gave her insight into the next steps—from medical school to pursuing a master’s program to become a pathologist assistant. Internship programs such as the Poʻokela Fellowship help to support workforce development in Hawaiʻi, one of the core pillars of the UH System Strategic Plan. Research shows too that early career exposure such as Mehring’s is strongly correlated with academic persistence and early career success.
