Two American Samoa Students Chosen for Prestigious AI HEART Program Training at University of Hawaii

Two American Samoans get a prestigious scholarship to attend AI/Machine Learning training at the University of Hawai’i!

Local ASCC Students Selected for Prestigious AI/ML Training

Two sophomores from the American Samoa Community College (ASCC), Fouiamalo Luamanu and Lawrence Talatau, have been selected to participate in the Health Equity Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (HEART) program, reports Samoa News. This prestigious opportunity is offered by the John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) at the University of Hawaii. The program is designed to enhance students’ skills in Data Science, AI, and Machine Learning (AI/ML) methods.

Expanding Skills in Health Data Analytics

The HEART program is part of an effort to train a specialised workforce in health data analytics, which is increasingly reliant on AI/ML techniques. Through the program, Luamanu and Talatau will gain valuable experience in these cutting-edge fields. Participants receive scholarships and professional development, preparing them for future educational and career opportunities in biomedical and health-related fields.

Collaborative Initiative Funded by NIH

The program is funded by the National Institutes of Health’s AIM-AHEAD initiative and involves a collaboration between several institutions, including ASCC, the American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition, and Northern Marianas College. By participating in HEART, these students are part of a broader effort to advance health equity and foster diversity in AI/ML research.

EDITOR’S COMMENT: This is EXACTLY What the Islands Have Been Waiting For!

Until now, the idea of advanced AI applications in health and geosciences has primarily been fantasy for the islands. We are highly encouraged to see locals participating, not only in AI-related tasks, but also essentially helping to define how AI will actually help in the development of improved Pacific health infrastructure. Kudos to these two ground-breaking students. 

(Visit Samoa News for the full story)

*An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story.