DAN Welcomes 2023 Interns
June 28, 2023Introducing three new interns who are working with Divers Alert Network® (DAN) this summer to expand their knowledge of dive safety, dive research, and public outreach while supporting DAN’s operations and mission.
The DAN Internship Program was established 24 years ago to provide qualified students with valuable experience in dive safety research. The program’s objectives align with DAN’s mission of assisting divers in need, promoting dive safety through education, and expanding outreach and communication initiatives. Throughout the summer, the interns will be working on various projects and research efforts at DAN’s headquarters in Durham, North Carolina.
Matthew Argame is a medical student who recently completed the basic science portion of his medical education at St. George’s University. He plans to begin clinical rotations later this year. Argame also holds a Master of Science in Narrative Medicine from Columbia University and scuba certifications, including TDI Full Cave Diver, PADI Rescue Diver, and PADI Divemaster. Argame is honored to be this year’s Diver’s Health and Safety Intern, a collaboration between DAN and the Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society. He believes that the internship at DAN will allow him to combine his interests and equip him with the community, knowledge, and skills necessary to make the underwater world more sustainable, accessible, and safe for everyone.
Liana van Woesik is a senior at the Florida Institute of Technology, majoring in Marine Biology with double minors in Communication and Sustainability. She is a PADI Divemaster and AAUS Scientific Diver with a deep love for nature and the environment, particularly the world’s oceans. van Woesik aims to merge her passion for diving with her postgraduate education plans to effect positive change in the marine environment and contribute to the care and preservation of Earth’s biodiversity. As a communications and marketing intern, she is thrilled to be part of the DAN team, learning from and contributing to DAN’s vision and mission.
Madeline Coombs is a senior at Texas Tech pursuing a degree in Biology with aspirations to further her education in medicine or medical research. Coombs has been scuba diving since the age of 14 and has obtained various diving certifications, eventually becoming an instructor. She also has experience as a public safety and rescue diver and enjoys volunteering in this capacity. Coombs is excited to combine her love for diving with the sciences as a research intern at DAN this summer.
