LA-HIP & STEP-UP Program Staff

Emil Bogenmann, PhD, EdD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology at the USC Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC). His laboratory research focused on the biology of neuralcrest derived tumors such as retinoblastoma and neuroblastoma. Over the last two decades, he has been involved in the training of high school students, undergraduate students, graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Since 1995, Dr. Bogenmann has been the Director for Research Education at The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Dr. Bogenmann completed his Doctor in Education (EdD) in 2008 with a subspecialty in educational psychology from the Rossier School of Education at USC. He established the Latino & African American High School Internship Program (LA-HIP) in 2005. Dr. Bogenmann is also a director for the National Institute of Health sponsored by Short Term Education Program for Underrepresented Person (STEP-UP) research training program for undergraduate students.

Mercedes Gonzalez joined The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles in 2008. Mercedes received a B.S. in Human Services from the University of Phoenix. Her previous experience includes a position for the City of El Monte as a case manager where she focused on high school students from inner city schools. Mercedes is responsible for the organization and coordination of research training programs, including the summer research internship, LA-HIP. The Latino and African American High School Internship Program promotes research education and career development for students from inner city schools in the Los Angeles and Compton Unified School Districts. Mercedes also acts as program coordinator for the NIH/NIDDK Short Term Education Program for Underrepresented Persons (STEP-UP) for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.