Health Care Challenges in the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands
This seminar explored the unique challenges of healthcare in the U.S.-affiliated Pacific Islands – American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). These island communities face a complex mix of geographic isolation, limited healthcare infrastructure, workforce shortages, and rising rates of chronic disease. This event will bring together representatives from health professionals, policy experts, and community leaders from the 3 US Pacific polities to discuss critical barriers to delivering care, innovative solutions, and the urgent need for sustained federal support and investment.
The program is supported by the Southby Seminar, made possible by a generous gift from Richard and Janet Southby. It is also part of the Pacific Health Care Initiative, a project of the Center for Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Studies, Walsh School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University.
Click here to watch the seminar.
Panelists
Scott Anesi: is the current CEO of LBJ Tropical Medical Center. He has worked as an territorial epidemiologist with the Department of Health in American Samoa. Scott has designed epidemiology courses at Fiji National University.
Esther Muna: is the CEO of the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation in the Northern Mariana Islands, where she oversees the territory’s hospital, dialysis center, public health services, and community clinics. Under her leadership, CHCC has focused on improving healthcare access, integrating public health systems, and advancing health outcomes across the CNMI. She also serves as an ex-officio board member of the CHCC Foundation, supporting health initiatives through charitable efforts.
Lillian Perez-Posadas: the current administrator and CEO of Guam Memorial Hospital, the public hospital on Guam. She is a Registered Nurse with over 30 years of experience in clinical and administrative/leadership nursing positions as well as community health nursing and faculty at the University of Guam School of Nursing.
Art San Agustin: Special Assistant of Health to the Governor, Guam. He is the former Department of Public Health and Social Services Director.
Anna Sipili: an internal medicine physician and currently the Medical Director at the Department of Health overseeing the Tafuna Family Health Clinic in American Samoa
Eileen Natuzzi: CANZPS affiliate and co-coordinator for the Australia New Zealand Gastrointestinal International Training Association (ANZGITA) and is a visiting staff member at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) in Honiara, Solomon Islands.