Dr. Angelica C. Sabino appears before the Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations on Tuesday last week in the Senate chamber.
THE Senate Committee on Executive Appointments and Government Investigations conducted a public hearing on Tuesday last week on the renomination of Dr. Angelica C. Sabino to the CNMI Health Care Professions Licensing Board or HCPLB.
Sabino was confirmed to the post by the Senate in September to fill a board seat that was vacated in June. Her post will expire in January 2023 if she is not reconfirmed to the board.
Presiding over the hearing was committee chair Sen. Francisco Q. Cruz. Senate Floor Leader Vinnie F. Sablan and Sen. Victor B. Hocog were also present.
HCPLB Executive Director Esther S. Fleming told the senators: “I did appeal to the governor for the possibility of renominating her. We don’t have that [many] people [who] can really stay long enough [on island]…. It’s not that easy to review applicants coming in and trying to fulfill requirements [and] compliances in our islands, so when Dr. Sabino came onboard and agreed that she’d like to serve on the board, I did ask [Gov. Ralph DLG Torres] for his consideration in having her be appointed to serve in that capacity to represent the dentistry. I’m very impressed with the performance that she has done.”
Fleming and board chair Dr. Theodore Parker noted that Sabino is passionate about providing dental care to Public School System students, as well as patients on Tinian and Rota.
Parker said during Sabino’s short tenure, she has already recommended changes to dentistry regulations that he thinks will greatly benefit CNMI patients.
“I am in full support of her confirmation,” he said.
There were no letters submitted to the committee in support or in opposition of the nominee. The committee will deliberate and is anticipated to provide its report to the full Senate body during the next Senate session.
Sabino holds certificates to practice dentistry in Minnesota, Georgia and the CNMI. She worked as a general dentist in Georgia from 2004 to 2016 before moving to the CNMI.
She is currently the chief dentist for the Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, and is a member of the American Association of States and Territorial Dental Directors.
A Marianas High School alumna, Sabino holds a bachelor of arts degree in biology from the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, Minnesota, and graduated with a doctorate in dental surgery from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
She is also certified in basic life support and cardiopulmonary resuscitation in dental practice.
For more information about the CNMI Health Care Professions Licensing Board, visit https://www.cnmilicensing.gov.mp/about/.
