By Jolene Toves
For Variety
HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — The University of Guam has signed a partnership with the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine-Arkansas, or NYITCOM, which the officials hailed as part of the “solution” to Guam’s shortage of health care professionals.
The partnership with NYITCOM creates a direct pathway for University of Guam students pursuing a pre-medical degree to become a doctor.
“The pathway represents a long-term strategy to build local health care capacity and increase the number of homegrown physicians serving the island,” UOG said in a release Thursday.
According to officials, after completing their four-year undergraduate program at UOG, the students can earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at NYITCOM’s campus in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
UOG President Anita Borja Enriquez believes the partnership is part of the “solution,” to Guam’s endemic shortage of health care professionals.
“By creating a clear pathway to medical school, we support our mission to provide public value – developing local talent and strengthening the health care workforce for our island and region.”
The announcement follows efforts by the Legislature to address physician shortages and expand access to health care through Bill 206-38, which, if signed into law, opens the pathway for internationally trained doctors to gain licensure to practice in Guam.
UOG believes the steps taken by the 38th Guam Legislature highlight the urgent need for immediate and long-term solutions to the health care workforce.
“Over the past decade, the dedicated faculty in (the UOG College of Natural and Applied Sciences) have built a strong biology program, and we have produced so many great students,” said Rachael Leon Guerrero, dean of UOG CNAS. “This partnership between our academic institutions further expands the opportunities and impact for our students to pursue a career in medicine while staying connected to the needs of our community.”
Leon Guerrero told the Post that the first students may be seen participating in the program as early as next year.
“We have some students that are juniors that are going to graduate in May of 2027. Then it’s possible that we may have a few entering the program in the fall of 2027,” Guerrero said, stressing that participation won’t be assessed until applications for the program are opened this summer.
UOG said information about the program’s details, including requirements, eligibility and application timelines, is forthcoming.
