Working in Guam as a PA

[Zachty77]

Hello,

I always wanted to work internationally as a PA, when a job came available in Guam I jumped at the chance. Technically, Guam is a US territory, so PA's can legally practice here, just a territorial license (same a state license). Guam is an under-served area, so jobs are plentiful for any that are interested. 

Because Guam is under-served, most physicians take on multiple roles, regardless of speciality. I work at a primary clinic that also provides urgent care and dermatological services to the islanders. It has been a great experience where I have been able to increase my skill set and relearn many things I haven't thought about since school. It has its challenges, there are some services that aren't available here on the island. We just got our first ever GI specialist last summer (who is looking for a PA right now), and there are no immunologists on the island. One of the urologist offices closed last month leaving one single urologist to cover both hospitals. There is a huge need for medical providers here. If services aren't available, most travel to Japan or the Philippines for specialized care. 

Another thing I absolutely LOVE about Guam, is that the patients here are so grateful for someone who comes here to practice medicine. Literally every patient thanks you at every visit. The attitude towards healthcare providers is very different from that of a lot of patients back home in the US. There is a huge cultural melting pot as it is a big travel hub for international tourism. Japanese, Filipino, Chinese, Taiwanese, Korean, Micronesian, Polynesian, American, Russian, European and others routinely come through my clinic and it is really cool getting to talk to so many people from all over the world, and learn cultural differences and expectations. 

Some specifics relating to problems on Guam: Diabetes is king. Due to shipping regulations/laws, anything shipped to Guam must touch US mainland soil first before coming to Guam. Hence, fresh fruits and veggies are a struggle to get. Rice fills peoples bellies and canned meats full of nitrates are beloved since WWII. I have never seen such high blood sugar/A1C levels in my life. Gout is more prevalent here as well. TB is common on outer islands, so it is common to screen for and treat TB. I have also seen chicken pox, leprosy, Kawasaki disease and several other conditions I thought I would only read about. Due to the water, psoriasis and eczema is insanely common and developing treatment regimens has been fascinating for me. Again, there is such a need for good providers. 

One of the things that interests me here is that there is no state/territory PA organization. I've spoken to several PAs here on-island and there is motivation to get something organized, but as of yet nobody has taken the initiative. 

Anyway, just wanted to get the word out for any interested. Guam is a great opportunity if you are interested. 

[SedRate]

Thanks for sharing your experience and insight. Any need for ortho and/or surgical PAs? 

[Zachty77]

So, there are two hospitals here. Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH), which is a territory run public hospital, and Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) which is a privately funded organization. Those locations are where most surgical/ortho PAs would be employed. I work at a private clinic and don't know the specific needs currently, but I can ask around and let you know what I find out. Guam is pretty small and most medical specialists get to know each other through the Guam Medical Association meetings. Give me a few days and I can get the lay of the land. 

[SedRate]

13 hours ago, Zachty77 said:

So, there are two hospitals here. Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH), which is a territory run public hospital, and Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) which is a privately funded organization. Those locations are where most surgical/ortho PAs would be employed. I work at a private clinic and don't know the specific needs currently, but I can ask around and let you know what I find out. Guam is pretty small and most medical specialists get to know each other through the Guam Medical Association meetings. Give me a few days and I can get the lay of the land. 

Thanks for the info. Let me know what you find out. Appreciate your time and insight.