Homegrown Physicians Program

Guam faces a critical shortage of physicians, compounded by the departure of retiring practitioners and the challenge of retaining locally trained doctors who complete their education but do not stay to practice. This issue threatens the accessibility and quality of healthcare services on the island, underscoring the urgent need for targeted interventions to recruit and retain medical professionals to serve the community effectively.

HPP is a fully-funded opportunity for current medical students to return to Guam to rotate through major hospitals and clinics across the island. Over 3-5 weeks, students will be able to work with Guam’s patient population and learn to address the unique health struggles and sociocultural issues present on Guam and in the Pacific. They will learn from and work alongside experienced Guam physicians, forming insightful professional relationships. This curriculum will also have built-in opportunities to engage in local health systems building, mentorship of aspiring pre-medical students, and community education for the prevention of NCDs. We hope these enriching experiences will inspire upcoming generations of physicians to take ownership of their community and think of novel ways to improve the current model of healthcare delivery. Furthermore, we hope that students will reflect on these experiences for years to come and understand the necessity of their return to the island.