The late dean of the University of Guam's School of Health was honored by island leaders and UOG. Governor Lou Leon Guerrero presented the Maga’håga Award posthumously to Dr. Margaret Hattori-Uchima’s family during a memorial service at the UOG Calvo Fieldhouse in Mangilao on Friday afternoon. 

"Margaret has been a very essential part of my governance, especially in healthcare. Margaret would pick up the phone and call me on how to move forward various aspects of our healthcare delivery," the governor fondly recalled.

She was also honored by UOG president Dr. Thomas Krise, who presented the Distinguished Service Medal, as well as the 37th Guam Legislature, who presented a resolution in her honor. 

"As I say to award selection committees, the ideal recipient of the award is one who brings more honor and distinction to the award than the other way around. That the first Distinguished Service Medal recipient is Dr. Hattori-Uchima is the perfect demonstration of this ideal," said Krise.

Dr. Hattori-Uchima has been a registered nurse for over 34 years, a faculty member of UOG since 2001, and had served as dean since 2014.  She was a 21-year member of the Guam Nurses Association and in 2019 was honored as its Nurse of the Year in 2019.

Dr. Hattori-Uchima was also recognized for the service she provided to our homeless community during her lifetime.