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CNMI hospital trains next generation of healthcare professionals

The CNMI’s only hospital is working to develop interest and skills for careers in the healthcare industry amid its growing needs in Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. 

Recent Marianas High School graduate Frann Billy has her eyes set on the healthcare industry in Saipan. 

"I have always thought of the medical field as an opportunity or a career to go into and I saw this opportunity and I wanted to take it to see if the medical field was really for me," she said. 

Frann became interested in the field after a family member was brought to the hospital six months ago for a respiratory issue. She’s one of 12 interns placed through various departments at the CNMI’s only hospital for the summer gaining real-world experience before starting college classes. 

Dylan Mister, a fellow MHS grad, is heading off to California. But before that, he’s lending a hand at the Radiology Department. He said, "There is something about seeing through the body without having to cut them open. It just fascinated me."

It’s that curiosity that brought many students like him to apply and that the hospital hopes they can nourish as the industry is in dire need of more professionals on the island.

Ella Limoico interns at the Pharmacy. "I was planning to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy and wanted to understand what it really means to be a pharmacist and be a part of the healthcare team and I wanted to see firsthand what they do and get a feel of their responsibilities and duties," she said. 

Destiny Camacho, who interns at the lab, said the program has broadened the possibilities after graduation. She told KUAM, "It has been really nice. The people are really fun and I have been learning about blood and all the test that you take when you come to the hospital and there are a lot of technicalities that not everybody knows."

Students are learning on the job, guided by long-time hospital professionals. And many of them told KUAM it is about giving back to the community that gave so much to them. 

Gadiele Joson, a Physical Therapy Intern, said, "I like how we go out and we help the patients try to regain their muscles, hopefully, let them walk or at least live a normal life despite being bedridden or lacking some kind of limber too."