A group of volunteers and artists is proving that a little color can go a long way in the healing process. Through "Bringing Color To Healing," the Guam Memorial Hospital has been transformed with vibrant murals and local artwork. 

A splash of color and creativity now fills the halls of GMH's Pediatrics Unit, thanks to a community-driven project aimed at making the space feel more inviting. Kyle Dallman, risk manager for GMH, told KUAM News, "This is a more welcoming environment for patients, family, and staff alike and what youre seeing the art on the walls is really the fruit of a very extensive collaboration between Guam Memorial Hospital's Pediatric Family Advisory Council, CAHA, and the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority Volunteers Association."

The Pediatric Family Advisory Council (PFAC), is the first of its kind at GMH, bringing together hospital staff and community members to improve the patient experience. "Between GMHA staff, from board of trustees members, all the way down to the frontline. The most important aspect of the PFAC is the community advisor representation," said Dallman.

Dallman says the council’s mission aligns with GMH’s core values. "It honors the community through starting with the community," he said.

Project manager Shae Cardona says ‘Bringing Color To Healing’ started with a vision - one that was made possible through collaboration with local artists. "I started with Scarlet Savage, who was the creative director. We worked together on kind of the overall concept. And we made a list of artists we needed," she explained.

As members of the art collective Obra, reaching out to Guam’s creative community was seamless. Savage played a crucial role in shaping the visual direction of the project, with Cardona saying, "Scarlet really narrowed down the color scheme. She's a professional artist, she does incredible work, she designed the hallway, she did some research into the colors and the types of designs would be appropriate for this setting."

With a carefully curated palette and 14 commissioned artists, the transformation of the Pediatric Unit took over a year of planning. Volunteers and artists dedicated their time and talent to make the project a reality - culminating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on the fourth floor. 

A vibrant new space - made possible through art, collaboration, and a shared mission to bring healing through color.

"To see everyone come together and bring up the big project like this, has been really beautiful, I've appreciated it so much," said Cardona.