Guam Memorial Hospital Strengthens Partnership with USC Keck Medicine to Expand Specialty Care and Clinical Training

Hagåtña, Guam - The Guam Memorial Hospital Authority (GMHA), in collaboration with the Office of the Governor of Guam, announced continued progress under its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Keck Medicine of the University of Southern California (USC). The agreement strengthens access to specialty care, telemedicine, and professional development for Guam's medical and nursing workforce.

Governor Lou Leon Guerrero said the partnership demonstrates how GMH is improving not only its facilities but also the way healthcare is delivered and managed on the island. "You'll hear people ask, 'Why are we going to build a new hospital and put in the same management?'" said Governor Leon Guerrero. "Well, this is it. This is what GMH has gone through-to improve operations, expand administration, and bring in the tools and resources needed to strengthen billing, collections, IT systems, and electronic health records. All of that is a very crucial part of healthcare delivery. Now, with a new hospital coming, and with improvements already happening within GMH's operations, we're aligning both pieces so that when we bring them together, we'll have a stronger clinical and operational foundation to serve our people."

The MOU, signed in April 2025, establishes a framework for telemedicine collaboration, specialty care programs, and staff training exchanges. It also connects GMH physicians, nurses, and patients directly with one of the nation's top-ranked medical institutions.

Lieutenant Governor Josh Tenorio commended the GMH team and emphasized that this partnership puts patients at the center of every decision. "The patients are, of course, the most important part of this occasion," said Lt. Governor Tenorio. "When people are going through a life-threatening and stressful time, their families are forced to navigate a very complex system. This partnership helps make that experience easier and more certain. Keck Medicine is not only bringing specialists to Guam, but they're also welcoming our clinicians for training and continuing education in both medical and nursing fields. That means our doctors and nurses can learn from some of the best in the country, and more families can receive the care they need right here at home."

He added that this collaboration builds on the broader improvements taking place across Guam's healthcare system. "Over the past few years, we've seen tremendous growth across the board-from Behavioral Health moving out of federal receivership to Public Health making progress toward accreditation. At GMH, we've tackled billing, operations, and patient care reforms. This partnership with Keck Medicine builds on that progress and gives us another path forward-one that keeps patients in focus and expands opportunity for our healthcare professionals."

Dr. Joleen Aguon, Interim Chief Executive Officer of GMHA, said, "This partnership is deeply meaningful on both a professional and personal level. Keck Medicine is where I completed my fellowship in internal medicine, pulmonary care, and critical care. To return years later and reconnect with the same institution-not as a trainee, but as a partner-feels like we've come full circle. It reflects how far Guam's healthcare system has advanced. For the first time, our local physicians and nurses are gaining direct access to the same caliber of expertise and innovation that defines one of the top hospitals in the United States."

She continued, "This collaboration isn't just about technology or telemedicine. It's about people. When someone in our community faces a life-threatening illness, they deserve the same quality of care and the same hope as anyone else in the world. Through this partnership, we're giving them that. We're building pathways where our clinicians can train, specialize, and grow without always having to leave Guam. We're also creating an environment where our patients can stay close to their families while receiving advanced care. That's a game changer for our island."

Dr. Aguon also highlighted how this agreement fits into the hospital's broader transformation, and added, "We've strengthened our internal systems-from electronic health records to clinical governance-and this partnership amplifies that momentum. Every program we launch with Keck Medicine brings us closer to the level of service and quality that our people deserve. It's not just progress for GMH; it's progress for Guam."

Under the agreement, GMH and Keck Medicine are developing initiatives that will:

• Launch a telemedicine platform that allows pre-consultations between Guam patients and Keck specialists before traveling off-island.
• Provide advanced specialty training for GMH physicians and nurses through clinical rotations and updated certifications.
• Establish an oncology pathway that would allow patients to receive chemotherapy and supportive cancer care on island through the federal 340B cost-sharing program.
• Collaborate on hospital operations and accreditation, strengthening GMH's administrative and clinical systems to meet national standards.

Dr. Ricardo Eusebio, Chief Medical Officer for GMHA's Medical Services, said the collaboration creates stability for patients and clarity for physicians. "When we give a patient a diagnosis that requires specialty care, one of the hardest parts is explaining what our limitations are," said Dr. Eusebio. "This partnership provides a clear, structured pathway for our patients. They'll know exactly where they're going, who their doctor is, and what the plan of care looks like-even before they leave Guam. That stability removes so much anxiety, not only for the patient, but for the physicians who are referring them."

He added, "It's about closing the loop of care. When a patient leaves Guam for a procedure, receives care at Keck, and then returns home, both the referring doctor and the receiving team are already aligned. There are no unknowns. The patient feels secure, the doctor has confidence, and the continuity of care is intact. This is something we've been working toward for many years-and finally, we're here. This is a gold mine for us. A gold mine for our patients, a gold mine for our physicians, and a gold mine for Guam."

Dr. Aguon concluded that the partnership's impact extends beyond the hospital walls. This was clear by the testimonials provided today by Matthew Quinata, Glenn Leon Guerrero, and BJ Palomo, all of whom are success stories of the ongoing partnership.

"Every patient story reminds us why this work matters," she said. "For years, families have faced the emotional and financial burden of traveling off-island for treatment. Through this partnership, we can bring specialized care closer to home, reduce those barriers, and give our patients and their families the comfort of staying together during recovery."

The MOU is a three-year agreement with opportunities for renewal and expansion as projects advance. The next phase will focus on implementing teleconsultation pathways and identifying specialty care programs for on-island integration.

To watch today's press conference in its entirety, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUm6m-iqqBg.

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