For Immediate Release

May 25, 2022

The PIHOA Pacific Public Health Fellowship Program is Accepting Applications Until June 30, 2022

Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until June 30, 2022 Quick Links: Application Informational Sheet PPHFP Website

The Pacific Public Health Fellowship Program (PPHFP) is a two-year professional development program that provides promising career-minded individuals with robust and practical hands-on learning experiences and training for a variety of public health career pathways. The program offers a wide array of opportunities to learn from and work directly with highly experienced and seasoned frontline public and community health professionals in the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPIs).   The goal is to prepare new college graduates and early career professionals for a successful career in organizations that focus on public and community health to meet emerging and future public health challenges in the USAPIs.

The PPHFP is a collaborative effort between the USAPIs’ departments/ministries of health, the Pacific Island Health Officers’ Association (PIHOA), and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The USAPIs include the US Pacific Island Territories: Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas (CNMI), and American Samoa; and the US Freely Associated States (FAS): Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), and the Republic of Palau.

Testimonials from Fellows Real-World Experience for Emerging Pacific Island Public Health Leaders

Ms. LaDonna Engichy 2020 Pacific Public Health Fellow Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services, STD/HIV/Viral Hepatitis Program "The fellowship provided me with a wide variety of valuable experiences. I worked on the front line alongside the Guam Public Health staff, engaged with community stakeholders, and conducted investigations with a visiting CDC team. I am eager to apply the skills and knowledge I've gained to serve the communities within the Pacific. I've gained a deep understanding of how health disparities impact people and would like to be part of the public health workforce to help reduce disease burden, especially among Pacific Islanders.”

“This fellowship has helped me to understand the local healthcare system and network with others to create long-term solutions on behalf of the entire CNMI community. I gained a tremendous amount of skills that enhanced my capabilities to support my pursuit of furthering my career and education. I strive to continue to be a health champion for Tinian, the CNMI, and the Pacific Region." Ms. Gizelle Kwon  2020 Pacific Public Health Fellow CNMI Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation - Tinian Health Center, Non-Communicable Disease Bureau

Why Become a Fellow? Successful Pacific Public Health Fellows will: Acquire skills and knowledge that will enhance their own future career in public health. Gain an understanding of the wide array of employment opportunities in the field of public health. Learn how to use the foundational knowledge learned in the PPHFP to work with USAPI communities to assure and improve health outcomes. Network and make lasting connections with experienced health experts across many sectors of health care in the Pacific region. Gain exposure to internationally renowned global health leaders from agencies such as the CDC, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), and others. Enhance their professional credentials through the completion of program activities and milestones.

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Testimonials from Host Site Supervisors

“We have benefited tremendously from the fellowship program, both in terms of building the region’s cadre of public health professionals and increasing our capacity to fill gaps in areas of need.” Mr. Vince Aquon  Host Site Supervisor - Pacific Public Health Fellowship Program  Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services “As a supervisor, I have been delighted with the experience that both we and the Fellow have gained. Gathering and analyzing data that will be used to develop evidence-based policy, systems, and interventions for the island of Tinian is a considerable achievement.” Ms. Amber Lynn Mendiola Host Site Supervisor - Pacific Public Health Fellowship Program CNMI Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation

### About the Pacific Islands Health Officers Association The Pacific Islands Health Officers’ Association (PIHOA) is a non-profit organization that is led by and represents the collective interests of the Ministers, Secretaries, and Directors of Health of the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPIs). The organization’s mission is to improve the health and well-being of USAPI communities by providing, through consensus, a unified credible voice on health issues of regional significance.  Media Contacts Ms. Billie Hiraishi Communications Officer billieh@pihoa.org Dr. Kristine Qureshi Regional Human Resources for Health Coordinator krisq@pihoa.org Dr. Yvette Paulino Pacific Public Health Fellowship Program Manager yvettep@pihoa.org