Assessing Surgical Capacity in Guam: Current Strengths and Future Goals

Guam, the largest U.S. territory in Micronesia, plays a central role in surgical care for the local indigenous community and surrounding Pacific Island nations, yet remains underrepresented in surgical systems research.

We conducted a mixed-methods study. Quantitative data were collected on operating volume, personnel, infrastructure, and surgical services at Guam Memorial Hospital (GMH) and Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC). Semi-structured interviews with hospital leadership and surgical providers captured qualitative insights on strengths, challenges, and future plans.

GMH and GRMC collectively provide general emergency, obstetric, and basic pediatric surgery, although advanced subspecialty and oncologic care remain limited. Although surgeons are highly adaptable with broad-practice capability, challenges, including resource limitations, aging facilities, advanced presentation, and subspecialty recruitment, limit the cases that are operable on Guam, resulting in expensive medical transfer. Anticipated stressors such as oncologic and non-communicable disease burden may further strain the system, emphasizing the necessity for modernized facilities and targeted recruitment of surgeons with regional ties.

Strengthening Guam's surgical capacity is essential for the provision of oncologic care and the advancement of health equity across the Pacific region, emphasizing an urgent need for investment in infrastructure, locally relevant workforce training, and regional policy development.