TJC Accredited
3 consecutive terms
GRMC community honors Dr. Margaret Hattori-Uchima
Hospital memorial mass and canned food drive to take place on January 6th
(Thursday, January 5, 2023; Dededo, Guam) Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) mourns the recent passing of local advocate and University of Guam (UOG) School of Health Dean, Dr. Margaret Hattori-Uchima.
Many of GRMC’s employee partners, especially nursing staff who graduated from UOG, have worked closely with Dr. Margaret.
GRMC Med-Surgical Registered Nurse Vanessa Marie Tudela shared that Dr. Margaret always gave simple reassurances like, “You can do it guys! I have faith in you! Don’t worry, I got you!” Vanessa continues, “These were what inspired me and motivated many others to keep on going even if things got tough. She was such a bright light for others, charming, and always ready to mentor. You were one of a kind! You’ll surely be missed. Rest in your forever paradise, Dr. Margaret. Si Yu’us Ma’åse.”
GRMC Chief Nursing Officer Jennifer Cruz said, “Margaret was an amazing, unique, and beautiful human being. She was loved and adored by all who were lucky to have known her…She will be missed.”
In 2019, Dr. Margaret spearheaded the development of a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) Apprenticeship program— one of the first collaborative efforts between UOG and GRMC. The program’s funding covered several of the students’ instructional expenses, such as tuition, training materials, certifications, books, and uniforms. During the pandemic, the island fell short of nurses and especially, CNAs. As a result, the apprenticeship program was transformed into a condensed, hybrid program where CNA students underwent their clinical training at both GRMC and GMHA, and had to be willing to work with COVID-19 patient to undergo the program.
GRMC CNA Jenifer Poll was one of the first graduates of this apprenticeship program. She has also been working at GRMC for the last three years. In sharing her thoughts about Dr. Margaret, Jenifer described her as “an amazing person with a kind heart.” She shares her gratitude for Dr. Margaret’s help and guidance throughout the CNA program.
In honor of Dr. Margaret Hattori-Uchima, GRMC will hold a mass at the hospital chapel on Friday, January 6th from 12pm – 1pm. Canned food donations will be accepted at the time of the mass to contribute to her family’s efforts to support the island’s unsheltered community.