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3 consecutive terms
Pictured (L-R): Fred Alig (CCL Tech), Hernie Velasquez (RN), Baylee Scarberry (CCL Tech), Karen Sabuya (Lead RN), Marcel Padilla (CCL Tech), Kathy Dizon (RN), Jerymyah Fejerang (Instructor), Nanette Hipos (RN), Lanissa Burns (CCL Tech), Cloudy Rain Pareja (RN), Jeslene Escrupolo (CCL Tech), Dulce Licup (RN), George Babauta (CCL tech)
Pictured (L-R): Fred Alig (CCL Tech), Baylee Scarberry (CCL Tech), Marcel Padilla (CCL Tech), Jerymyah Fejerang (Instructor), Lanissa Burns (CCL Tech), Jeslene Escrupolo (CCL Tech), George Babauta (CCL tech)
(Friday, October 2, 2026; Dededo, Guam) – Guam Regional Medical City (GRMC) is investing in the future of cardiac and stroke care on Guam by expanding specialized education and hands-on training for its Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory (Cath Lab) team.
Every minute matters when treating a heart attack or stroke. Behind every successful procedure is a highly trained team working alongside physicians to restore blood flow, minimize damage, and improve patient outcomes.
GRMC’s Cath Lab technologists prepare the laboratory, equipment, supplies, and sterile field before procedures. They assist GRMC Interventional Cardiologists Dr. Maheshwara “Mahesh” Golla and Dr. Bishoy ElBebawy, as well as GRMC Neurointerventional Radiologist Dr. Scott Shay, during complex, minimally invasive procedures. The team also operates specialized imaging and hemodynamic monitoring equipment and helps ensure patient safety throughout each procedure.
GRMC’s Cath Lab supports a wide range of cardiac, neurovascular, and interventional radiology services, including coronary angiograms, angioplasty and stent placement, pacemaker implantation, heart catheterizations, peripheral vascular interventions, stroke and aneurysm interventions, and central line and dialysis catheter placement.
As these procedures continue to evolve, so does the need for specialized education. Guam currently does not have a formal educational program for Cath Lab technologists, making workforce development and continuing education especially important.
To support this effort, GRMC welcomed Jerymyah Fejarang, a Guam native and Lead Clinical Cardiovascular Technologist at Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center in California. With more than two decades of experience in cardiovascular care, Fejarang returned home to provide classroom instruction, hands-on education, competency validation, and mentorship for GRMC’s Cath Lab team.
Born and raised on Guam, Fejarang understands the challenges local students face when pursuing highly specialized healthcare careers. Like many healthcare professionals before him, he left the island to obtain education and experience that were not available locally.
“This is home,” said Fejarang. “If I have knowledge and experience that can help strengthen healthcare on Guam, why wouldn’t I come back and share it? Being able to invest in the people caring for our island community is incredibly meaningful.”
The training covered sterile technique, equipment operation, imaging, procedural support, patient safety, emergency response, and other skills needed to support complex cardiac and neurovascular procedures. GRMC Cath Lab Technologist Ethan Alegre said the training strengthened his current abilities while helping him recognize the team’s potential for continued growth.
“This training provided me with the proper tools to continue giving the best quality care possible to our patients here on the island,” said Alegre. “It made me realize that there is a lot more to what we do and what we are potentially capable of. Every day, there is always something new to learn.” GRMC Cath Lab Technologist George Babauta said the training also helped build his confidence and reinforced the importance of teamwork and attention to detail.
“My biggest takeaway is that teamwork, attention to detail, and staying calm under pressure can make a real difference in a patient’s life,” said Babauta. “This training helped improve our skills so we can provide faster, safer, and higher-quality care.”
Throughout the training, Fejarang said he was impressed by the versatility and dedication of GRMC’s Cath Lab team.
“Cath Lab technologists work in a highly specialized, high-pressure environment,” said Fejarang. “They’re incredibly smart, dynamic, and hardworking. One moment they’re responding to a heart attack, and the next they’re assisting with a stroke intervention. They have to think critically, adapt quickly, work as a team, and perform under pressure.”
“We take care of both the brain and the heart, so I feel the term is fitting when you consider the specialized skill set our team has. Knowing that not everyone does what we do makes the work we perform here feel even more special,” said GRMC Cath Lab Technologist Fred Alig.
Alig said the hands-on instruction also strengthened his confidence in technical skills used during procedures, including maintaining wire access while equipment is exchanged and safely positioning the procedure table during imaging.
“The demonstrations, advice, and practice boosted my confidence,” added Alig. “The training meant a lot to me because it helped us grow into a stronger team for GRMC and for Guam.”
Fejarang’s goal is to develop what he calls “super-users,” highly skilled technologists who understand not only how procedures are performed, but why they are performed.
The program also incorporated a train-the-trainer approach, preparing participating technologists to share their knowledge with current and future team members and support continued learning within the department.
“Every investment we make in our employees is ultimately an investment in the people of Guam,” said Jennifer Cruz, MSN, RN-BC, GRMC Chief Nursing and Ancillary Officer. “As healthcare continues to advance, it is our responsibility to ensure our teams have access to the education and specialized training needed to provide the safest, highest-quality care possible.”
GRMC continues to explore partnerships with accredited educational institutions and online learning opportunities that could expand access to formal education for Cath Lab technologists without requiring them to leave Guam.
These efforts also support GRMC’s pursuit of The Joint Commission’s Primary Heart Attack Center Certification, further strengthening the hospital’s ability to provide timely, evidence-based care for patients experiencing heart attacks.
While the training provides immediate benefits for GRMC’s Cath Lab team, its impact extends to every patient who depends on advanced cardiac and stroke care. Each new skill learned and competency strengthened helps ensure that patients can continue receiving specialized, lifesaving treatment close to home.
By investing in its people, GRMC is helping build a stronger healthcare workforce, expand access to specialized services, and elevate cardiovascular and neurovascular care for the people of Guam.
For more information about GRMC, visit https://www.grmc.gu
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For more information, please contact: Krystal ‘Krys’ Ramos
Marketing Communications & Analytics Specialist
Email: krystalmae.ramos@grmc.gu