The Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS) is hosting the 2026 Pacific Islands Tuberculosis Controllers Association (PITCA) Conference at the Hyatt Regency Guam in September as part of building regional capacity.
The conference, hosted under the department's Tuberculosis/Hansen's Disease Control Program, partners with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Curry International Tuberculosis Center (CITC).
"The conference will bring together tuberculosis and public health professionals from Guam, the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPI), Hawaii and international partner organizations to strengthen regional collaboration and advance tuberculosis prevention, diagnosis, treatment and control," DPHSS said.
The five-day conference will build regional capacity by engaging participants in "expert-led" presentations, specialized breakout sessions and professional networking. The event is geared toward clinicians, nurses, laboratorians, outreach workers and tuberculosis program managers.
DPHSS Director Theresa Arriola noted that investing in these healthcare professionals is part of "protecting our island communities."
"Hosting the PITCA Conference reflects Guam's commitment to strengthening our public health workforce, sharing knowledge across the Pacific and advancing our collective efforts to prevent and control tuberculosis," Arriola said.
The event offers Continuing Medical Education (CME) and Nursing Continuing Education (CE) credits.
"The Curry International Tuberculosis Center, which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education, will provide continuing medical education for physicians and nurses attending the conference," DPHSS said.
According to the CITC, by the end of the training, participants will be able to understand the Western Pacific Regional Framework to End TB 2021-2030 to inform national plans to reduce TB incidence rates in the Pacific Islands affiliated with the U.S.; provide an overview of the current global TB diagnostics landscape to understand the types, availability and intended use of TB diagnostic tools worldwide; and discuss future needs, challenges and opportunities in TB diagnostics to optimize rapid diagnosis of TB and reduce disease transmission.
Registration costs $450 per CME participant in the five-day conference to earn 23 credit hours and $200 per CE participant in the two-day conference to earn 11.25 credit hours.
"This would be great for providers who can't leave the clinic during the weekdays to participate in the conference," DPHSS said.
More information can be found at https://www.currytbcenter.ucsf.edu/2026-pacificislands-tuberculosis-controllers-association-pitca-conference.
Deadline to register is Friday, Aug. 14. Conference is set for Sept. 10-14 at Hyatt Regency Guam.