Guam health officials recently hosted leaders from the Federation of State Medical Boards as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen physician licensing standards and align local regulations with national best practices.
The Department of Public Health and Social Services’ Health Professional Licensing Office said FSMB President and CEO Humayun “Hank” Chaudhry, Chair George Abraham and Treasurer Shawn Parker visited the island earlier this month. The delegation met with the Guam Board of Medical Examiners and local health officials to review regulatory standards and discuss improvements to licensure systems.
The FSMB is a national nonprofit representing 69 state and territorial medical and osteopathic boards. Officials said the visit supports HPLO’s mission to maintain rigorous and transparent licensing processes focused on patient safety and professional accountability.
Breanna Sablan, acting health professional licensing administrator said, “Their expertise provides an invaluable opportunity for us to evaluate our current systems, from the Uniform Application process to our disciplinary oversight, ensuring that every healthcare provider on Guam meets the highest standards of competency.”
Discussions centered on several initiatives, including potential participation in the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact to help address provider shortages, expanded use of national databases to verify credentials and track disciplinary actions, and improving real-time data sharing with the FSMB’s Physician Data Center.
Officials also reviewed recommendations for evaluating and supervising internationally trained physicians using national toolkits and model legislation.
DPHSS Director Theresa C. Arriola said. "By collaborating with national partners, we ensure our residents have access to high-quality healthcare delivered by practitioners who have been vetted through a gold-standard regulatory process. Our goal is to create a seamless pathway for healthcare providers to practice on Guam.”