CHamoru Nurses, 1910 - 1920. Photo from the Smithsonian Institution courtesy of Anne Hattori.
Health and Medicine

Maria Anderson Roberto

Maria Anderson Roberto, born in 1880, was a CHamoru woman who had been employed as a chaperone for the Native Nurses program in Guam from

Read More »
Amanda Guzman Shelton
Health and Medicine

Amanda Guzman Shelton

Amanda Pangelinan Guzman Shelton (1906-1982) was one of a handful of native Chamorro nurses who worked at the Naval Hospital in Hagåtña in the early

Read More »
The Naval Hospital in the foreground and Susana Hospital in background in Hagatna.
Health and Medicine

School for Nurses

Because of a shortage of personnel Navy Medical Officers began teaching local women to be health care workers. The first class offered, in 1901, was

Read More »
Health and Medicine

Leprosy – Insular Patrol

From 1899 to 1941 US Marines given the title “Insular Patrolman” were selected to live in Guam’s villages and maintain order. Among their many duties

Read More »
Health and Medicine

Leprosy – Local Reaction

In the first decade of the 20th century, the US Navy embarked on a policy of forcibly segregating Chamorros suspected of having Hansen’s disease (leprosy)

Read More »
Health and Medicine

Leprosy – Hospitals and Colonies

Spanish built first leprosarium. As early as the 1600s, Western explorers documented seeing Chamorros of the Mariana Islands afflicted with apparent Hansen’s disease, or leprosy.

Read More »
Old Hagåtña hospital. Photo from GMH collection.
Health and Medicine

Hospitals

The first medical facilities and dispensaries of the US Naval Era (1898 – 1941) were established shortly after the Spanish American War in 1898, recorded

Read More »
Sablan
Health and Medicine

Dr. Ramon Manalisay Sablan

Ramon Manalisay Sablan (1902-1970) was the first CHamoru medical doctor. He is also remembered as an influential educator, politician, activist, linguist, and musician.

Read More »
Scroll to Top