July 1, 2025 (Honolulu, HI) – On May 30, 2025, seven fellows from the Pacific Island Health Officers’ Association’s (PIHOA) Pacific Public Health Fellowship Program (PPHFP), along with one staff member from the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services (DPHSS), successfully completed the Postgraduate Certificate in Field Epidemiology (PGCFE).
The fellows represented a diverse group of emerging public health professionals from across the US-Affiliated Pacific Islands (USAPIs), including:
Two fellows from American Samoa
Two from Palau
Two from Pohnpei
One from Chuuk
This intensive program began on January 20, 2025, and included five in-person modules conducted on Guam. Between in-person sessions, fellows returned to their jurisdictions to apply what they learned by implementing Field Epidemiology Projects in their workplace settings. These hands-on projects gave fellows the opportunity to address real public health issues in their communities using data collection, analysis, and evidence-based action.
The training culminated in final presentations of their field projects on May 30, delivered to their peers and supervisors, who joined virtually to support and celebrate their achievements. Project topics ranged from tuberculosis specimen collection to maternal mortality surveillance, reflecting the fellows’ dedication to improving health outcomes in the Pacific.
Although the course is now complete, participants will formally graduate with their PGCFE from Fiji National University (FNU) in December 2025.
PIHOA congratulates all the fellows for their commitment to building public health capacity in the region and thanks our partners, mentors, and facilitators who supported this journey.
