FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (December 27, 2022 – Hagåtña, Guam) – Below is a statement from Speaker Therese Terlaje on behalf of the 36^th Guam Legislature:

“Our island mourns the tragic loss of Dr. Margaret Hattori-Uchima, Dean of the University of Guam School of Health and registered nurse for thirty-four (34) years.  Dr. Hattori has also been an educator for twenty-three (23) years, facilitating and advancing educational opportunities in her profession for Guam’s nurses and social workers for decades.

Dr. Hattori-Uchima has been recognized with such accolades as the 2019 Nurse of the Year from the Guam Nurses Association, American Academy of Nursing 2020 Class of Fellows as the first fellow from Guam, 2021 COVID Hero recognized by KUAM, and the 2022 Public Citizen Award from the National Association of Social Workers Guam Chapter, where she was honored with a Resolution from the 36^th Guam Legislature.

“Dr. Hattori-Uchima was in a category of exceptional women of Guam, whose tireless commitment to advancing public health and welfare made a difference in so many lives, most especially our patients.  She was a visionary and a catalyst for change.  As the Chairperson for the Legislature’s Committee on Health, I trusted Dr. Hattori-Uchima’s institutional knowledge to improve the quality of healthcare on Guam and to ensure we remove all impediments to growing our local workforce and meeting Guam’s critical need for highly skilled nurses, social workers, nurse assistants, and other healthcare professionals,” stated Speaker Therese Terlaje.

As a dedicated professional, Dr. Hattori-Uchima set a high bar for her contributions in advancing healthcare and public welfare including advocating for disadvantaged communities on Guam and in the region, commitment to the homeless as a long-time member of the Guam Homeless Coalition, and work with the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program and the Pacific Island Partnership for Cancer Health Equity.

“On behalf of the 36^th Guam Legislature, our heartfelt condolences and prayers go out to Dr. Hattori-Uchima’s family, students, friends and close associates.