Palikir, Pohnpei – October 2026 – The Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Department of Health and Social Affairs (DHSA) convened an assessment meeting with a visiting team from Fiji National University (FNU) to evaluate and develop a structured national medical internship program aimed at strengthening medical education, clinical training, and workforce development in the FSM.
Led by Dr. Mai Ling Perman, the FNU team is working with FSM health officials to assess existing internship practices, identify gaps in clinical supervision and training, and develop recommendations for a standardized program aligned with regional medical education standards and national health workforce needs.
The assessment will examine current clinical rotations, supervision capacity, hospital caseloads, assessment methods, and medical licensing requirements. The proposed program aims to establish consistent training standards, provide structured clinical rotations across specialties such as surgery, pediatrics, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) and emergency medicine, and create clear pathways for FSM medical graduates to pursue postgraduate training.
During the meeting, Secretary Marcus Samo and Assistant Secretary for Health Moses E. Pretrick highlighted key implementation considerations, including funding, coordination between national and state governments, differences in clinical capacity across the four states, and the need for formalized supervision and assessment systems.
The assessment will include consultations with practicing physicians, recent medical graduates, health administrators, and the FSM Medical Licensing Board. The FNU team will also conduct training for local clinical supervisors on effective mentoring, assessment, and feedback, followed by recommendations for establishing a sustainable, country-wide internship program.
The discussions also explored the potential establishment of an FNU Center in the FSM to support long-term medical education, professional development, and institutional capacity building.
This collaboration represents an important step toward strengthening the FSM’s medical workforce, improving clinical training opportunities for local graduates, and building a sustainable foundation for quality healthcare services across the nation.