by Michele Catahay

Guam - The Valley Heart Associates based out of Modesto, California have been conducting open heart surgeries on patients right here on Guam since 2005. In fact, at least once a year, a team comes to the territory to provide other services to those who need it.

Guam Memorial Hospital Employee Frances Brown says she had a heart attack last year and didn't even know it. She was later rushed to the hospital where she was told she needed open heart surgery. Luckily a team from the Valley Heart Associates was scheduled to arrive on Guam shortly after her emergency.

"I had a choice to go off-island but I didn't want to. I've worked with the people that he's worked with. We have cardiac rehab and stuff. All the time he was coming here, I've seen his work and they were all successful," she said.

Cardiologist Dr. Marlon Ramilo is just one of several doctors from the mainland making frequent trips to Guam. The team is lead by Guam native Dr. Noel Concepcion. Ramilo says when he comes to the island, he performs studies on patients to include ecocardiograms, nuclear stress tests, diagnostic angiograms and heart catherizations. Ramilo says the youngest patient he's seen was 22 years old.

He says the key is for people to exercise by jogging, hiking and even running to keep muscles fit. He said, "You feel good when you exercise. There are some natural endorphins released for that and it's also good for your health. Obviously there's a lot of fish here and so there's a lot of healthy considerations to eat instead of focusing on meats and barbecues and fiestas, but I think it's very important to consider a healthy diet."

He encourages people to invest in a healthier lifestyle by quitting smoking, and reducing salt intake. More importantly he says you should see your physician for regular checkups. "Just seeing a doctor is important and just seeing a health professional is also important once in a while just to kind of get a check up and see where you want to work in terms of your body," he said.

Guam is one of the lucky few participating in the heart project with the Modesto group. Ramilo says there are many hospitals in the mainland that would like to have a program. Instead, they're struggling to have their patients be seen by qualified professionals. "I think with the Modesto Project, we obviously have a good system set up where we practice in Modesto in working at the Doctor's Medical Center and Memorial Medical Center. And if you look at both hospitals, they're very good in what they do."

In the meantime, Dr. Concepcion will be arriving this week to assist with consultations, with a heart project planned for March.