Pediatricians needed to work in the beautiful Northern Mariana Islands

Seeking pediatricians interested in full-scope practice in a U.S. Commonwealth. Positions available starting summer-fall 2025. 1-2 year contracts preferred but also open to locums positions for at least 3 months.

About Saipan

Saipan is a small island that is part of the United States. Located in the Western Pacific Ocean, the island is 12 miles long and 5.5 miles wide. Our population is roughly 45,000 people, most of whom are of Asian or Pacific Islander descent. Saipan is part of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), which occupies a similar status to the U.S. territory (and our neighbor) Guam.

Our Pediatrics Department

Our department currently has ten resourceful and well-trained pediatric providers covering both inpatient and outpatient care at Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation, the only hospital in the CNMI. The majority are in the early to middle parts of their careers, and all trained in the mainland U.S.

Scheduling

Work hours average 40 hours per week over a four-week period. Some of the providers are outpatient only, but most do a mix of inpatient and outpatient work. Our inpatient blocks are done as four day shifts from 7a-5p followed by four night shifts from 5p-7a. The night shifts can be done at home, but pediatricians are expected to come in for admissions and to assess unstable patients. There is no other call responsibility. Completing one inpatient block and six to eight clinic days would fulfill the hours for a four-week period.

Clinic consists of 10 hour days, and each appointment is a minimum of 30 minutes. There are dedicated slots for well checks and follow-ups in addition to a separate walk-in provider schedule. Admin time is built into clinic days and is generally enough to avoid taking significant amounts of work home.

Inpatient Pediatrics

CHCC is essentially a community hospital in the middle of the ocean, so our scope of practice is very broad. In the hospital, we cover NICU, newborn nursery, pediatric wards, and the rare PICU-level patient. When on call, we also attend high-risk deliveries and are available for consults from our providers in the Emergency Department or our neighboring islands of Tinian and Rota.

Overall, CHCC can be considered a “medium resource” environment – there is far more available here (ventilators, BiPAP, TPN, wide formulary, RTs) than at many international hospitals, but we are still missing pediatric subspecialty care. Saipan has adult/general surgeons on the island (General Surgery, ENT, Ortho) and adult subspecialists (Cardiology, Nephrology, Oncology) but lacks pediatric surgical or medical subspecialists. Thankfully, we maintain a partnership with Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California and can rely on remote support from their pediatric subspecialists.

It is diverse work, and for those that have not done critical care or procedures recently, our welcoming pediatricians are happy to help you re-learn those skills.

Outpatient Pediatrics

The outpatient work is also very broad, as our providers do well child care and manage pediatric subspecialty issues (ex. adjusting insulin for patients with diabetes, titrating heart failure medications). The pathology is a mix of typical U.S. mainland concerns with more rheumatic heart disease, dental problems, and tuberculosis. Despite its location in the tropics, Saipan is not an endemic area for malaria, dengue fever, or intestinal parasites.

Saipan has a large underserved population, and many of our patients face socioeconomic barriers to routine outpatient care. Thankfully, we have WIC, SNAP, Early Intervention Services, home visiting programs, and other community resources to help these families.

Island Life

Average temperatures in Saipan are in the 80s, allowing for year round outdoor recreation opportunities. The ocean water is warm and clear and is perfect for watersports like swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, windsurfing, kiteboarding, fishing, and spearfishing. “Boonie stomping” is the local term for hiking through the jungle and is a popular weekend activity. For those seeking more manicured greens, Saipan has three golf courses with beautiful ocean views. The island also has several easily accessible beaches with clean white sand, making it easy to hang a hammock and enjoy the sun.

As a tourism destination for Asia, there are several resorts with pools and buffets to enjoy, and most offer discounts for locals. Korean, Japanese, and Filipino restaurants are found throughout the island. Locally grown produce is available at all grocery stores (though kind nurses have been known to share tropical fruits from their family farms). Fresh-caught fish is available from many local markets.

Flights from Saipan to Asian nations and other Pacific islands are returning to pre-pandemic levels. Currently, there are direct flights to Seoul, Tokyo, and Guam, allowing for easy connections.

The main language spoken on-island is English. As part of the United States, Saipan uses the American dollar as its currency. Grocery stores carry products from Asia and the mainland U.S. Wi-Fi and electricity are reliable. The main roads are paved and safe (especially as the maximum speed limit is 35 mph in most places).

Requirements

All applicants are required to have completed pediatrics residency in the U.S. and to be board-certified in Pediatrics. A CNMI medical license and up-to-date certifications for BLS, PALS, and NRP are also required.

Work Schedule:

Varied

[Apply Now](https://www.chcc.health/saipandoctors/index.php#gsc.tab=0)