Municipal council honors late Dr. V
The 8th Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council has adopted a resolution paying tribute to the memory of a great man and extending sincere and heartfelt sympathy and condolences to the family of the late Dr. Jose Tenorio Villagomez upon his sudden death on Feb. 8, 2005, at the Commonwealth Health Center.
Villagomez, popularly known in the community as “Pingkina” or “Dr. V” was the second person to hold the directorship position of the Department of Public Health and Environmental Services. He graduated from the Fiji School of Medicine in 1953 and was the first licensed person to practice medicine and surgery in the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands in 1955. He served his one-year residency at Hilo Memorial Hospital, Hawaii, in 1958.
The late Dr. V was a recipient of numerous fellowships: the SPC Fellowship on health education/management, 1957; the East-West Fellowship in general medicine and surgery, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1965; the World Health Organization Fellowship in general pediatrics/neonatal medicine, Wellington New Zealand (Senior Pediatric Resident), 1972; the World Health Organization Fellowship for maternal and child care delivery systems, Philippines, 1978; the World Health Organization Fellowship for health care, China, 1983; and the World Health Organization Fellowship for the center for diarrhea ldiseases, Bangladesh, 1984.
Villagomez’s affiliations included being chair of the board of medicine licensure, TTPI, 1974-1978; CNMI State Director, MCH, CCS, and Family Planning, 1978-1981; member, Commonwealth Coordinating Council, 1978-1982; ex-officio member for the Council, 1982-1989; committee consultant, Pacific Health Promotion Center for Gov. Waihee, Hawaii, 1987; president, Pacific Islands Health Officers Association, 1986-1989; and instrumental in the formation of Pihoa and in making Pihoa the internationally recognized body it is today in shaping health policies throughout the Pacific basin.
Villagomez received the regional administrator’s exemplary service citation from DHHS, USPHS in 1989 for his outstanding contributions in improving health systems and services to the citizens of the CNMI; at the same time, he was honored by his colleagues for his outstanding and dedicated services in addressing the health care needs of Micronesia. He was honored by the Hawaii State Legislature in recognition of his many years of outstanding leadership and service in the health field in the Pacific basin.
Villagomez retired from government service on Dec. 23, 1989.
“The members of the municipal council and the people of the CNMI are extremely proud of and gratified with [Villagomez] for his exemplary contributions and services in public health and environmental services during the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and the constitutional government of the CNMI,” part of the resolution reads.
The resolution was certified by municipal council chair Gregorio V. Deleon Guerrero and vice chair David A. Indalecio and attested by secretary Antonia M. Tudela.
