Camacho enters Morehouse School of Medicine

RyAnne Palacios Camacho, a 2011 Mt. Carmel High School graduate, will be pursuing her doctorate degree in Health Administration at Morehouse School of Medicine.

She and the rest of her cohort took part in the Morehouse School of Medicine’s 40th Fall Convocation & White Coat and Pinning Ceremony last Friday, Sept. 20, with no less than U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra serving as speaker.

“The convocation ceremony was great! Students felt a surge of pride, optimism, and inspiration. It’s always great to see students take the next step in their journey to become physicians, scientists, researchers, public health leaders, and healthcare administrators. I believe every student is excited to start their academic journey at Morehouse School of Medicine,” said the 31-year-old.

The daughter of IT&E CNMI executive director Velma Palacios and the granddaughter of the late Veronica Manibusan Palacios and Francisco Borja Palacios received her bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration with a minor in Business in 2015 from Xavier University. She then completed her master’s degree in Health Administration in 2023 from Louisiana State University.

Asked why she’s pursuing a doctorate degree, Camacho said she believes that the program at Morehouse School of Medicine will prepare her to make a significant impact in healthcare leadership.

“I want to have an opportunity to contribute to the healthcare system and ensure that individuals have the chance to receive comprehensive, accessible, and high-quality care. Morehouse School of Medicine’s social mission to improve the health of the most vulnerable populations, diversify the health care workforce, advance primary care, and lead the creation and advancement of health equity to achieve health justice, was an important factor in my decision to pursue a doctoral degree there.”

Camacho added that the university’s Doctor of Health Administration program is deeply rooted in its underlying mission and is confident it will provide her with the knowledge, abilities, and resources essential for addressing and enhancing health equity in both Atlanta, Georgia—where she now currently resides—and her home islands of the CNMI.

“Everyone deserves a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as they can be, and it is my personal mission to ensure that underserved populations have access to the resources they need to do exactly that. My commitment to serve others and my passion for healthcare comes from my upbringing in the CNMI. This education will not only help me personally, but also have a positive impact on the people of the CNMI when I eventually return home.”

As for her plans after her doctorate, Camacho said she wants to advance her career in healthcare administration.

“I’m looking at gaining more expertise in the operational side of healthcare, as well as healthcare policy, with hopes of becoming a senior executive at a hospital or other healthcare facilities.

Aside from her studies, Camacho also currently works for Piedmont Healthcare in clinical operations at their corporate office in Atlanta. Piedmont Healthcare is the largest hospital system in Georgia with 25 hospitals serving its residents. Prior to Piedmont Healthcare, Camacho worked in the pediatric intensive care unit at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, a three-hospital system that is the leading pediatric healthcare provider in Georgia—the only freestanding pediatric healthcare system in the state, and one of the best in the Southeast.

Camacho said she last visited Saipan last May and its pristine beaches and her grandmother’s house—where she spent a lot of time with family—are where she had the best memories of growing up on the island. (Saipan Tribune)