‘The CNMI has demonstrated resilience during the pandemic’

It is one thing to be a doctor and attend to patients because it is your job but it is a remarkable thing to attend to patients, manage a health crisis, and find joy in it. At least that’s how Dr. Lily Muldoon sees it.

As Emergency Medicine physician at the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. as well as its Medical Director of Public Health, Muldoon wears two hats at the hospital but she relishes the mixture of combining clinical medicine and public health. That way, “I have the satisfaction of the one-on-one relationships with my patients and their families while simultaneously developing policies that can impact every person in the CNMI,” she said.

With a medical degree from the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine and a Public Health degree from Harvard School of Public Health, Muldoon is in a good place to start and work on the goals she is passionate about, bringing both practical skills and policy-making ideas to the table.

As ER doctor at the CHCC Emergency Department, Muldoon takes care of people suffering from heart attacks, strokes, broken bones, severe cuts, car accidents and COVID-19 infections, among others. “A highlight of this job is the team I get to work with. We have a strong group of nurses, physician assistants, and doctors who prioritize patient care, efficiency and camaraderie,” she said.

Meanwhile, as medical director of Public Health, she provides guidance on health policy, supervision of CHCC’s surveillance systems and linkage between population health and medical providers.

Muldoon first came to the islands as a rotating ER resident in 2019. She then moved back in March 2021 and did not dilly-dally and she wore her doctor coat right away. Even though the CNMI is a small speck on the globe that’s far away from the U.S. mainland, she believes that the CNMI’s response to the pandemic is extraordinary. “Despite limited health infrastructure, the CNMI has demonstrated resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unlike many nations around the world and even mainland U.S., the CNMI was not overwhelmed by COVID-19 and, phenomenally, we were never required to restrict or ration care,” she said. “We are seeing COVID-19 transmission rates rapidly decline but we are not out of this current surge yet. However, I am cautiously optimistic that the CNMI will continue to follow similar trends as the U.S. mainland and we will continue to see a steady decline and an easing up of restrictions, like indoor masking.”

Part of Muldoon’s leadership skills is evaluating opportunities that come with the changes in the medical field that benefit the community. “My focus at the beginning of 2022 is to support the CNMI in the transition as we enter a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing on evidence-based guidance and community education are critical components. Next, I am working with interdisciplinary teams to understand trends in primary care access and how we can better utilize a comprehensive islandwide community health worker system,” she said. “To this end, I am bringing experts across specialties together to develop and implement a community health worker model addressing issues of health literacy, access, and primary care.”

Before the CNMI, Muldoon immersed herself in various healthcare systems around the world and, according to her, she aims to be a change-maker among the most vulnerable populations on the planet. “Through my international experiences in East Africa, public health training, and specialization in Emergency Medicine, I have been inspired by resilient individuals and communities facing challenging health circumstances. Professionally, I envision myself as a specially trained global healthcare leader filling the critical health leadership gap that exists in many Pacific Island jurisdictions and as a physician and as medical director of Public Health, I am developing evidence-based initiatives that link research, health services and policy,” she said.

It’s not all work, though. Besides penciling into her schedule her ER shifts, meetings, and research, Muldoon also values scheduling time for exercise, enjoyment, and building of friendships. “My participation in the Northern Mariana Athletics, Run Saipan, and Northern Mariana Islands Football Association are what keep me grounded and connected to the community. …I am a proud member of the Rotary Club of Saipan. …I have been involved with Rotary International since 2007 and I know it will forever be an important part of my life. We share a similar moto of ‘service above self’ and also the enjoyment of friendship through volunteering,” she added.

A big part of Muldoon’s medical career is the connection she has with her patients. “After I take care of someone in the ER, it is my priority that they walk away feeling as though they have received high-quality care with compassion and that they understand their disease process and next steps. Providing health education is an important part of my practice. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the individual to make their own health decisions and I want them to feel empowered in their health goals and personal care,” she said. “My goal is to inspire others to live healthy positive lives. Keep moving—whether it is walking, swimming, or playing sports. We will have stronger bodies and minds to promote resiliency during times of adversity. My other goals include being a loyal and caring friend, serving as a mentor to young women interested in medicine and being a contributor to research and literature so novel ideas can be shared and replicated.”