Dr. Zachariah Tman Becomes Second Doctor from Yap and First to Return Home with Medical Degree, Committed to Transforming Island Health CareMonday, July 07, 2025, /// DYCA PIO

Yap, FM - According to UCSD today, Dr. Zachariah Tman, M.D., has officially graduated with his medical degree, Driven by a mission to address pressing health and human challenges in the West Pacific, Dr. Tman is preparing to bring specialized medical care and sustainable public health initiatives back to his island home.

“Growing up on an island has its perks. It is isolated, peaceful and you even get your own beach. However, you also grow up catching a plethora of mosquito-borne diseases (Dengue, Chikungunya, Zika) and seeing the limits of health care in a resource-limited setting,” Dr. Tman shared. “I was in marine conservation and modern dance before I set my sights on public health and eventually medicine. This was after a sit-down talk with two of my mentors, Dr. John Swartzberg and Dr. Lee Riley, both infectious disease physician-scientists that I met at UC Berkeley, who challenged me to think about how I would resolve the issues facing my region of the world.”

In 2021, Yap Island faced a critical shortage in health care, with no internists or pediatricians available. This gap in services often forced patients to seek costly treatment in Guam, the Philippines, or the U.S. Upon completing his residency, Dr. Tman will return to Yap as an infectious disease specialist and public health advocate offering essential care and working to build a stronger, more resilient health system for the local community.

(For more information, please visit https://today.ucsd.edu thank you) #seconddoctor #returnhome #medicaldegree #

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