Filipino Stories Abroad
Filipino nurse in Guam wins US national health equity award
The Manila Times
11 November 2026
GUAM — A 37-year-old Filipino nurse from Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte, has received a national nursing award in the United States for his contributions to improving healthcare access and helping vulnerable patients avoid unnecessary hospitalizations.
Job Marconi Mascardo, a nurse quality improvement specialist at Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, received the 2026 DAISY Award for Nurses Advancing Health Equity on Oct. 15 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Presented by the American Association for Men in Nursing (AAMN) in partnership with the DAISY Foundation, the award recognizes nurses whose work addresses healthcare disparities and improves access to quality care, particularly among vulnerable populations.
“This recognition is particularly meaningful because it reflects my commitment to improving healthcare access, patient experiences, and outcomes,” Mascardo told The Manila Times.
“More than the award itself, I value the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the community I serve.”
According to The Global Filipino Magazine, Mascardo spent three years as a telephonic care manager nurse at Humana, supporting nearly 3,000 members enrolled in Dual Eligible and Chronic Special Needs Plans across several US states.
His work involved identifying barriers to healthcare, helping patients understand their medical needs, and coordinating services to prevent avoidable hospitalizations.
Now based in Guam, Mascardo focuses on improving healthcare processes, patient safety, and clinical outcomes at the island's government hospital.
Among his priorities is the Hospital Readmission Reduction Program, which emphasizes proper discharge planning and continuity of care to help patients recover safely at home and reduce hospital readmissions.
Mascardo's accomplishments earned him another distinction on Oct. 24, when he was among nine Filipino nurses recognized for nursing leadership at the 2026 Outstanding Filipino Awards (TOFA) in Jacksonville, Florida.
His two awards capped a 14-year nursing career that began in the Philippines and eventually took him to several US states before Guam.
He obtained a Master of Arts in Nursing, specializing in Nursing Administration, from Wesleyan University-Philippines.
Interestingly, Mascardo admitted that nursing was not initially his passion.
“I pursued nursing primarily because my father encouraged me to consider the opportunities it could offer, particularly working abroad,” he recalled.
“Although I was not the strongest student academically, I gradually developed a genuine passion for nursing and caring for others, especially through community health rotation.”
After graduating, Mascardo said he encountered the difficult realities facing many nurses in the Philippines, including unpaid work, exploitative volunteer arrangements, low wages, workplace bullying, and limited job security.
He trained and volunteered with the Philippine Red Cross Cebu Chapter, responding to health emergencies and disasters.
He credited that experience with instilling the humanitarian principles that continue to guide his nursing career.
Mascardo eventually pursued opportunities in the US, including frontline nursing work in Montana during the Covid-19 pandemic and care management in Texas.
He was working as a care manager nurse in Houston when he decided to relocate to Guam, attracted by its proximity to the Philippines and the opportunity to continue his US nursing career.
Born in Dipolog City, Mascardo spent his teenage years in Dumaguete City, where he attended Silliman University high school and earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree.
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