Canvasback Missions will mark its 40th year of medical services in the Marshall Islands in 2026.
The California-based non-profit group launched services to the Marshall Islands in 1986, working with the late Outer Islands Dispensary System Director Arata Nathan.
“The first year we worked in the RMI under Arata Nathan was 1986,” recalled Canvasback co-founder Jacque Spence of the organization’s early days in RMI. “He sent us to Rongrong (in Majuro),” she added.
The following year, Canvasback launched its first delivery of services to the remote outer islands using a large catamaran.
“In 1987, we sailed the medical ship Canvasback to the Marshall Islands and provided medical and dental services to Maloelap and Wotje and finished the season by sending an eye team to Wotje to survey the needs,” she said.
“We continued to service the (outer) atolls until 1992 when we were asked to do a similar program in Chuuk.”
This led to Canvasback deploying its medical ship to Chuuk and Kosrae in the 1993-1995 period.
Canvasback returned to the RMI in 1996. “At the request of President Amata Kabua, we started to develop a diabetes reversal program specifically for the Marshall Islands,” Spence said. Canvasback’s diabetes program supported many initiatives in the decades that followed the President’s request and led to establishment of the Wellness Center at Majuro hospital with its wide-range of community programs that focus on diabetes prevention.
Since 2015, when Canvasback sent its first orthopedic team to Palau, it has been providing regular medical services to Palau in addition to the RMI.
For 2026, Canvasback Missions is gearing for two medical missions to the Marshall Islands.
The two scheduled missions for Majuro are:
- Gynecology Mission: March 11–27
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Mission: May 3–23.
Canvasback Missions co-founder and organizer Jacque Spence said: “It’s not too early for women to begin scheduling gynecology appointments” at Majuro hospital.
Spence recommended women get screened prior to the Canvasback visit in March if they are experiencing any of the following:
- Heavy or unusually heavy menstrual periods
- Pelvic pain lasting more than two months
- Prolapse of the uterus or vaginal walls
- Loss of urine with normal activities
- Need for routine Pap smear
- Abnormal Pap smear requiring further evaluation
- Uterine fibroids
- Pain or bleeding during intercourse.
“Canvasback is now actively recruiting and preparing for two upcoming missions to Majuro,” she said.