The hospital traces its history to the year after the U.S. Capture of Guam in the Spanish-American War. In August 1899, the arrived and Surgeon Philip Leach set about siting and establishing a "Naval Hospital and Dispensary at Agana "[now Hagåtña]"." The sole medical providers on the island at this time were suruhånus and suruhånas, traditional CHamoru healers. Between August 7, 1899 and July 31, 1900, the Naval hospital treated 1,141 civilian patients, out of a civilian population of 9,630. Recognizing the need for more medical personnel, the Navy began training local people, graduating the first Western-trained midwives in 1901.