Muna Reappointed to ASTHO Pacific Islands Seat

Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. CEO Esther L. Muna holds the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands territorial director seat on the ASTHO board.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in People

Isometric editorial illustration of three flat island forms in a deep teal sea linked by a thin ring, with two oxblood seat tiles at the edge. — Esther L. Muna was reappointed on Tuesday as U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands territorial director on ASTHO's board, a seat representing U.S. territories in national health policy. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Esther L. Muna was reappointed as U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands territorial director on the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials board. The reappointment was announced in a social media post shared by Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. and credited to ASTHO.

Why it matters

The ASTHO board includes 10 regional seats and two territorial seats, so the territorial positions give U.S. territories a voice in national public health policy discussions. Continuity in the Pacific Islands seat keeps territorial health leadership represented on the board.

The ASTHO board's regional and territorial directors hold 10 regional seats and two territorial seats, and the reappointment fills one of those two territorial positions. The source does not specify the length of the new term.

The players

Esther L. Muna

Muna is Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. and holds a Ph.D., MHA and FACHE, serving as the territorial director for the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands on the ASTHO board.

Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO)

ASTHO is a national organization representing state and territorial public health agencies and their leaders in policy and advocacy work.

Daniel Edney

Edney is ASTHO's president and serves as Mississippi's state health officer.

Justa E. Encarnacion

Encarnacion is the U.S. Virgin Islands Health Commissioner and holds the Atlantic territorial seat on the ASTHO board.

The details

Muna, who holds a Ph.D., MHA and FACHE and serves as Chief Executive Officer of Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., was listed on ASTHO's website among the regional and territorial directors for the USAPI seat. Muna is also listed by ASTHO as the territorial health official for the Northern Mariana Islands.

Article reporting the reappointment published November 3, 2026.

Roadmap

The ASTHO board reserves two of its seats for territorial directors alongside 10 regional seats held by state officials. Muna's reappointment keeps the Pacific Islands territorial seat under the same structure that places U.S. territories among the board's directors.

For readers who follow public health leadership, the reappointment confirms that the Pacific Islands territory retains its seat on the ASTHO board. The change does not alter health services or costs for residents, and the source reports no direct effect on the public.

The takeaway

Territorial seats on national health boards give U.S. territories a formal role in policy discussions that affect them. Readers interested in how these boards are structured can review ASTHO's published list of board members.