The UP Manila Health and Life Magazine i The UP Manila Health Ripples magazine is published bi-annually by the UP Manila Information, Publication, and Public Affairs Office (IPPAO), 8th floor, Philippine General Hospital Central Block, Tel. nos. 554-8400 local 3842. Contributions are welcome. Please email to [email protected] or send to the IPPAO. EDITOR: Cynthia M. Villamor; EDITORIAL CONSULTANT: Dr. Olympia Q. Malanyaon; WRITERS: Cynthia M. Villamor, Fedelynn M. Jemena, January R. Kanindot, Charmaine A. Lingdas; Anne Marie D. Alto LAYOUT ARTIST: Anne Marie D. Alto; PHOTOGRAPHER: Joseph Bautista; CIRCULATION: Sigrid G. Cabiling; Contributing Josephine D. Agapito ii Health Ripples Table of Contents Dr. Florentino B. Herrera, Jr: Humanizing Philippine Medicine 2 Cynthia M. Villamor Dr. Geminiano T. de Ocampo: National Scientist 7 and Father of Modern Philippine Ophthalmology Anne Marie D. Alto Dr. Minda Luz M. Quesada: Passionate Health Champion and Advocate 12 Charmaine A. Lingdas Charlotte A. Floro: Pillar of Rehabilitation Sciences in the Philippines 15 January R. Kanindot Dr. Magdalena C. Cantoria: Advancing Philippine Pharmacy and Botany 19 Fedelynn M. Jemena Dr. Alberto “Quasi” G. Romualdez, Jr.: Crusader for Universal Health Care 22 Charmaine A. Lingdas Dr. Juan M. Flavier: A Doctor for the People 27 Fedelynn M. Jemena Dr. Serafin C. Hilvano: Pillar of Modern Philippine Surgery 32 Cynthia M. Villamor The UP Manila Health and Life Magazine 1 Dr. Florentino B. Herrera, Jr: Humanizing Philippine Medicine By Cynthia M. Villamor “Health must be viewed as both a means to an end and as an end in itself. It is a means insofar as it is a precondition for an individual to harness and maximize his potential as a productive member of the community. It is an end in itself, insofar as health is an entitlement of a human being merely as a human being.” October 9, 1917 - December 27, 1985 This holistic view of health, medicine and of doctors disease, they should taken from one of his when treating patients. consider the patient’s speeches entitled “Health Addressing the UP College qualities – his strengths in the Countryside” of Medicine (UPCM) and his frailties – in their published in 2011 in the Class of 1978, Dr. Herrera, approach to treatment. book “Bringing Health who was then UPCM And above all, they should to Rural, Communities” dean, told the graduates be instilled with the had always been practiced that doctors are, first of conviction that because the and espoused by Dr. all and basically, human science of healing is life- Florentino B. Herrera, beings who must respond giving, it is, therefore, also Jr., medical internist (UP to the humanity of their an art.” Medicine Class 1941), patients. “When they clinical pharmacologist, treat an infection, it is From this perspective academician, teacher, and not the infection alone and recognition of health university administrator. they are treating; it is the emanated the legacies patient’s fears, insecurities, and contributions of He complemented this and other pains. When Dr. Herrera that have perspective of health with they are confronted with endured to this day. Dr. his humanistic view of an incurable or malignant Herrera started his career 2 Health Ripples as an Adjunct Professor in Medicine at the Philippine General Hospital after which he became a Fellow in Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University. He was a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, was former UPCM dean and secretary, and founding and first chancellor of the Health Sciences Center, UP Manila’s forerunner. Dr. Herrera at SHS opening Long before Universal Health Care was advocated Institution Builder The stories behind each April 19, 1976 under Dr. for in the Philippines, Dr. Alberto Romualdez, institution exemplify Herrera’s term as CM dean. Dr. Herrera had been former Health Secretary the dedication and pushing for all Filipinos and former UPCM dean commitment of Dr. Herrera The other committee to be entitled to all quality and another Herrera Boy, to academic excellence and members were Dr. Alfredo health services at all stated during the inaugural relevance to society. Bengzon, Dr. Victor times. His death in 1985 Dr. Florentino Herrera Reyes, Dr. Andres Reyes, left this desired legacy Memorial Lecture at UP School of Health Sciences Dr. Adriano Laudico, Dr. unfulfilled and even with Manila of which he was The goal for increased Clemente Amante, Dr. the government’s current the lecturer: “In the entire relevance to community Augusto Damian, Dr. Kalusugang Pangkalahatan university, there is probably health during his time led Tito Litonjua, Dr. Ernesto program, the full availment not a single institution, to Dr. Herrera’s creation Valdez, Dr. Horacio of “Health for All Filipinos” structure, or program or of an “Extraordinary Estrada, the Bonifacio remains elusive for poor activity that has not, in Curriculum Committee” brothers, Armand and and marginalized Filipinos. some way, been driven by whose task was to design Manuel, Lamberto Parayno, Dr. Herrera’s pervasive a curriculum that would and Eligio Manto. But it can be said that Dr. influence, inspiration, or ensure that its graduates Herrera made significant initiative.” were not only scientifically The IHS was formally strides in paving the road disciplined and medically launched on June 28, 1976 towards Universal Health Of the institutions he competent but, more with a complement of non- Care. He was an institution built, the most noteworthy importantly, socially tenured faculty and staff at builder, medical education were the School of Health conscious. The members’ a hastily constructed school reformer, competent Sciences in Palo, Leyte; creative ideas formed the building with a group of administrator, and in Postgraduate Institute of backbone for a program 96 students mostly from the words of one of the Medicine at the UPCM; that linked the various Eastern Visayas with a few so-called “Herrera Boys,” and Health Sciences health professionals from Agusan and Surigao, Ramon Magsaysay awardee Center, the precursor of together through a ladder Tawi-tawi, Sulu, Oriental and National Scientist UP Manila. All three are curriculum. With scant Mindoro, and Palawan. Dr. Ernesto Domingo, “a considered landmarks in funding but maximum compleat physician who medical education and inspiration, the Institute Dr. Armando Bonifacio, spent his entire professional showed his firm resolve to of Health Sciences, as how one of the so-called Herrera life of 42 years in academic improve medical education SHS was known then, was boys, described the then medicine.” in the Philippines as part of established in Tacloban by IHS as “differing markedly his goal on “Health for All the UP Board of Regents from other medical schools Filipinos.” during its 871st meeting on in that the social context of The UP Manila Health and Life Magazine 3 School of Medicine, as it was called then, was established by a group of clinical faculty members to provide continuing medical education to colleagues outside Manila. From 1951 to 1954, the School successfully carried out its activities. During the late 1950s and throughout the 60s, it became dormant. Dr. Herrera revived the School through a Circuit Course program initially funded by a shoestring budget in Dr. Herrera with UP officials 1971. With his support, the program not only grew as a continuing medical its curriculum is the rural education resource but community, in fact, not just also established a network any rural community but of regional practitioners a real, live Philippine rural whose commitment to community.” academic excellence made Dr. Amparo Banzon, then them natural leaders whose DOH Eastern Visayas talents were later tapped Regional Director, served for other activities of the as IHS first director until College. 1979 and was succeeded by Dr. Manuel Roxas. The success of the first The first batch of 96 course held in Baguio students completed the and with close to 100 Community Health Work Dr. Herrera with colleagues participants was attributed (or midwifery) program to the support of local in 1978 and posted a medical practitioners, hence, 97% in the licensure Today, the SHS has grown in 2010 admits students the presence of UPCM examination, including a into a network of campuses from different cultural alumni became a condition Surigao girl with the lowest educating a range of communities and religious for determining future National College Entrance health professionals from affiliations in Cotabato sites. The courses were Examination score of 9. remote and underserved and nearby provinces. Its heavy on science to counter At least 40% of the passers communities, thus, graduates have a retention perceptions of an erosion of were hired right away as increasing the availability rate of 85% and are the scientific legitimacy in government midwives in and services of such trained deployed in government drug company-sponsored their respective places of health personnel. The rural health units, regional continuing medical origin. Forty six proceeded SHS Baler, Aurora campus and provincial hospitals, education. to the next step and opened in July 2008 caters and other public health completed the Community to students from Nueva facilities. It was in the next Health Nursing program Vizcaya, Quirino, Aurora, course held in Legazpi, in 1979, posting an 83% and Isabela. The SHS Postgraduate Institute Albay where the faculty passing rate, higher than Koronadal City, South of Medicine recognized