Text by: Charmaine A. Lingdas
Photo by: UPM-CAMP
“I’m coming in after thirty years of being a faculty member and I’m ready to serve. I only have the best intentions for CAMP and UP has always been my home, so I have nothing but to just give back and do my best, keeping in mind of course that UP calls for Honor, Excellence and this time Service.”
Professor Esmerita Roceles Rotor, the newly appointed Dean of the College of Allied Medical Professions (CAMP) of the University of the Philippines Manila, aims to position the college as a pioneer in allied health education, emphasizing community service and leveraging technology. Her appointment as Dean was approved by the Board of Regents during its 1390th BOR meeting held on 31 May 2024 and is effective from 31 May 2024 until 30 May 2027.
Dean Rotor envisions “CAMP to be at the forefront of education for Occupational Therapy (OT), Physical Therapy (PT), Speech Pathology (SP), and Clinical Audiology.” Her leadership aims to not only uphold the college’s commitment to honor and excellence but also to explicitly integrate service into its core values.
Expanding Academic Programs and Experiential Learning
Dean Rotor’s vision begins with strengthening the undergraduate and graduate programs. This includes revising and implementing undergraduate curricula.
“There’s a need to make sure that the curriculum answers the need of primary health and making sure that the services of our professions are available in the community and on the other hand integrating advancements in technology and to make sure hindi maiwan ang students with the global counterparts,” she said, emphasizing the importance of merging these elements to make students responsive to the evolving health needs of the country and the world.
A key component of Dean Rotor’s strategy is the integration of experiential activities that illustrate social responsibility and public health within the curriculum. “Hindi na siya two separate things. It should be may matututunan ang students and equally may makukuha ang mga tao na services doon sa teaching learning activities that we do,” said Dean Rotor.
These initiatives guarantee that the college will produce students who are not only academically skilled but also socially responsible practitioners, all the while capitalizing on technological advancements.
“The pandemic has shown us that we could use distance learning. We have the capability to do that, and I think when the dust settles, we will find online learning helpful to complement our teaching learning activities that are on site.”
Dean Rotor also emphasizes the importance of creating physical spaces for students to interact and connect, and encouraging them to express their ideas and opinions collegially within a safe environment. She wants to institute venues for commenting on current events and socio-political issues that affect them. “This will allow them to develop more leadership qualities and more ways to think creatively.”
Enhancing Teaching and Learning Opportunities
The new dean plans to bolster and broaden teaching and learning experiences through partnerships with local health institutions for diverse clinical placements and educational institutions for student and faculty mobility.
“CAMP has already started developing relationships with local government units and I plan to continue that because that’s where we can implement our programs.” She emphasized establishing new partnerships with communities for Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR).
She plans in updating and contextualizing teaching materials and technology is a priority, including maintaining equipment, acquiring simulation models, procuring software, and creating instructional materials for the Filipino context.
“We have what we call simulated cases, so para siyang app and the student can study through this kasi may mga questions siya; unfortunately, these are western cases. So, one of the things that I want to challenge the college with is to make our own cases that are similar to that effect.”
Additionally, she supports developing transnational graduate programs like ASEAN Master of Occupational Therapy and MS Disability Studies and exploring new programs such as the establishment of the BS Radiologic Technology and Doctor of Optometry.
Research and Policy Impact
Dean Rotor aims to pursue research that aligns with national and institutional priorities and impacts practice and policy. This includes reviewing and renewing the CAMP Research Agenda, initiating research in rehabilitation technology, treatment/program effectiveness, and epidemiologic studies related to rehabilitation science, and educating and upskilling faculty, staff, and students on research competencies.
“Most of our research is what we call faculty-led research. We bring in the students. It’s still a teaching learning activity. We allow them to experience the research. They collect data,” elaborated Dean Rotor on how their college fosters a robust research culture among faculty and students. She explained that this approach prevents students from becoming disenchanted with research, leading them to be more inclined to participate in research projects upon graduation, with some even becoming research assistants.
Supporting Faculty and Staff Development
The new dean is committed to supporting faculty and staff by providing career development activities, formalizing mentorship for new faculty, updating teaching competencies, and equipping faculty with necessary resources. She also aims to facilitate career advancement and ensure productivity for administrative and REPS staff.
“One of my flagship programs is really to hopefully have something in the college that tells everyone that there is a time to rest, a time to do what we want to do, to rest your brain so that you have enough energy to come back and work,” she explained. Additionally, she advocated for a wellness program for faculty and staff and guarantee periods of respite, allowing individuals to detach from work and focus on more significant aspects of life.
Building a Global and Virtual Presence
Developing a global and virtual presence is part of Dean Rotor’s strategy to enhance CAMP’s visibility and impact.
“To ensure our active participation in discussions and to make our presence known to relevant groups such as the DOH, CHED, and UP System, it’s crucial that our activities are in alignment with theirs.”
She plans to maintain a public relations and information committee for timely and accurate dissemination of CAMP-related information and activate a website that provides information about the college, its constituents, and linkages.
Critical Leadership Principles
Dean Rotor emphasized that integrity is crucial in maintaining quality—being truthful and honest about our capabilities. She highlighted that honesty, integrity, responsibility, and diligence are fundamental. Furthermore, she expressed her value for a clean environment and the development of an open and healthy workspace.
The new dean is a Professor 8 at UP Manila, where she earned her BS in Physical Therapy, MA in Education (Special Education), and PhD in Educational Research and Evaluation. She has published extensively and contributed to 21 workshops and conferences globally from 1996 to 2023. She led the creation of the Master of Physical Therapy program in 2010 and revised the Master of Rehabilitation Science program from 2019 to 2022. Prof. Rotor received the One UP Professorial Chair Award in 2019, was named Outstanding Faculty Researcher, and served as Graduate Programs Coordinator from 2019 to 2022.
