Text by Cherry D. Madrideo
Photos by Sarah Hazel S. Pulumbarit, Erlyn May U. Pareja, and Joseph A. Bautista
The Class of 1999 of the UP College of Medicine (UPCM) held its 5th UPCM Class of 1999 Postgraduate Course, UPMed Scientific Sessions titled “UPdates in Clinical Medicine,” on Dec.16, 2024, at the Plenary Hall of Henry Sy Sr. Medical Sciences Building.
In his welcome remarks, Philippine General Hospital Director Gerardo Legaspi encouraged the alumni to once again tour the College of Medicine, hospital grounds, and UP Manila to see the construction of infrastructure in response to the growing needs of the patients and demands of the community. These changes might not have been imaginable, but like all the alumni who persist and thrive wherever they are, previous unexpected possibilities eventually come to fruition.
Dr. Joy Grace Jerusalem, head of the UPCM Class 1999 Postgraduate Course Committee, highlighted Class 1999’s commitment to bridging gaps in healthcare education and fostering nationwide collaboration. Over the past year, their postgraduate courses addressed key healthcare challenges such as diabetes management and obesity, geriatric care, and universal healthcare (UHC). These initiatives honor the UPCM by continuing its mission of promoting compassion, equity, and innovation in healthcare. The courses ensure that every healthcare provider has the necessary tools to deliver exceptionalmedical care and inspire future generations to follow the mission of lifelong learning.
Chancellor Michael Tee lectured on “Developing Simulation-Based Education for the Health Sciences” for the “Drs. Jesse de Leon and Liberation Bongato-de Leon UPCM Class 1969 Centennial Professorial Chair in honor of the UP Manila Chancellor.”
For the Breakfast Symposium, Dr. Carmencita Padilla, National Scientist and former UP Manila chancellor, discussed via recorded webinar “Newborn Screening During the Pandemic: Drawing Lessons for UHC.” Dr. Michael Sionzon, assistant professor 2 of the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at the UP-PGH, lectured on “Approaches to Treatment Resistant Depression: Focus on rTMS,” while Dr. Ronald Antoine Ghossein, pathologist, taught about the “Clinical Impact of the New Thyroid Carcinoma Classification: Advancing Care through Histopathology and Molecular Profiling.”
“Hormonal Management of Adult Patients with Gender Incongruence (Transgender Patient)” was discussed by Dr. Florence Celzo-Vista, an endocrinologist at Crystal Run Healthcare in New York. For the Lunch Symposium—Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. and Philippine Professional Association for Transgender Health, Dr. Ame Lopez, obstetrician-gynecologist, shared insights on “Addressing Myths and Misconceptions of Gender Affirming Care in the Philippines,” while “HIV Prevention and Management: Learnings from 20 Years of Clinical Experience” was explained by Dr. Ritche M. Hao, assistant professor in the Clinical Medicine Section of Yale School of Medicine.
Dr. Aileen Elizabeth Marie Antonio-Santos, neuro-ophthalmology specialist at the Hauenstein Neurosciences, Trinity Grand Rapids, shared her journey on “Mitigating Burnout: Development of the Humanism and Resilience Curriculum for Neurology Residents,” Dr. Jennifer Solivas-Maluyao, clinical assistant professor of MedicineCleveland Clinic, delivered a talk on “Hospital Medicine 2024 Best Practice,” and Dr. Ryan Capitulo, obstetrician-gynecologist at the Justice Jose Abad Santos General Hospital, offered insights on “Fostering Adolescent Spirit: Unveiling the Significance of Spiritual Health in Adolescent Reproductive Healthcare.”
Dr. Carlo Irwin Panelo, professor at the UPCM and clinical economist, delivered the “UPCM Class of 1958 Professorial Chair Lecture: Ensuring Equitable Access to Medicines for Universal HealthCare,” while Dr. Richard Tiongco II, interventional cardiologist, and Dr. Nemencio Nicodemus Jr., professor at the UPCM, gave the “Dinner Symposium— Boehringer Ingelheim: A Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy Conversation on Heart Failure, Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease.” ■
