August 30, 2019 — For her decades of dedicated work in fighting Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) and promoting health in the country, Dr. Josefina Angeles Tuazon, faculty and past dean of the College of Nursing is the recipient of the “2019 International Nurse” award of the UP International Nursing and Health Care Forum (UPINHF).
Dr. Tuazon received her award on August 10 at the UPINHF International Forum in Glendale, California. Her citation read, “For her leadership, commitment, and implementation of a multi-pronged approach to the prevention of chronic illnesses generally known as Noncommunicable Diseases.”
Dr. Tuazon’s multi-pronged approach to fighting NCDs encompass her work as researcher, educator, and administrator. She ardently campaigns for a healthy lifestyle involving minimal-to-zero substance use (hence, her involvement in tobacco and alcohol control advocacies), regular physical activities, proper nutrition, and education for diabetes and asthma management. Dr. Tuazon achieves these through collaboration with the Department of Health, World Health Organization, Framework Convention Alliance on Tobacco Control, Philippines where she is vice president and various diabetes groups. She was instrumental in the establishment of the Philippine Coalition for the Prevention and Control of NCDs or the Healthy Lifestyle Coalition in 2004. An active member and current adviser of the Association of Diabetes Nurse Educators of the Philippines, she contributed to the development of the diabetes nurse educator training. Her advocacies including tobacco regulation and the passage of Sin Tax Law in 2012 also influenced her work as a noted professor, researcher, and speaker.
As UPCN Dean (Sept. 2004-Nov. 2010), Dr. Tuazon was also Director of the WHO Collaborating Center for Leadership in Nursing Development. She headed the Secretariat of the Asia-Pacific Emergency and Disaster Nursing Network (2013-2015) where she is a founding member from 2007; Adviser, Global initiative for Asthma (1998- 2001); NCR Chapter President of the Association of Deans of Philippine Colleges of Nursing (2008-2010); and founding President of the PCHRD Scholars Society in 2009 – 2016.
Currently, Dr. Tuazon is a Consultant for the Disaster Nursing Project of the Philippine Red Cross (2016 – 2019); Member, International Advisory Board of the American Journal of Nursing and the Japan Journal of Nursing Science; Board Member, International Council of Women’s Health Issues; and Convenor of the Executive Committee of the East Asia Forum of Nursing Scholars (2018-2020), and other international linkages.
Dr. Tuazon received many awards and citations such as the Metrobank Foundation Inc. Outstanding Teacher in 2000; MBFI Award for Continuing Excellence and Service in 2009; featured as Metrobank’s Ten Outstanding Filipino Teachers (2012); Julita V. Sotejo Medallion of Honor from UPNAAI (2008), highest award presented to outstanding nursing alumni; One UP Professional Chair in Nursing for Outstanding Teaching and Public Service (2016-2021); and Centennial Professorial Chair (2009).
Fedelynn Jemena | Published in UP Manila Healthscape July – August 2019
