Text by Jericho Paolo L. Mabansag
Photos by Sarah Hazel Moces Pulumbarit, Ma. Jonalyn Apostol

The University of the Philippines College of Medicine (UPCM), led by its Medical Education Unit (MEU), continues to set the benchmark for excellence in medical training with its Integrated Faculty Development Program (IFDP) on Jan. 14–16, 2026, at the UNILAB Conference Room of the Henry Sy Sr. Medical Sciences Building, UPCM. The annual program brought together both new and seasoned faculty in a collective pursuit of the institution’s mission, “leadership and excellence in community-oriented medical education directed towards the underserved.”

Dean Charlotte M. Chiong underscored UPCM’s role as the nation’s premier medical school, reminding participants of its mission to shape future physicians into “six-star doctors,” an expanded vision of the Belgian public health physician, Charles Boelen’s, five-star doctor model. These doctors are envisioned as care providers, decision-makers, communicators, community leaders, managers of multidisciplinary teams, and scientists with nationalist fervor. This vision and the IFDP reflect Dean Chiong’s commitment to “further strengthen the capabilities of our faculty.”

This year’s program reflected the urgency of adapting to the shifting landscape of healthcare in the age of artificial intelligence. Among its seven modules was the timely session on AI in Medical Education, presented by Dr. Iris Thiele C. Isip‑Tan, who emphasized teaching students to “have a healthy distrust of AI output. When students learn with integrity, doing the work themselves rather than outsourcing it to AI, they earn the confidence and trust that comes from truly mastering the skills needed by a competent physician.”Despite the perennial challenge of aligning the schedules of professors from various departments, the IFDP has consistently garnered positive feedback from participants. For Associate Professor of Physiology Dr. Christian Wilson R. Turalde, the program’s enduring value lies in its assurance of excellence. “The training is a quality assurance for our faculty to deliver relevant medical education,” he said.#

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