A call to respond to the medical needs of both varsity and non-varsity UP athletes was made by PGH Director Gerardo Legaspi and Dean Agnes Mejia of the College of Medicine. “First Contact,” a workshop spearheaded by the Department of Orthopedics, was envisioned to heed this call and address these needs.

The course was held at the Buenafe Auditorium of the UP College of Medicine on 21 May 2016 in collaboration with the Departments of Physical Therapy of the College of Allied Medical Professions and Rehabilitation Medicine of the College of Medicine-Philippine General Hospital. It was the first inter-collegiate and inter-departmental collaboration for sports injuries from UP Manila. It came as no surprise that the course drew 150 pre-registered participants within the first 24 hours of announcement, especially because the lectures in the morning were coupled with a hands-on taping workshop in the afternoon.

Morning sessions were divided into injuries of the ankle, shoulder and knee. Each topic was discussed by three seasoned experts from each of the participating departments. Prof. Oscar Santelices of the UP Varsity Office and former College of Human Kinetics Dean “Herc” Callanta were on-hand to also give their valuable inputs. Audience questions zeroed in on practical and innovative techniques for the sports care professional. The much- awaited afternoon session proved to be indispensable as course participants learned different taping techniques for the three anatomic areas.

Responding to both the resounding success of this first workshop and the clamor for a repeat from different sports interest groups, the chairs of the three departments promised to hold another comprehensive course for 2016.

Dr. S.A. Grozman, Asst Chair for CME, Dept. of Orthopedics, Photos: Dept. of Orthopedics
Published in UP Manila Newsletter May – June 2016