Dr. Zorayda E. Leopando, former Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development (under Chancellor Ramon Arcadio’s term, 2005-2011), is one of this year’s Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial awardees. A family medicine physician, she won in the Academe Category. The awarding took place during the 106th Philippine Medical Association (PMA) Annual Convention held on 20 May 2016 at the Waterfront Hotel, Cebu City.
Dr. Leopando is former chair of the PGH Dept of Family and Community Medicine. In February 2011, during the golden anniversary and annual convention of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians, she was conferred the Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the development of Family Medicine not only in the Philippines but in other countries. She is one of the prime movers of the Orientation Course in Family Medicine, Quality Assurance instruction, learning portfolio and mentoring, and the Integrated Family and Community Medicine course for medical students.
During her term as Wonca Regional President for Asia Pacific, she paved the way for the Family Education workshop in the region, the Wes Fabb oration, and the Asia Pacific Family Medicine journal. She assisted in the development of the discipline in Indonesia, Thailand, Mongolia, and Vietnam.
Dr. Leopando is currently the Vice Chairperson for Faculty of the UPCM-PGH Department of Family and Community Medicine. She also serves in the UPM Community Health and Development Program, a part of the AMIGA (Alfonso, Mendez, Indang, Gen. Aguinaldo, Amadeo) Cavite-UP Partnership Program, as both Faculty and Liaison Officer for the Municipality of Amadeo.
The other JRM awardees are Dr. Reuben F. Salvador (Community Leadership), Dr. Claver R. Ramos (Clinical Practice), Dr. Julius A. Lecciones (Government Service), and Dr. Jonas Francisco Y. Santiago (Research). Each winner took home especially-designed Dr. Jose Rizal Memorial Awards trophy and medallion, an all-expense paid trip to the US to attend the American Academy of Family Physicians convention, and Php100,000 worth of medicines for donation to any charitable institution of choice by the awardee.
The Dr. Jose P. Rizal Memorial Awards is a yearly search for outstanding physicians nationwide whose lives and works reflect the ideals of the national hero. It was launched in 1991 by the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and United Laboratories Inc.
FMJemena, with additional report from Dr. Anthony Cordero; Photo by: Dr. Christine Serrano-Tinio
