Text by: Charmaine A. Lingdas
Photo by: Joseph A. Bautista

In a concerted effort to fortify medical education and bolster the healthcare workforce in the country, the University of the Philippines Manila College of Medicine (UPCM) warmly welcomed delegates from Isabela State University (ISU), Cebu Normal University -Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (CNU-VSMMC), and the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) who visited the campus for a benchmarking visit on March 21, 2024, at the Henry Sy Sr. Building.

“With this benchmarking, we hope we can help you in establishing your medical schools,” said Dr. Abner L. Chan, UPCM College Secretary.

Chancellor Michael L. Tee recounted that the benchmarking activity started when Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Chair Prospero de Vera III requested UP Manila to assist other institutions in developing medical programs for the CHED’s Doktor Para sa Bayan. The “Doktor Para sa Bayan” program gives scholarships to Filipino medical students with the condition that the graduates will work as doctors in the country for the same number of years they were scholars.

The CHED is assisting top State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) to develop Doctor of Medicine programs to address the shortage of doctors across regions of the country. The Isabela State
University has offered the Doctor of Medicine program since September 11, 2023, while Cebu Normal University-Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center started on May 12, 2021.

“Ang benchmarking na ito ay hindi lang about seeing the structures, ang mas importante is to look at the programs that we have, how we recruit faculty, how we structure our programs, and how we run things,” said Chancellor Tee.

The visitors viewed a video presentation showcasing various aspects of UP Manila’s medical education such as the Basic Medical Education Program,faculty appointment, student welfare
research management, post-graduate programs, simulation education, and community engagement. The visitors had the chance to interact with UPCM Faculty during a Q&A session.

“Soon we will have a Simulation Education Training package so that your university can take advantage of what we have learned and at the same time ensure that your training patient safety will be our top priority,” said Chancellor Tee.

Part of the delegation includes Eng. Eugene Clark Bautista and Arch. Mark Romulus Babaran from ISU, Dr. Marimae M. Lopez, College Secretary ISU, Rowena Constantino, Dept. Chair ISU, Enrico Constantino, Head, Dept of Physiology ISU, Charmine Baron, Head, Dept of Pathology and Histology ISU, Allan Roy Elnar, VP Academics CNU, Jeson Bustamante, Director, Planning and Student Affairs CNU, Morites Butaran, Dean College of Medicine ISU, Jury Rex Flor, Officer PRC, Sachcha C. Shrestha, Manager PRC, and Juan De Los Reyes, Head Philippine Red Cross.

Chancellor Tee revealed that the Philippine Red Cross is benchmarking with UP Manila and aiming to expand its scholarship program to include deserving students also in allied medical fields alongside their existing medical scholarships.

“I’d like to thank the Philippine Red Cross through Chairman Richard J. Gordon, we initially had about twelve students scholars for the College of Medicine and the nag-promise sya kamakailan na magdadagdag siya ng ilan pa,” said Chancellor Tee. He added that “Sasabihin ko sa kaniya na hindi lang pala sa UP College of Medicine ka pwede magdagdag ng scholar, puwede rin sa Isabela at pati na rin sa Cebu.”

The event concluded with a tour of the College of Medicine, providing visitors with valuable insights into UP Manila’s infrastructure and resources. ■