Text by Dr. Eladio Anino V and Dr. Evelyn Salido
Photos by Dr. Yvonne Abigail Bernabe, Dr. Nicollete Paula Castillo, and Dr. Beatrice April Layog
As part of its thrust of improving patient care through education and research in musculoskeletal and rheumatic diseases, the Division of Rheumatology of the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), University of the Philippines (UP) attended the 31st Philippine Rheumatology Association (PRA) Annual Convention held at Puerto Princesa, Palawan on Feb. 26 to Mar. 1, 2025.
With the theme “INTERSECT–Internal Medicine and Rheumatology: Systemic Evaluation, Recognition and Treatment,” this year’s convention highlighted diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases in primary care and advances in management of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARD). Several consultants of the Division actively shared their expertise in the conference. Dr. Juan Raphael Gonzales, assistant training officer, talked about recognizing adrenal insufficiency in steroid-treated patients. Dr. James Harold Barte discussed the latest evidence on the management of osteoarthritis, while Dr. Blessie Mae Perez reviewed the general approach to joint pains.
Several other alumni delivered engaging lectures in the convention. For the Lourdes Manahan Memorial Lecture, Dr. Sandra Tankeh-Torres shared the importance of empathy and communication to resolve generational differences between doctors. Dr. Therese Eileen Natividad presented updates on treating SARD-related interstitial lung disease (ILD), while Dr. Mark Andrian Yano gave a comprehensive approach to soft tissue rheumatisms.
At the PRA Research Forum, the division’s fellows showcased their research papers. Dr. Carmela Pragados-Tandog gave an oral presentation of her study co-authored with Division Chief Evelyn Salido, on the clinical features of patients with SARD-ILD in UP-PGH. Case report posters of Dr. Eladio Anino V and Dr. Yvonne Bernabe, and research advisers Dr. Geraldine Zamora and Dr. Juan Raphael Gonzales won first and third places, respectively.
The engagement culminated with the Alumni and Fellowship Night, celebrating the decades of education, research, and service that the division has contributed to promote health and well-being of Filipinos with musculoskeletal and rheumatic conditions, in support of the government’s and the Sustainable Development Goals of the World Health Organization. #
