Synergy March 2017

A Quarterly Publication of St. Luke’s Medical Center - Resource Development GroupSY N E R GYMarch 2017 Vol. 06 No.01 United We Stand The Nursing Care Group-Global City proves they are one strong force, as they roll out their new public service endeavor.

EDITORIAL BOARD Edgardo R. Cortez, MD Arturo S. De La Peña, MD Jose B. Moran, MD Olivia B. Yao EDITORIAL TEAM Editor in Chief Kara Ortiga Creative Director Edric dela Rosa PhotographerS Rennell Salumbre Kitkat Pajaro editorial assistants Niña Bautista Jude Trinidad THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROSITY You may contact us for your donations:St. Luke’s Medical Center - Resource Development Group 5/F, St. Luke’s Medical Center Global City 32nd Street and 5th Avenue (+632) 789-7700 extension 5076 and 5077 8/F St Luke’s College of Medicine - William H. Quasha Memorial 279 E. Rodriguez Ave., Quezon City Website: www.stlukesfoundation.org.ph E-mail: [email protected] www.stlukesmedicalcenter.com.ph www.stlukes.com.ph For comments and suggestions, please call Niña Mirrela C. Bautista ReD – Fund Development Officer Tel. No.: (632) 789-7576

March 2017message fromthe presidentAs we usher in the new year, we can’t help but look back on the previous one the goodness of their hearts, duringwith gratitude. We launched numerous projects with the help of generous their free time, even after clockingdonors, and as a result, a number of people’s lives have been changed in long-hour shifts at the hospital.because of this act of selflessness. Watching their kindness during a time when it seems even they As we look ahead, there is no doubt that the Resource Development themselves have hardships, is notGroup and the Foundation will continue to do spectacular work that will only admirable, but incrediblyenable St. Luke’s to reach out to more who are in need. inspiring as well. To begin with, this month, we must credit the stupendous effort of the Another highlight this quarter,Nursing Care Group-Global City, who, in partnership with the Foundation is the effort of Dra. Lei-Joan Vital,and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), have launched President of the St. Luke’s Collegetheir healthcare program in Taguig, working with a local community to of Medicine Alumni Association,make some long-term changes. These are the nurses who do this out of who proves that there are many ways to lend a hand. The College of Medicine Alumni Association threw a reunion party at the Palace Pool Club, generating donations for indigent patients. The event brought many of our alumni together, fostering a wonderful celebratory atmosphere while also doing good. And so, as we face a new year, may we continue to be inspired by each other, and strive to be a light for those in need.SY N E R GY DR. EDGARDO R. CORTEZ President & CEO St. Luke’s Medical Center President, St. Luke’s Medical Center Foundation, Inc. 01

March 2017an i ta cr u z i s a benef i c i ary of the fo u ndat i on . Peaceful eventually disharged after two days. But just last healing year, when the pain continued to bother her, her sister recommended her to visit St. Luke’s via A Foundation beneficiary, Anita Cruz, their social service arm. Anita was diagnosed finds respite in a time of turmoil. to have a congestive heart failure, rheumatic heart disease, severe aortic stenosis, and atrial Anita Cruz is a 50-year-old single mother. In fibrillation. She spent 12 days in the ICU due order to sustain her 12-year-old son, she works to hypotension. The Foundation paid for her a couple of jobs to make ends meet, mainly as medical bill. a sewer and a dressmaker out of her home in Antipolo. She says that growing up, her mother As Anita continues treatment, supported by always warned her about her weak heart. But her sisters who work at a church, Anita says lately, it has taken a greater toll on her health. she feels much better. “Dati di ako nakakahiga ng flat, pag tulog ko parang naka upo ako. Tapos In 2005, Anita suffered from a stroke. yung pag hinga ko parang barado, ngayon tuloy She went to a hospital in Antipolo and was tuloy na.” She says she appreciates that St. Luke’s doctors and staff are incredibly warm, the food is nutritious, and the surroundings are clean. “Asikaso ka talaga,” she says with a smile.02 S Y N E R G Y

( from left to r i ght ) man u el m . canlas , phd rn assoc i ate d i rector - dca & n i ;mar i a mart i na gerald i ne q . d i mal i bot , phd rn v p & head , n u rs i ng care gro u p ;jan v i ncent p . cabasag , man rn department manager , dca i nternalSY N E R GY March 2017 HAND IN HAND The Nursing Care Group-Global City begins their journey with their adopted community.03

March 2017L ast year, the Nursing Care Group-Global i mages co u rtesy of the n u rs i ng care gro u p - global c i tyCity, St. Luke’s Foundation, and the Department The Nursing Care Group-Global City teaches their adoptedof Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) community about proper food handling and nutritioussigned a partnership agreement with the cooking in the first part of their outreach program.Community Adoption Project: a differentkind of outreach program that assesses acommunity’s problems first, before creating ahealth program to suit their needs. After theagreement was signed, volunteers from theNursing Care Group-Global City then set outto get to know the 30 chosen families by theDSWD at the Western Bicutan Barangay inTaguig City, and it was concluded that the mostpressing concerns for the community would beto change bad lifestyle habits. The project is spearheaded by the VP andHead of the Nursing Care Group-Global CityMaria Martina Geraldine Dimalibot, togetherwith Associate Director Manuel Canlas andDepartment Manager Jan Vincent Cabasag,who all happily reported about the first partof their program which was held on December27, 2016. The first program addressed properfood preparation, including hygienic ways tohandle food, and suggested recipes that thefamilies can prepare that are both nutritiousand affordable. The Nursing Care Groupbrought with them a chef and a dietitian, tohelp educate the families about proper foodhandling techniques. They shared that “the goal is not to just doleout money for the community, but for us tobe able to teach them something important.We don’t want them to be so dependent onus, we want to empower them instead.” Otherprograms in the future might include smokingmodifications and family planning. Theyshared that though it is also important tohave medical or surgical missions, they alsoenvisioned for this to be a different outreachprogram, in that it targets their way of life, inhopes that they will learn something from itthat will have positive long-term effects. The Nursing Care Group has been active increating public service efforts for about twoyears now, which they say builds camaraderieamongst their colleagues, and reignites awarm passion inside many of the nurses. It isadmirable to see that even despite their alreadydemanding jobs, the nurses still feel a strongobligation to reach out directly to many whoare in need.04 S Y N E R G Y

( from left to r i ght ) colleen antonette tadeja , rn staff n u rse mab or ; ronnele b . cr u z , rn cl i n -i cal n u rse ed u cator , dca ; bernard ronq u i llo , rn staff n u rse , pac u ; jerem i ah borlongay , rnstaff n u rse , pac u ; jasper joseph c . ballecer , m i h rn staff n u rse , opd March 2017SY N E R GY

March 2017dra . le i - joan v i tal , pres i dent of the st . l u ke ’ s college of LOOKING BACK have more events with the graduates of the St. med i c i ne al u mn i assoc i at i on . Luke’s College of Medicine. She figured that one The alumni of the St. Luke’s College of way to be able to do this was to put together an Medicine celebrate their first grand Alumni Association–an organized body who homecoming, while also raising funds for would be in charge of gathering everyone, and those in need. keeping the alumni unified. Dra. Vital took it upon herself to reach out to other alumni, and Dra. Lei-Joan Vital is the first doctor in her those who shared the same sentiments helped family. She is a graduate of the St. Luke’s form the core group of the Alumni Association. College of Medicine in 2002, and started working with the hospital six years later. In “I carry the burden of leading a group 2012, ten years after her graduation, she and of independent, highly accomplished, very her peers decided to conduct a medical mission busy people. I have to make sure that we in Limay, Bataan, as a form of reunion, while regularly meet to ensure that the association also doubling as an outreach program. There, doesn’t stagnate into oblivion.  We have the they were able to see a total of 460 patients. responsibility of bringing together 18 batches Because of the success of the outreach program, of alumni from 1999 all the way up to 2016 Dra. Vital thought it would be nice to be able to through different activities,” says Dra. Vital of the task. Last year, the Alumni Association decided to hold their first ever grand alumni homecoming, a tribute not only to their college and mentors, but also to St. Luke’s Medical Center, which has been a training ground for many students. “We decided to hold a fundraising project to benefit not only the alumni, but also the indigent patients through St. Luke’s Medical Center Foundation, Inc.” The night brought together several generations of the college’s graduates: from the first batch of 1999 to batch 2016, which Dra. Vital says their presence “was very heartwarming, to say the least.  The whole evening was unforgettable.”06 S Y N E R G Y

March 2017 The St. Luke’s College of Medicine’s Grand Homecoming brought together all of the batches in a night of fun at the Palace Pool Club. i mages co u rtesy of D ra . L e i - J oan V i tal community of good The St. Luke’s Medical Center Foundation, Inc. is accepted as part of the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF). The St. Luke’s Medical Center Foundation, Inc. has been accepted for membership by the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF). The LCF is a network of over 80 operating and grant-making corporate foundations and corporations that promotes and enhances the practice of Corporate Social Responsibility. Here, photographed is Jude Trinidad, Foundation Manager; Olivia B. Yao, Resource Generation Director, SLMCFI and VP and Head, Resource Development Group - SLMC; and Helen O. Orande, Executive Director, LCF.SY N E R GY 07

March 2017 YOUTH POWER Jiramine Vicente, a full scholar at the St. Luke’s College of Medicine fights for her right to education. Jiramine, like many of the other college scholars, felt a slight dissonance with regard to entering med school. On the one hand, they get to pursue their dreams to become a doctor; but the decision, she says, felt like a “selfish” choice vis-a-vis her family who struggles to make ends meet. Jiramine was a Cell and Molecular Biology student from U.P. Los Baños. She was granted medical scholarship by the Foundation in 2016. Her father is a crane operator for sea vessels, and only works on a contractual basis that lasts two to eight months. It’s hard for them to get by, but for Jiramine there’s no looking back. Thankfully, an anonymous donor of the Foundation allows her to prod on to reach her dreams, and she is motivated that it will come true.08 S Y N E R G Y

March 2017scenes from the v ery b u sy med i cal m i ss i ons of the in good the St. Luke’s team coordinated with the local fo u ndat i on w i th sag i p - bayan . faith government and the Parish Church, who provided venues to handle the hundreds of St. Luke’s and Sagip-Bayan medical patients. In Morong, Bataan, the team rendered missions aid 7,000 indigent patients. its services to a poor fishermen’s village that has renounced its erstwhile turtle-poaching ways to The St. Luke’s Medical Center Foundation, Inc. transform into a community of conservationists and Sagip-Bayan ended their 2016 with a bang, and environment protectors. The medical booking two consecutive medical missions. mission coincided at a time when the town’s This took both teams through four different children were harvesting and safe vouching sea communities, and in the end, they were able to turtle eggs to hatchery. reach out to more than 7,000 indigent patients. The 2016 year-end missions also left some St. Luke’s multi-disciplinary doctors, patients with life-changing and life-saving nurses and volunteers celebrated the spirit of surgeries that were successfully performed Christmas by giving back. They offered their on them. services to a community of indigenous tribes of Agta in Tanay, Rizal; a perennially flood- ERRATUM stricken locality in Meycauayan, Bulacan; In our previous issue, we failed to include the a depressed town in Bocaue, Bulacan; name of Dr. Efren Laxamana, Head of the Tan and a fishing and sea turtle conservation Eng Gee Eye Institute in this photo caption. We neighborhood in Morong, Bataan. sincerely apologize for this. The patients in all the missions received surgical, medical, and dental care, as well as some diagnostic and screening services and free medicine. The St. Luke’s team braved rains and rough seas in order to reach the offshore community of the Agta (formerly Dumagat) in Tanay. Meanwhile in Meycauayan and Bocaue, SY N E R GY 09