SYNERGY SEPTEMBER 2021

A Quarterly Publication of St. Luke’s Medical Center - Resource Development Group SY N E R GY VOLUME 10 ISSUE No.03 WINNING THE BATTLE While it seems like there are always new challenges, hope and faith remain strong in communities like ours.

EDITORIAL BOARD Arturo S. De La Peña, MD, FPCS, FACS Benjamin S.A. Campomanes, Jr., MD Joyce Laramina K. Nazario EDITORIAL TEAM EXECUTIVE EDITOR Kara Ortiga CREATIVE DIRECTOR Edric dela Rosa ASSOCIATE EDITOR Niña Bautista EDITORIAL ASSISTANT 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) 8789-7700 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] For comments and suggestions, please call Niña Mirrela C. Bautista ReD – Fund Development Officer Tel. No.: (632) 8789-7576

SY N E R GY OVERCOMING has pulled us through and continues to pull us through the tough times. I am very HURDLES proud to report that St. Luke’s Medical Center- Global City and the Foundation The new strain of COVID-19 continues are involved in the ongoing vaccination to hit the country and cases continue to roll out in the country, protecting residents surge. This is not new to us here at the of Taguig. Additionally, the “We Help As St. Luke’s Medical Center community. One” program has provided three more While we would think to be equipped public hospitals with additional equipment from experience last year, we still need to and beds. Meanwhile, we continue to manage and adapt. This is only normal. host virtual events like the BRIDGE 2021, We are only human. The most reassuring bringing together over 300 experts from feeling for me is that our very humanness various specialties. Lastly, we celebrate the incoming scholars and those who have graduated. Education is a cornerstone of the foundation, and training doctors in this time has proven critical. Together, we have found the strength, resilience and resources to face these challenges and move forward. Our community has overcome a huge hurdle this year and we have made it through by looking after one another. Arturo S. De La Peña, MD, FPCS, FACS 01 President & CEO St. Luke’s Medical Center President, St. Luke’s Medical Center Foundation, Inc. September 2021

SY N E R GY COMMUNITY IMMUNITY ST. LUKE’S MEDICAL CENTER - GLOBAL CITY, THE ST. LUKE’S FOUNDATION AND EEI CORPORATION OPEN A VACCINATION HUB IN TAGUIG St. Luke’s Medical Center - opened its doors to the public concerns and a stand-by Global City and the St. Luke’s last June to serve patients ambulance for emergency Foundation in partnership needing the vaccine. cases. To date, it has helped with EEI Corporation, hundreds of patients daily. a leading construction The 700 square meter company, joined forces facility included dedicated This project is one of to ramp up the national tents for waiting, registration the Foundation’s most government’s COVID-19 and counseling, pre- significant projects as a part vaccination program in vaccination, vaccination, and of the COVID-19 Emergency hopes of accelerating post-vaccination monitoring Response Program, which the achievement of herd of identified and scheduled began promptly as the immunity. patients to receive the vaccine pandemic spread in March by the Taguig City local of 2020. It is a signifier of Located in Barangay Pitogo government unit. The hub better things to come and a across the St. Luke’s Medical can serve 68 patients at any reminder of the long journey Center in Global City, the time and features four lying- we have gone through amidst St. Luke’s vaccination hub in medical beds for particular this tumultuous time. 02 September 2021

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SY N E R GY NETWORK OF CARE Three more government hospitals received additional THE ‘WE HELP AS ONE’ PROGRAM PROVIDES medical equipment and EQUIPMENT TO EAST AVENUE MEDICAL CENTER, devices from the St. Luke’s DR. JOSE N. RODRIGUEZ MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, AND Foundation’s COVID-19 NATIONAL CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL healthcare capacity building program entitled “We Help As One.” The program reaches out to public hospitals in need of support, acknowledging that a network of healthcare 04 September 2021

SY N E R GY institutions that look out for Tala Hospital) in Caloocan City, capacity to serve patients, one another is what will help and the National Children’s especially during the recent us, as a nation, keep afloat. The Hospital (NCH) in Quezon uptake of COVID-19 cases. overall goal is to mitigate the City. These hospitals were shortage of available hospital given Hillrom hospital beds, The “We Help As One” is now beds amidst the pandemic. cardiac monitoring machines in its second year and hopes and defibrillators, along with to increase access for patients, The three selected hospitals thousands of hand moisturizing especially those in most need are the East Avenue Medical creams for healthcare of medical attention. Center (EAMC) in Quezon City, frontliners. The efforts hope Dr. Jose N. Rodriguez Memorial to increase these hospitals’ Hospital (DJNRMH, formerly September 2021 05

SY N E R GY NEW CLASS OF HEROES MEET THE NEW FOUNDATION SCHOLARS WHO WILL BE TAKING THEIR MEDICAL EDUCATION WITH THE ST. LUKE’S COLLEGE OF MEDICINE Every year, we recognize the Foundation’s scholars who will be embarking on their Doctor of Medicine program with the St. Luke’s College of Medicine. These students did not make it here without sheer determination, hard work, and passion for their vocation. Scholars often come from financially strained backgrounds, and having the opportunity to pursue Medicine is a life-changing moment that requires sacrifice and support from their families. And so, once again, we welcome the new batch of future doctors and acknowledge the journeys they have each gone through to get to where they are today. LARA SOPHIA B. BERNARDO Luzon State University. She was and an NMAT score of 97%. Lara is a graduate of BS a DOST scholar and graduated For the past 3 years, he has Nursing from the University of salutatorian from her Science been working as part-time the Philippines in Manila. She High School Class, and first MedTech while teaching in placed Top 11 in the November honor in her elementary school. Angeles University Foundation 2018 Nursing Licensure She loves music, and plays the where he is also on the final Examination. Her father used guitar, keyboard and drums. leg of his thesis for Masters to mechanic jeepneys and These talents are shared to her in Medical Laboratory her mother used to work at church community. Her father Science. He graduated from a the bank but retired due to Special Science Class during health issues. After graduating, is a pastor who serves in a high school and has been Lara worked as an ICU nurse, small Christian church in Nueva passionate about research. research assistant, clinical Ecija. The money he earns trial nurse, clinical validation as a pastor is what supports MARY AMIABELLE T. LIMJOCO officer, science research the family. To help with the Belle is a Registered Medical analyst and science research household expenses, Jahz did Technologist who graduated specialist. She was employed writing jobs like working on Cum Laude in her BS in at Philippine General Hospital theses and research papers. It Medical Technology course at for its research and training was a kind-hearted doctor, a the University of Santo Tomas programs, as well as with the co-pastor of her father, who in Manila with a GWA of 93% National Telehealth Center for helped the family try to mend its research data collection their house, marred with leaks service. and cracks on the walls. JAHZIEL M. CULALA VINCE PHILIP DL. JARNAGIN Jahz graduated Cum Laude in Vince is a licensed MedTech BS Biology from the Central from Olongapo City, Zambales. He obtained a GWA of 89% 06 September 2021

SY N E R GY and an NMAT score of 98%. program for children in far- a consistent Dean’s Lister and She graduated salutatorian in flung communities. graduated valedictorian in elementary and was part of the elementary and high school. Top 9 in Caloocan City Science JOHN ANGELO G. LOPEZ She was the top student of High School where she was Gelo is a licensed pharmacist her batch and an awardee also an LGU scholar. In 2018, who graduated Cum Laude of the “Top Ten Outstanding Belle passed the admissions to in BS Pharmacy from the Students in Bicol” and “Top St. Luke’s College of Medicine, Centro Escolar University 80 Ayala Young Leaders.” but was unable to pursue in Malolos, Bulacan. He Cheska worked in two part- her studies due to financial graduated valedictorian of time jobs to help support difficulty. Determined to his high school class, was a her family. She is currently pursue medicine, she sought consistent honor student in at the frontlines fighting the employment and was hired his junior school years and COVID-19 pandemic and is an by the Philippine College of a scholar during his premed instructor in her Alma Mater. Surgeons Secretariat. Belle days. To prepare for med She contributes a third of loves drawing animation, school, Gelo has been working what she earns to the family digital art, digital studio as part time pharmacist in and allocates the rest for med and graphic designs. She is a local drugstore. Gelo is school. interested in clinical pathology passionate about science as well as parasitology and and research. His research ALEXANDRINNE M. PINCA once dreamed of becoming a project about medicinal plants Alex is a BS Agriculture veterinarian. in the indigenous Dumagat Biotechnology graduate from community had brought him UP-Los Baños Laguna. She first JASON P. LOBIS the highest research honors in enrolled in BS Development Jason is a Cum Laude BS his alma mater and a finalist Communications in UP before Biology graduate of Ateneo slot in the DOST sponsored shifting to her premed course de Naga University. He is the research competition. as a scholar of the Malolos Top 6th placer in the March LGU and CHED. She graduated 2019 Licensure Examination MARIALLE CHESKA S. OCLOS valedictorian in her elementary for Teachers (LET). He was a Cheska is a Cum Laude class and was consistently on consistent honor student in graduate of BS in Medical the Dean’s list. Her research high school. Because of his Technology from the University on small intestine nutrient sterling academic performance, of Santo Tomas in Legazpi transporters in animals Jason was granted an overseas City with a GWA of 92% and was recognized by the UP teaching assignment in review NMAT score of 92%. She was Biological Models Laboratory in centers in Hongkong in 2018, Neurosciences. Alex worked to but the pandemic forced these help her family financially. She centers to close shop. Jason was involved in research at the plays the piano and has been Department of Agriculture – active in civic organizations Bureau of Animal Industry. that include an involvement as volunteer in a teaching September 2021 07

SY N E R GY GRADUATING CLASS our last year in medical school memorable. We will achieve WE TALK TO TWO FOUNDATION our dreams soon. SCHOLARS WHO ARE GRADUATING What are some of the lessons AS PART OF THE BATCH 2021 you’ve learned? “It’s okay to be not okay.” The first time we met was However, I understand that JIRAMINE M. VICENTE, 25 in 2016. Rollie B. Buban and during that time, we were not Jiramine M. Vicente were yet fully equipped. So as much What do you wish to just about to start their med as I could, I tried to do what school journey at the St. an intern has to do--study and accomplish as a doctor? Luke’s College of Medicine - prepare for the time when the To serve as much as I can with William H. Quasha Memorial. privilege to practice Medicine integrity and justice to every Rollie was soft-spoken when comes to us.” Despite the patient. we conversed at the college challenges five years ago, library. Hailing from a rural today, both Rollie and Jiramine How was your experience at community in Malinao, Albay, have concluded education with pursuing medicine was not badges of honor and are part school? easy for his family, who of the graduating class of 2021. I enjoyed it as I was able to struggled financially. Jiramine see cases that I used to just shared this dissonance. Going ROLLIE B. BUBAN, 25 read in textbooks before. I to school to be a doctor What do you wish to realized that I enjoyed talking means being unable to work accomplish as a doctor? to patients, explaining their to contribute to the family’s Be a good and compassionate disease and what management expenses. doctor. would be best for them. More How was your experience at so, I enjoyed listening to the The scholarships offered by school? different stories that each the Foundation helped with It was good. I made new patient had to share. these worries. Their hard work friends that will be my future and diligence shone through as colleagues. All of us are What are some of the lessons they remained on scholarships affected by the pandemic, but throughout their schooling, despite the circumstances, you’ve learned? a feat requiring students to we did our very best to make That this field is far from maintain high marks. They dreamland, but despite all consider this one of the most the struggles and challenges, outstanding achievements of knowing what I know now, their med school journey. the beauty of human life and the field of Medicine is always However, when it was worth it. time for them to do their senior internships last year, the pandemic disrupted it. Jiramine describes the experience as being difficult. “I felt helpless seeing the country plunge amidst the pandemic. I felt I was unable to lend a hand at a time when the country needed it most. 08 September 2021

SY N E R GY BRIDGE 2021 of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism and the St. STAYING CONNECTED THROUGH Luke’s Foundation, held its KNOWLEDGE first virtual postgraduate course entitled “BRIDGE 2021: While the pandemic keeps Bridging Interdisciplinary communities physically and Gaps in Endocrinology.” This socially apart, it cannot was conducted last May 20- dampen the spirit of the 22, 2021. The event brought pursuit for knowledge. It is together over 300 participants a reminder that we humans from a spectrum of health are tenacious, capable of professions. Experts from adapting even amidst a disciplines like endocrinology, crisis. In this spirit, the Center cardiology, obstetrics and for Diabetes, Thyroid and gynecology, surgery, nutrition, Endocrine Disorders at the gastroenterology, and St. Luke’s Medical Center- dermatology were present. Global City, in partnership They exchanged perspectives with the Philippines Society on topics in women’s health, diabesity, cardiometabolic medicine, and general endocrinology. Though the event was held virtually, we look forward to continuing its endeavor to connect with one another through the spirit of knowledge and community. Together, we can cross that bridge into a more hopeful future. September 2021 09