by: Rosalina Nadela, MD FPDS PDS Sectretary

Don’t forget, you said you’re going to Banaue!” Dr. Pastorfide reminded me, as she gathered the team for the Eighth PDS Banaue Medical Mission held from January 4-6, 2010 at the Good News Clinic and Hospital.  “Yes, boss” was my reply, as I psyched myself up not only for the long eight-hour journey ahead but more so for the work that was to come.  I was, after all, still shaking off my holiday hangover.

First on the agenda was a monetary donation by the PDS to the Good News Clinic represented by Dr. Antonio Ligot. This was to help defray the expenses for the ongoing mission.

As I expected, the clinic was full of people: a total of 466 patients served and 133 procedures conducted over a two-day period. A varied number of dermatological conditions were seen; Seborrheic dermatitis, Atopic dermatitis and Pediculosis capitis (in descending order) rounding up the top three most common diagnoses.  As farming is the predominant livelihood in Banaue, the locals were desirous of removing all moles and lumps because of the fear of developing skin cancer.  Dr. Ida Tiongco patiently and enthusiastically shared tips and tricks on skin surgery along with valuable insights on the practice of dermatology. The team members – Drs. Georgina Pastorfide, Ma. Teresita Gabriel, Lonabel Encarnacion, Arsenia Grey, Remedios Manuel, Karen Alabado, Johannes Dayrit, Marcellano Cruz, Lian Jamisola and Ria Lizardo -  with Dr. Ida Tiongco and husband Alex Sarmiento, along with myself, were enriched by it all – the intensive learning experience, the simple beauty of nature and the true, warm hospitality of Banaue’s people.

with data collated from Elizabeth Amelia V. Tianco, MD, FPDS and MTS Tolosa, MD, FPDS

This multi-part special features dermatologists of the PDS who have other professions, activities,interests and advocacies – who carry to the hilt their commitment to their chosen crafts.

Ma. Lorna Fernandez-Frez, MD, FPDS lives with music, so to speak.  Being married to Dr. Ogie Frez, a fellow doctor who is also very musical,   has allowed her to keep “the passion burning.”  The couple met in pre-med during choral songfests, where they competed against each other.  Dr. Ogie writes gospel music; Dr. Lorna sings a lot.  Together they are involved with Catholic charismatic groups in which they sing in prayer meetings, healing masses and retreats.  Drs. Ogie and Lorna have also led the Praise and Worship Ministry and produced a CD album entitled “May Your Kingdom Come.” Part of the income was donated to their Charismatic community.

The couple also plays musical instruments.  Dr. Lorna’s repertoire includes piano renditions of music ranging from classical, kundiman, Broadway and OPM (but  admits she does more singing than playing); Dr. Ogie plays the bass guitar, lead guitar, drums and keyboards.

During the silver jubilee celebration of their batch in UST Medicine, they sang with other doctor-batchmates for the gala night and the homecoming mass. Among the tunes they sang was the original batch homecoming song composed by Dr. Ogie and their classmate Dr. Mon del Rosario (composer of the award-winning, now classic OPM song “Sino ang Baliw”).

JASMIN JAMORA, MD, FPDS spends majority of her time doing dermatologic work, but finds the energy and the drive to go the extra mile.  She is an active member and participant of the Bible Study Fellowship of the International Baptist Church, where she studies once weekly the different books of the Bible with Christian women coming from all denominations (Catholic, Protestant, etc.). She also hosts a Bible Study group every Thursday for single professional women in the church where she belongs – the Union Church of Manila.  With another doctor – Dr. Zoila Carandang – with whom she co-leads activities, Dr. Jas and the ladies of the group analyze and ponder on Christian doctrine.

Jasmin enjoys participating in medical missions organized and led by the church and other organizations, to serve as well as meet new friends and see new places.

“I hope to give back for all the blessings I’ve received,” she says. “By using my God-given abilities in organizing and co-leading for the group, I hope to grow in maturity along with the other ladies on the Christian journey, deepening our faith and love and knowledge of Jesus Christ.”

By: Arnold C. Yu, MD, FPDS, Chairman, Committee on Legal Affairs

The Philippine Dermatological Society through its Committee on Legal Affairs, in close collaboration with the Philippine Medical Association (PMA), has been actively participating in the congressional discussions and hearings at the Batasang Pambansa on the proposed “Physician’s Act of 2009” since 2007, and lately at the Senate, during this 14th Congress.  This Bill’s objective is to regulate the Education and Licensure of Physicians and the Practice of Medicine in the Philippines as well as to accredit the Philippine Medical Association as the Integrated Medical Professional Organization of the Philippines, replacing or repealing the existing Republic Act No. 2382 or the Medical Act of 1959, as amended.

The Medical Act of 1959 needs to be updated in order for it to be attuned to the times:  to effectively  regulate the profession, thus promoting the integrity and competence of medical professionals and the quality of health care in the country.  By integrating the PMA, there will be better coordination and more effective self-regulation that will ensure accountability and order in the profession.

When the old Medical Act was passed in 1959, graduates of medical schools were then considered Physician-Surgeons who could practice any field of Medicine without restrictions.  Since then, advances in Medicine and medical care have developed at a vertiginous pace which saw the evolution of different specialties and subspecialties,  eventually requiring Specialty Training and Certification.  All products of the current medical schools in the Philippines are General Practitioners upon graduation, and they become Specialists only after undergoing a postgraduate formal residency or specialty training program and certification.  Under the existing Medical Act, there are neither classifications nor regulations in the practice of any specialty;  hence,  problems arise when complications develop in a patient  during which the physician  will now have to establish his defense in the event that a complaint is filed.  Under these circumstances, the best defense would still be “proof of competence” – the best proof of which is one’s “Specialty Training and Certification.”  Under the proposed Bill which accredits an Integrated PMA, the proper regulation, accreditation of training and certification of specialists can be established, better defined and standardized through its Specialty Societies which form part of the established organized PMA structure.

Some objections to this Bill from some quarters arise from misinformation and an unfounded fear that “there will be restrictions in the General Practice of Medicine  affecting the Primary Health Care Physicians as well as the Public Health Physicians.”  On the contrary, General Practitioners will be protected and strengthened in the delivery of primary health care which, in the first place,  does not constitute Specialty Practice.

The Physician’s Act of 2009 has been passed by the House of Representatives.  The next  step is for the Senate to approve it before it becomes into a Law.  However, the Senate is left with only a few working sessions before it goes on a recess in the second week of February 2010 to resume only on May 31-June 4, 2010 – before the  14th Congress is finally adjourned.

The waiting continues.

The Physician’s Act of 2009 has been passed by the House of Representatives.  The next  step is for the Senate to approve it before it becomes into a Law.  However, the Senate is left with only a few working sessions before it goes on a recess in the second week of February 2010 to resume only on May 31-June 4, 2010 – before the  14^th Congress is finally adjourned.

Christmas gathering of PDS-Central Luzon Chapter
By: Lee Heredia, MD, DPDS and Stephen Lacson, MD, FPDS

The convention halls of Crowne Plaza turned into Hollywood on November 12, 2009,  as the PDS celebrated its annual Fellowship Night entitled GLAM NIGHT. Several runway walk and poses.  The Socials Committee set the mood by strutting onstage like fashion models; without much encouragement, many of the attendees also came up and sashayed down the catwalk with their own choreography. With the likes of Dr. Handog, Dr. Macam, Dr. Lim-Ke, Dr. Pastorfide and most of the Board Members and officers who were present – as well as foreign speakers Dr. Bergstresser, Dr. Ponciano Cruz and Dr. Linder – actually coming up and walking down the

came in their glitz and glam outfits and walked on the red carpet, into the venue decked with Audrey Hepburn pictures on its walls. Lights flashed from different directions in a dazzling array of colors, giving all a truly festive mood.

First in the list of attendees was PDS’s very own Chairman of the Convention, Dr. Teresita Gabriel, with her bag of goodies. In it were sparkling necklaces and tiaras as giveaways for the first fifty attendees.

The cameras rolled and photo-ops were on our beloved Dr. Gina Pastorfide, PDS President, and Dr. Tess Gabriel as they cut the ribbon to officially start the event. The lively programme was hosted by members of the Socials Committee, namely, Drs. Claude Javier, Gel Lazaro, Stephen Lacson, Tessa Hamada and Lee Heredia.

Cocktails were served as the popular boy band BLOOMFIELDS rocked the crowd with its rendition of ‘60’s and ‘70’s music. Guests danced to the hit songs of the Beach Boys and Elvis Presley.

The highlight of the night was a Fashion Show that showcased the different PDS institutions and chapters. Beautiful and stunning dermatologists dressed in Glitz and Glam practised backstage their runway, this modeling event was instantly a hit with the audience!

The stage was then transformed into a catwalk for the contestants of the much awaited fashion show-competition. The three foreign speakers present were assigned to be the judges for the night.

The different PDS institutions and PDS Chapters were well-represented.  Top prizes and awards went to the following: second runner up was Dr. Jacqueline Ty-So from UST, who looked very charming in a glamorous gown by Dennis Lustico; first runner up was Dr. Malou de Veyra from MMC who appeared very elegant in an Audrey Hepburn-inspired gown by Nono Palmos. The grand prize winner was Dr. Karen Alabado from Davao Medical Center who spiced up the stage with a similar Audrey Hepburn-patterned ensemble, complete with gloves and hair accessories.

All participants received cash prizes for their efforts and their spirit of camaraderie.  Everyone deserved to be a winner; it was an amazing sight to witness the daring and talent of our fellow dermatologists, something we do not get to see every day.

The party did not end with the announcement of the winners.  More dancing followed, enlivened by the presence of gorgeous dance instructors for the night.

The convention’s fellowship night truly showed what fellowship is.  All dermatologists of different institutions and generations, coming from different parts of the country – and even outside of it – enjoyed the music and entertainment.

Congratulations are in order to the Organizing Committee and the sponsor, Schering Plough, for making the event possible. Most of all, thank you to all those who attended and participated and made the fellowship night a success!

The Philippine Dermatological Society soared once again with a successful, well-attended annual convention held on November 11 and 12, 2009.  With the Crowne Plaza Hotel serving for the first time as a backdrop for the yearly gathering of bright ideas and even brighter personalities, the two-day conference tackled a wide range of topics that spanned the art of healing, bioethics, inherited syndromes, biologic therapies, lasers, fillers and rejuvenation, to name but a few.  An impressive array of local and foreign speakers shared updates and experiences with an enthusiastic audience.

As prelude and accompanying activities to the convention proper, a one-day preconvention workshop was held, as well as the annual research paper contest and poster competition among the different PDS training institutions.

By: Ethel Jean O. Acla, MD

In 1984, four US–trained dermatologists founded the Skin and Cancer Foundation, Inc. (SCF). Drs. Vermen M. Verallo,  Judy Y. Cuaso, Manuel O. Fernandez, Jr. and Sylvia S. Jacinto shared the common vision of placing well-trained, competent dermatologists all over the Philippines to practice in the provinces and underserved areas of the country. There were only a handful of trained dermatologists in Manila at the time; SCF was only the second dermatology residency training program approved by the Philippine Dermatological Society (PDS).

After 25 years of carrying this vision, the SCF has produced over 150 dermatologists, with 70 graduates practicing in the provinces, from Tuguegarao to Zamboanga and Palawan.  SCF has reached beyond the Philippines to include graduates in neighboring Asian countries, such as Indonesia and Malaysia, and a few currently practicing in the United States. The aim of the Skin and Cancer Foundation, Inc. remains to train physicians who will become well-balanced, ethical, compassionate dermatologists; who will be excellent clinicians, academicians, researchers, and teachers, as well as loving, harmonious, family-oriented, sharing, concerned, caring, and community-minded individuals.

The year 2009 marked the 25^th year of SCF.  In celebration of this significant milestone, residents and consultants put together a retro-themed party on November 11, 2009 at the Corinthian Clubhouse.  The fete began with a sumptuous dinner buffet where friends mingled and caught up with one another. The program was kicked off with dances and songs rendered by talented residents and consultants garbed in their spectacular ‘70s and ‘80’s-themed costumes. As the evening’s  highlight, SCF graduates, faculty and residents gave a toast  to the visionary founders there present:   Dr. Sylvia Jacinto, now Chairman Emeritus, President and CEO of SCF; Dr. Judy Y. Cuaso, who presently sits in the Board of Directors and is Faculty Consultant, and Dr. Vermen M. Verallo-Rowell, current Chairman of SCF.

It was indeed a night worth remembering for another twenty-five years and more!

By: Rona E. Nadela, MD, FPDS

Our earnest congratulations go to Dr. Elizabeth Amelia V. Tianco – the 2009 recipient of the T.H.O.M.A.S. (Thomasian Outstanding Medical Alumni) Awards for Leadership in Public Health and Health-related Issues. The award was presented to the honouree on December 20, 2009 on the occasion of her 25th homecoming celebration with  Medicine Batch 1984.  It was one of the highlights in the observation of the 69th Grand Alumni Homecoming of the UST Medical Alumni Association.

This tribute was given in recognition of her numerous accomplishments related to public health and health-related concerns initiated during her term as PDS President from 1999-2002.  These include health information projects- the Skin, Hair and Nail Health Education Program (SKINHELP) under an educational grant from Johnson and Johnson, Philippines;  the Hair Loss Information Campaign under an educational grant from Merck Sharp & Dohme;  numerous written articles for lay newspapers and magazines, such as the Manila Bulletin, Today’s Child, Family Reader and the monthly advisory “Expert Advice:  Ask a Dermatologist” column in Mirror Magazine;  “Know Your Skin” column in the Manila Bulletin and the “PDS Skin FAQs” (Frequently Asked Questions) contributed by different PDS members under her able helm.  There were several “firsts” during her term as well-  the PDS website, the PDS Newsletter,

the formation of the Outreach Committee, the National Skin Disease Detection and Prevention Week (SKINWEEK) celebration and the Golden Anniversary commemoration of the PDS.

Her commitment and dedication to her profession has earned her the respect and admiration of her colleagues, both in and out of the PDS.

Congratulations Dr. Beth!