Georgina C. Pastorfide, MD, FPDS

The PDS’s membership has grown through the years since its inception in 1952. Its organizational structure and functions have been well-defined by our immediate past president Dr. Arnelfa C. Paliza in the administrative manual. The challenge that currently faces our Society is how we can form a truly dynamic organization that can impact the lives of Filipino people meaningfully– in other words, a Society that can make a difference!

The theme “PDS FOR ALL” implies a sense of oneness or “unity and cooperation” among its members. Indeed, we can become a dominant and influential society to be reckoned with if we set aside the bickering, pride and internal competition which only promote divisiveness and discontentment within the society. On the other hand, if we make an effort to harmoniously work together, unselfishly share knowledge among members and become committed to achieving common goals that benefit everyone, then PDS will be a strong, dynamic, and unified force that can make a DIFFERENCE in so many ways.

During our two-year term, the PDS Board will promote “unity and cooperation” within the society through sponsoring the following projects, namely, research workshops, multicenter studies and personality growth and development workshops.

The Good Clinical Practice (GCP) workshop held last April 1-3 and April 15-17 brought together all first and second year residents and some consultants from the ten training institutions. (At the time, the St. Luke’s Medical Center was not yet formally certified by the Accreditation Committee as one of the PDS training institutions.) Because of the positive feedback from the GCP workshop, there is now a clamor by the attendees for a protocol-making workshop which may be implemented sometime in August of this year upon the approval of the PDS Board. The research workshop not only fostered “unity and cooperation” among the residents and consultants from the various institutions but also provided a more thorough knowledge and enthusiasm for research-making.

Last April 14, 2009, the PDS Board approved the purchasing of Patch Test kits for the eleven training institutions. This approval was based on the fact that not all PDS training institutions will order patch test kits since they are expensive and they are often not able to get their return of investment. To resolve this problem, the PDS Board will generously provide all the institutions with Patch Test kits based on the following reasons: first, patch testing is an integral part in the dermatologic training of residents; second, with the patch test kits on hand; PDS training institutions will be better equipped in providing quality dermatologic care to all their patients for free; and third, as an off-shoot of the availability of patch test kits to all institutions, a multicenter study supervised by Dr. Clarissa Cellona is achievable – with the goal of possibly producing a PDS allergen series. This study, exemplifying “unity and cooperation” among our institutions, may be presented in the forthcoming 2011 World Congress in Korea or 2012 Regional Congress of Dermatology (RCD) hosted by the Philippines.
Likewise, the research committee chaired by Dr. Teresa Belmonte intends to undertake systematic reviews on herbal studies done at the PDS training institutions. Again, this multicenter study will not only foster “unity and cooperation” among the eleven training institutions but it will also produce a worthwhile study from the Philippines if presented in the upcoming 2011 World Congress or 2012 RCD.

The membership committee chaired by Dr. Angela Lavadia will continue enhancing the personality growth and development of all PDS members through a one-day motivational workshop sponsored by Schering Plough Philippines. Last April 14, 2009, the residents and consultants from Makati Medical Center dermatology department underwent the workshop with the general concensus that it was useful, practical and an opportunity for bonding among residents and consultants. It is hoped that through this workshop, “unity and cooperation” will be enkindled among our members, thus producing better PDS dermatologists.

The PDS Board will continue to cultivate “unity and cooperation” among its members because it is not only our current theme, but also one of the key factors to becoming a highly-recognized society. Let us all work together and share our talents, knowledge and expertise with one another. The success and accomplishment of the PDS as an organization is also the success and accomplishment of PDS members contributing in their respective capacities. Let us all do our part in making the goals and objectives of our Society a reality. With the achievements gained by our Society both locally and globally, we can confidently say with resounding affirmation: “I am proud to be a PDS dermatologist.