SIX UST ALUMNI GARNER NUMBER 1, 2, 7, 8, 10 (2) SPOTS IN THE MOST RECENT MEDICAL LICENSURE EXAMINATION

USTMAA FOUNDATION provides a grant of $1000 to the number one board topnotcher. Dr. Jeri Charlotte Co Albano who topped the board was also the number one summa cum laude of batch 2016 and had received an unrestricted grant of $500 from the Foundation on her graduation. Congratulations Dr. Albano! We are very proud of your accomplishments.

UST grad tops list of 2,899 passers in Physician Licensure Exam Published September 21, 2016 8:31pm Close to 3,000 examinees passed this month's Physician Licensure Examination, with a graduate from University of Santo Tomas topping the list, the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) said Wednesday. 

1. Jeri Charlotte Co Albano topped the list of 2,899 passers with a score of 89.50, 

2. Edwin Mark Lim Chiong with 88.75. 

7. Jaffar Carag Pineda of UST with 88.33 

8. Kevin Michael Ramirez Yu of UST with 88.25 

10. Lorenz Kristoffer del Rosario Daga and Beverly Lynne Yao Ong, both of UST and both with 88.08 

A total of 3,695 took the exam in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cebu and Davao earlier this month, the PRC said. 

—KBK, GMA News - See more at: http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/582264/news/nation/ust-grad-tops-list-of-2-899-passers-in-physician-licensure-exam#sthash.MI44krVh.dpuf

Dr. Jim Sanchez of the Might Class of 1980, a plastic surgeon based in the Philippines who does a lot of medical missions and is noted for doing harelip and cleft palates and other medium surgeries under regional block, is touring the United States from May 1-24 to promote his noble idea and novel project of Hospital On Wheels - the RP Healthcraft Carrier. It is a fleet of trucks and buses equipped with up to date devices that can render medical center type services in remote areas of the Philippines where healthcare is not as readily available, including areas that have just been devastated by calamities. 

Please read more about him by clicking on the following link: Hospital on Wheels May 2016.pdf. You can catch him in a city near you by looking at the schedule that is in the newsletter. You can also visit our website: www.TheHospitalOnWheels.com and www.HospitalOnWheels.info or track him down by visiting our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/HospitalOnWheelsPhilippines.

Do you know that he is also nominated as a CNN hero? If we get so lucky enough that his nomination is accepted, please make sure that you vote for him several times. Let us make this viral! 

BEYOND MARCH MADNESS 

$100 K Marathon for the RP Health Craft Carrier Project of Jim Sanchez, MD.

Chona Fernando, M.D.’80

(reprinted from the Special Edition of the eUSThomasian April 2016 issue)

Our Mighty UST Medicine Class of 1980 just concluded our drive to raise $40,000 in a month – a challenge we called March Madness – to help Jim launch 2 buses of the RP Health Craft Carrier fleet.

Although we topped our goal and raised $44,275.00 the task was not easy. We began by soliciting $1000 from each classmate. Of the 52 of us who participated in this drive, 26 contributed $1000, 4 gave more than $1000 and 22 gave under $1000. We knew we asked a lot from our friends. But, we are also blessed with so much that we could share – – and, still have enough! After our initial euphoria, we sputtered towards our target – until, Jim sent us this video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAe7wJkXIpE&feature=youtu.be

As you see, my Colleagues, the need is great. Our Kababayans wait extremely long to access healthcare. Through Jim’s noble service, we have this opportunity to help alleviate their suffering. He now asked for our help to launch these initial 2 buses of the RP Health Craft Carrier fleet. We cannot afford to just sit back and squander away our chance to participate in this important Bayanihan effort for our Kababayans. It is imperative that we help!

Jim is trying to raise $100,000 and this has been his road towards his goal – –

Class 1980 March Madness Drive 2016 $44,275

Class 1980 Surgivan Fundraiser 2014    $   7395

UST Medicine Class 1970 Donation        $15,000

GRAND TOTAL                                        $66,670

My Colleagues, Jim is still short $33,330. Our class goal is to deliver $100,000 by May 2016 – when Jim comes to do his program presentations in the USA. We appeal to your compassion and generosity to reach our $100 K target. Our class can no longer do this alone. We ask you to participate in this fundraiser for our neediest Kababayans, the sole beneficiaries of this project. They have very little or none.

We are so close to reaching $100,000! Sadly, we are not there yet. To get there, we need to ALL pull together. PLEASE, let us all get involved in this project to deliver healthcare to our Kababayans! We need every contribution you can give. Every dollar counts. It would be a mistake to do nothing because you could only do a little. Please send your contributions to:

www.USTMAAAmerica.wildapricot.org. It is so easy –

Click on “donations” then fill out the form. Under “purpose,” click pass through. Under “comment,” please type for Jim Sanchez, M.D. RP Health Craft Carrier.

Please email me your donation confirmations so I can track our progress, acknowledge your contributions and give you regular updates on our efforts. My email address is: CGFERNANDO55@COMCAST.NET

John Bunyan once said: “You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” 

Let our cry be TEAM WORK MAKES DREAM WORK!!

Thank you for your ACTION. Let us all move towards our $100,000 goal! Please send in your contributions now. Here is that link again:

www.USTMAAAmerica.wildapricot.org.

God bless you and I look forward to hearing from you, my Colleagues.

Dr. Mark Asperilla wins Ellis Island Medal of Honor

SPECIAL TO FLORIDA WEEKLY

Along with Colin Powell, Dr. Mark Asperilla was presented with the 2009 Caring Award, the nation’s highest honor for volunteerism. COURTESY PHOTO

The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, known asNECO, has announced that Port Charlotte physician Dr. Mark Asperilla is a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. The award pays homage to the immigrant experience and the contribution made to America by immigrants and their children. The medals are awarded to native-born and naturalized U.S. citizens. Approximately 100 medalists are honored each year. Past medalists include six United States presidents, Nobel Prize winners and leaders of industry, education, the arts, sports and government.

The medals were established at the time of NECO’s founding in 1986. The organization’s mission is “to support patriotism, tolerance, brotherhood and diversity.”

The awards ceremony will be held May 7 on Ellis Island. All branches of the United States Armed Forces traditionally participate. Both the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate have officially recognized the Ellis Island Medals of Honor, and each year’s recipients are read into the Congressional Record. The Great Hall, where immigrants were once processed, hosts the gala dinner following the ceremony.

Dr. Asperilla, who was born in the Philippines, is an internist and infectious disease specialist, as well as one of the community’s most recognized philanthropists, whose borders stretch beyondCharlotte County.

The numerous area medical clinics he has co-founded (including the Virginia B. Andes Volunteer Community Clinic, the Englewood Community Clinic, another free clinic in Lehigh Acres and the Charlotte County Hepatitis C Clinic) provide care to about 20,000 poor, uninsured and underinsured patients a year. Dr. Asperilla is also the founder of ACCESS Care, a nonprofit organization that works to improve access to free medical services in other countries. It has served about 30,000 impoverished people in Peru, Ecuador, Guatemala, the Philippines, Colombia and Haiti, by providing free medical treatment.

Dr. Asperilla also founded Southwest Florida Disabilities to provide services to the disabled, the now-dissolved Charlotte County HIV Clinic, the first-ever stand-alone FEMA clinic in the wake of Hurricane Charley. He also founded the St. Vincent de Paul Charity Pharmacy, which is now part of the Virginia B. Andes Clinic. The pharmacy has dispensed millions of dollars’ worth of medications through tens of thousands of prescriptions.

For his efforts, Dr. Asperilla has been recognized with more than a dozen awards, many of them for community service. Included in these are the Caring Award, the nation’s highest honor for volunteerism, as well as the Oscar E. Edwards Memorial Award for Volunteerism and Community Service from the American College of Physicians. In addition, the American Medical Association has recognized Dr. Asperilla with its Pride in Profession and Leadership awards, two of its top honors. ¦

Click on the following links for more details:

Dr. Jim Sanchez's RP Healthcraft Carrier:      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAe7wJkXIpE&feature=youtu.be

eUSThomasian Special Edition on March Madness afflicting the Mighty Class of 1980:  https://indd.adobe.com/view/5fd42652-f890-4a73-9796-5a8c18c253b1

Dr. Jim Sanchez’s RP Healthcraft Carrier

By Dr. Chona Fernando, MD’80

The Mighty UST Medicine Class of 1980 had a fundraiser for the RP Healthcraft Carrier Project of Jim Sanchez, known as Dr. Charity in the Philippines. We called our drive “March Madness.”

After a 13- month hiatus from fundraising for Jim’s surgivan, our class decided it was again time to dig into our pocketbooks for our friend/classmate and our Kababayans. We initially aimed to raise $20,000.00 over 3 months, ending our drive on May 30 when Jim comes to USA to do his presentations. We thought we faced a steep goal – a record-breaking $20,000!. BUT, in less than a week our class topped our target! We raised $22,000! Our class went euphoric!

We thought about ending our fundraiser after we reached our goal. But, some of our classmates suggested we keep on! One even offered to donate an extra 10% of total amount we raised! Chuchi de la Cruz became my generous anonymous donor. Our class did not want to lose the momentum! We were HOT! That was when we called our fundraiser, March Madness and upped the bar– to raise $40,000 in a month!!

Our class president, Debbie Remorca and myself sent email and text messages asking for contributions. We made telephone calls appealing in behalf of Jim. Our class response was overwhelming for another week. I received 1-3 $500-$1000 contributions made through USTMAAA every day that I acknowledged and tracked. And then, sometime after mid-March we lost steam. There were several days of uncomfortable silence. I had the jitters as we were way off target!!

We encouraged maximum class participation for what ever dollar amount any one could give to help us reach our $40,000 target.We welcomed pledges payable through USTMAA by 5/30.We asked more from our 2 M.D.- couple classmates. We called on everyone in our class across the oceans to pitch in. And then, we started our excruciatingly slow countdown on 3/21.

3 days before our deadline, Jim sent this to us:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAe7wJkXIpE&feature=youtu.be

Jim made a personal appeal for contributions. This powerful video captured why he asked for our support. Our neediest Kababayans lack access to health care. They wait years for life-changing surgery. Thus, it became imperative to launch the 1st 2 buses of the RP Healthcraft Carrier fleet at the soonest. You responded to the urgency of Jim’s call!!

We asked you, our friends, to step up when we needed you most especially over the last 48 hours of our March deadline. And, did you come through! You did not lose sight of the fact that we are doing something big and important for our Kababayans in dire need of our help. We all pulled together for our good friend, Jim!

Together, we succeeded! 51 of us participated in this drive-- that’s a majority! We raised $40,250.00 among us. Chuchi would take us to at least $44,275, with an additional $4025! All in our month of March Madness! This is certainly worth going crazy over!!

But wait! Some of you, my friends, promised to contribute after tax day-- 2 more weeks and then you can make donations through USTMAAA or make your pledges through Debbie or me. Leo Yason, M.D. would ask for donations to Jim’s RP Healthcraft Carrier project in lieu of gifts for his 5/14/2016 birthday! A few of us would be around when Jim does his presentations in May. These venues would be extra opportunities for fundraising. How about if we target $50,000 for this spring fundraiser through 5/30/2016? That is just another $5725! Quite, doable? YES!! 

As promised, I listed my donors for this March Madness Drive. I am profusely grateful to you, my Friends, for your generous contributions. Jim, you hear us loud and clear – we have your back! We support you and we want you to succeed helping our Kababayans!! You rock!

TEAM WORK MAKES DREAM WORK!! ARRIBA OCHENTA!!!

Love you all, my Friends and God bless. Enjoy your weekend!!

Chona

Click on the following link to view the February 2016 issue of the electronic newsletter.

February 2016 eUSThomasian small.pdf

Please join us in offering our warmest congratulations to the Thomasian medical alumni who successful passed the recent Philippine Medical Licensure Exam with five of them in the top ten:

2.   Dr. Jan Christian Gomez Feliciano

5.   Dr. George Michael Ngo

6.   Dr. Anna Blanca Eloise Adriano Peralta

7.   Dr. Thomas Vincent Torres Vergara

10. Dr. Lester Bryan Ang Co

The following is the email thread about this feat:

Your TEAM USTMAAA

Hi Awesomes,

Here are the top ten of the Philippine medical boards given early this month as released by the Professional Regulations Commission today: (1) Andrew Chua Tiu = 90.67 (Cebu Institute of Medicine), 2) Jan Christian Gomez Feliciano = 90 (UST), (3) Kristel Kang Tanhui = 89.75 (De La Salle), (4) Antonio Lorenzo Rustia Quiambao = 89.58 (UE), (5) George Michael Ngo = 89.25 (UST), (6) Ana Blanca Eloise Adriano Peralta = 89.08 (UST),  (7) Thomas Vincent Torres Vergara = 89.08 (UST), (8) Tristan Marvin Zapanta Uy = 89 (UP), (9) Anne Margarette Reyes Abuluyan = 88.92 (FEU), and (10) Lester Bryan Ang Co = 88.83 (UST).

Tyrone

August 27, 2015


Dear Doctor Primo:

Greetings from Manila.

Allow me to thank you, Mrs. Andres, Drs. Dionisio and Zita Yoro, Drs. Jose and Estela Evangelista and all USTMAA members for the warm welcome and royal treatment last July during the USTMAA gathering at Orlando.

It was indeed memorable and I am most grateful not only for the signs of affection to me as Regent of Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (FMS) but for your love and concern for your Alma Mater, the FMS of UST.

In a joyful note I’d like to share with you the result of the 2015 Physician Licensure Examination. 
                UST Percentage Passed    :  98.31%
                Top Ten                  :  5 graduates from UST
I suppose you know it already, but I feel great sharing this good news with our stakeholders. (http://www.prc.gov.ph/news/)

Somebody told me that it was nostalgia and gratitude that kept him joining the annual gatherings.  Nostalgia is enkindled with the passing of years and the sharing of memories.  Gratitude is a mutual feeling that becomes a virtue by its continuous practice.

I found these in all of you.

I pray and hope this relation will not only continue but will grow to produce more effective results for your association as well as for the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery.

Sincerely,

Fr. Angel Aparicio, O.P.
Regent
UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

Thank you very  much for the update Fr. Angel. We are indeed elated and very proud that 5 of our graduates are in the top ten in the most recent Philippine Licensure Examination. However, our task as an alumni organization is to always challenge and inspire our medical students and alumni to strive for the best and so anything less than number one in the boards and less than 100 % passing is below our goal. This is not an expression of disappointment but rather a manifestation of our hopes and desires for our graduates and our alma mater. I know this is not a quixotic dream and it is one that had been achieved before and will always be a challenge that is worth pursuing year in and year out. Just the same, please extend our warmest congratulations to our successful candidates especially to:

2.   Dr. Jan Christian Feliciano

5.   Dr. George Michael Ngo

6.   Dr. Ana Blanca Eloise Peralta

7.   Dr. Thomas Vincent Torres Vergara

10. Dr. Lester Bryan Ang Co

We wish to meet them someday and I hope to see you in January when we come for the USTMAA Homecoming.

God bless!

Primo Andres

Hi Primo ! In behalf of the USTFMS family please extend our thanks and gratitude to the USTMAAA leadership and membership for your continuing support to our Alma Mater !! Our  Regent, Fr Angel Aparicio has already joyously shared with you yesterday the good news about the results of the recent PLE where we garnered 5 of the top ten slots and with a passing rate of 98.31%. We were hoping and praying for a 100% passing mark and of course for the top 1 post but considering the big number of our candidates (415) , we are quite happy with the results. During the past few years, our passing rate has always been in the vicinity of 98 to 99.5%. We will be holding the traditional El Fuego Tomasino this coming friday in thanksgiving and to honor our topnotchers and passers. We will also reach out to the unfortunate few who did not make it and try to help them prepare better for the next board exam. 

Let us continue to work together to maintain and further improve this culture of excellence in medical education in the USTFMS !! Thanks and God bless us all !!-- Dean Jess

We are proud to inform all Thomasians of the Lifetime Achievement Award that is being given to Dr. Erwin Gonzalez of Class 1967 by the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. 

Dr.Erwin Gonzalez of USTFMS Class ’67 is the 2015 recipient of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Frank H. Krusen, MD Lifetime Achievement Award.  Recipients of this award are selected on the basis of their outstanding contributions to the field of PM&R in the areas of patient care, research, education, literary contributions, community service, and involvement in the Academy's many activities.  This award is the highest honor that the Academy can bestow upon one of its members. 

Erwin is now retired and was Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation Medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeon, Professor of PM&R at Mt. Sinai and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Chairman of PMR at Beth Israel, all in NYC.  He was president of AAPM&R 1989-90 and recipient of several other awards including the USTFMS Silver Jubilarian M. Alimurung Lectureship in 1992, the Walter Zeiter Lectureship award in 1993, Physiatric Association of Sports and Spine Distinguished Member award 2002 and 2006 Honorary Fellow of Philippine Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine.

Here is a copy of the letter from the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation:

May 4, 2015   

Dear Dr. Gonzalez:   

On behalf of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, and as the Chairman of its Awards Committee, I am pleased to notify you officially that you have been selected as the 2015 recipient of the Frank H. Krusen, MD Lifetime Achievement Award.   

The Frank H. Krusen, MD Lifetime Achievement Award was established by the Academy in 1972 to honor one of its founding fathers who was a leader in the development of the specialty.  Recipients of this award are selected on the basis of their outstanding contributions to the field of PM&R in the areas of patient care, research, education, literary contributions, community service, and involvement in the Academy's many activities.  Dr. Krusen, the Academy's fourth President, was the first recipient of the Award that bears his name.   

We are delighted to recognize your many outstanding contributions to your field and to your Academy by presenting you with this award, the highest honor that the Academy can bestow upon one of its members.  The Krusen Award will be announced during the Walter J. Zeiter Lecture and Awards Session which takes place on Saturday October 3, 2015from 9:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m, Auditorium Level 2 of the Hynes Convention Center. 

We ask that you arrive 15 minutes early to the Session for instructions.     

We distribute an Awards Announcement to Academy members, so please

1.     Acknowledge receipt of this notification so that we can rest assured we are not announcing before our winners are made aware, and

2.      Email a photograph and a brief bio (or highlighted CV) to the Academy’s Staff Liaison to the Awards Committee, Margaret Keen, at mkeen@aapmr.org no later than Friday May 29, 2015.  

Dr. Domingo T. Alvear, the founder and perennial leader of the World Surgical Foundation (WSF), has been invited by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO) to receive the Ellis Island Medal of Honor on May 9, 2015 at Ellis Island in New York in recognition of his work as a leader and organizer of multiple surgical missions and disaster relief services all over the world, especially in his native country, the Philippines. WSF has adopted Coron District Hospital in Northern Palawan as one of its long term beneficiaries.

Dr. Alvear is only the second Filipino to receive the award. “It is incredible. Never in my wildest dream would this happen, because it is a real honor for immigrants to get this award,” Alvear said. “This is really not for me, it’s for the Filipinos, make them proud.”

Six presidents have received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, as well as Bob Hope, Muhammad Ali, and Rosa Parks. NECO has been giving out the award since 1986.

About World Surgical Foundation:

• Founded in 1997
• WSF Mission is to provide sustainable and long term healthcare to countries they serve
• WSF will help with education of local surgeons and anesthesiologists by sponsoring them to come to the USA to foster their expertise
• Provide service to patients with local counterparts
• Had performed over 3700 free surgical procedures in Thailand, India, Philippines, Honduras, Haiti, Ecuador and Ethiopia