University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery

Infobox_University
name = UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS
Faculty of Medicine and Surgery


established = 1611 University
1871 Faculty of Medicine and Surgery
type = Private medical school, Roman Catholic
dean = Prof. Maria Graciela Gonzaga, M.D.
head_label = Regent
head = Rev. Fr. Winston Cabading, OP, STL-MA
location = Saint Martin de Porres Building, UST Campus, España St., Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines
website= [http://www.ust.edu.ph/ www.ust.edu.ph] |

The University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, popularly known as UST Medicine or UST Med, is the medical school of the University of Santo Tomas, the oldest and largest Catholic university in Manila, the national capital of the Philippines.

The Faculty is the oldest medical school in the Philippines. It is also one of the most prestigious medical schools in AsiaFact|date=August 2008, and a consistent top performing school in the national medical licensure exams in the Philippines.

History

The Faculty of Medicine and Surgery was founded in 1871.Official prospectus, UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, 2006.]

Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, enrolled in the Faculty to pursue foundational courses in medicine. He pursued further studies in Ophthalmology at Madrid Central University (now Complutense University of Madrid), the University of Paris, and the University of Heidelberg in Germany. [Gregorio F. Zaide. "The Life, Works, and Writings of Jose Rizal". National Book Store Inc., 2003.]

Since then, the Faculty has consistently ranked among the top performing medical schools in the country. It has also produced the largest number of medical doctors in Philippine history.Official prospectus, UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, 2006.]

Program design and delivery

The Faculty offers the four-year Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree, a comprehensive professional academic program which combines lectures, case analyses, and practical simulation exercises. The entire curriculum focuses on the basic, clinical, and emergency medical sciences. Teaching methods make use of both classic and modern medical practices and technologies.Academic programs, UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, 2006.]

In 2001, the Faculty adopted the problem-based learning method for use in the curriculum. [ [http://www.varsitarian.com/archivedetail.asp?ArticleID=74022217&Sections=News Med students now approve PBL] The Varsitarian. Vol. LXXIV, No. 2 • July 10, 2002] The move was highly controversial. Several professors complained that the medical students were not learning the basic sciences adequately. In 2003, the curriculum format combined elements of both traditional (lecture-based) and problem-based methods.Academic programs, UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, 2006.]

The Faculty is distinct from other medical schools in its policy of requiring graduating students to undergo a series of written and oral exams known as the revalida. In the oral exams, groups of three students each are questioned by panels composed of three professors on basic, clinical, and emergency medical sciences. Passing the revalida is a prerequisite to graduation. Medical school graduates qualify to take the licensure exams for physicians conducted by the Board of Medicine, and under the control and supervision of the Professional Regulation Commission of the Philippines.Academic programs, UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, 2006.]

Academic programs

The Faculty offers the following professional academic programs:Official prospectus, UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, 2006.]

*Doctor of Medicine
*Master in Clinical Audiology
*Master of Arts major in Hospital Administration (offered in the UST Graduate School)
*Master of Science major in Medical Physics (offered in the UST Graduate School)
*Master of Science in Medical Technology (offered in the UST Graduate School)
*Master in Health Professions Education (non-thesis; offered in the UST Graduate School)

The Faculty regularly conducts post-graduate courses covering specialties and subspecialites in Medicine and Surgery (i.e. Sports Medicine, Family Medicine, Geriatrics and Gerontology, Alternative Medicine, etc.).Official prospectus, UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, 2006.]

Performance

The Faculty is proclaimed Center of ExcellenceList of Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Republic of the Philippines, 2007.] in the field of medical sciences by the Commission on Higher Education. It has been producing several topnotchersStatistical Data of Board Examination Passing Rates, Physician Licensure Examinations, Professional Regulation Commission, 1997-2006.] in the national licensure exams for Filipino doctors. It is also the alma mater of several Secretaries of Health of the PhilippinesHistory, Department of Health (DOH), Republic of the Philippines, 2007.] and several Presidents of the Philippine Medical AssociationHistory, Philippine Medical Association, 2007.] , the largest organization of medical doctors in the country. The Faculty has also produced numerous hospital administrators, medical directors, clinical specialists, and medical professors in the Philippines and abroad.Alumni list, UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, 2007.]

Reputation

The Faculty is widely regarded in medical, educational, and social circles as the top private medical school in the country. [Annual Conference Report, Philippine Medical Association, 2005.]

Facilities

The Faculty draws physical and manpower resources from its training institution, the Santo Tomas University Hospital, popularly known as the "UST Hospital". The hospital is one of the largest fully-equipped medical facilities in the country. [Facilities, University of Santo Tomas, 2007.]

Several autonomous units of the University of Santo Tomas provide allied faculty and research support, such as: [Autonomous faculties and colleges, University of Santo Tomas, 2007.]
*The UST Graduate School - Center of Excellence in ChemistryList of Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Republic of the Philippines, 2007.]
*The UST Faculty of Pharmacy - top performing school in the licensure exams for Pharmacy and Medical TechnologyStatistical Data of Board Examination Passing Rates, Professional Regulation Commission, 1997-2006.]
*The UST College of Nursing - Center of Excellence in NursingList of Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Republic of the Philippines, 2007.]
*The UST College of Rehabilitation Sciences - top performing school in the licensure exams for Physical Therapy and Occupational TherapyStatistical Data of Board Examination Passing Rates, Professional Regulation Commission, 1997-2006.]
*The UST College of Science - Center of Excellence in ChemistryList of Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Republic of the Philippines, 2007.] , Center of Development in BiologyList of Centers of Excellence and Centers of Development, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Republic of the Philippines, 2007.]

Prominent alumni

Among the Faculty's illustrious alumni include:Alumni list, UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, 2007.]

*Jose Rizal - National Hero of the Philippines; one of the first ophthalmologists in Asia
*Evangelina Macaraeg-Macapagal - former First Lady of the Philippines; spouse of former Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal; mother of current President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo; renowned medical professor
*Guillermo de Venecia - Ophthalmologist - Retired Professor. University of Wisconsin, Madison. Subspecialty in Ophthalmic Pathology, Medical Retina, Neuro-ophthalmology. One of the first ophthalmologist recognized in doing extensive research on the vascular retinopathies (diabetic retinopthy, vascular occlusions, shaken baby syndrome). First ophthalmologist to record the natural history of cytomegalovirus retinitis in a patient with an unknown disease during the 1970s. (which turned out to be AIDS). Founded the Free Rural Eye Clinic (FREC) now based Bolasi, San Fabian Pangasinan, which caters to indigent patients needing eye care
*Luisa "Loi" Ejercito-Estrada - former First Lady, Senator, and spouse of former Philippine President Joseph Estrada;
*Francisco Duque, III - current Secretary of Health of the Philippines
*Carmencita Noriega-Reodica - first woman Secretary of Health of the Philippines; Hospital Administrator, The Quezon Institute
*Ramon Sin - former President, Philippine Medical Association; brother of Jaime Cardinal Sin
*Modesto Llamas - former President, Philippine Medical Association
*Angeles Tan-Alora - former Dean, UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery; first female medical school dean in the Philippines
*Raul G. Fores - Medical Director, Makati Medical Center
*Jesus Dueñas - Medical Director, Philippine Orthopedic Hospital
*Peter Ng - Forensic expert, medical professor, lawyer; Co-author, "Legal Medicine", "Medical Laws in the Philippines", and "Legal Research & Bibliography"; Graduate, AFP General Officer & Staff Course; MNSA (Valedictorian), National Defense College of the Philippines; Ph.D. Biological Science, UST Graduate School
*Maria Elena R. Enriquez - Associate, Romulo Mabanta Buenaventura Sayoc and De Los Angeles; anesthesiologist, physician, and trial lawyer
*Arlo Luis R. Salvador III - Instructor in Experimental Psychology, UST Faculty of Arts and Letters; the only medical doctor teaching in the liberal arts college
*Judge Philip Aguinaldo

References

*
*
*