HISTORY
It started out as a vision….In order to fill in the need for a training hospital for the junior interns of the West Visayas State University (WVSU) College of Medicine, the Philippine government bought an ailing hospital in the year 1985 and renamed it as West Visayas State University Hospital. At this early, the hospital was yet undepartmentalized.
The medical student internship training program was started in the year 1987 and a basic organizational structure of the Department of Internal Medicine was drafted. Plans for accreditation of the department were laid out with Dr. Juana Jardiolin as the Chairman and Dr. Elma Maranon was the Training Officer. Dr. Lory Pe Locsin, Dr. Myrna Orbana and Dr. Ronnie Samoro were the first medical residents enrolled in the training program. The next year, Dr. Elma Maranon replaced Dr. Jardiolin as the Chairman and Dr. Daylinda Chung became the Training Officer.
The proceeding years bore witness to the creation of the specialty sections in the department. To further improve the specialty rotations, cross-clinical in-service trainings were devised to send the medical residents to Manila for an in-depth training in their specialty of choice. This was realized under the leadership of Dr. Daylinda Chung who later became the Chairman and Dr. TRJ Nadala as the Training Officer.
The year 1991 was a fruitful one. The department was accredited by the Philippine College of Physicians for five years and the first batch of residents graduated. The department had the distinction of being the only residency program outside Manila to be accredited by the PCP. There were four graduates in the first batch – Dr. Ronnie Samoro, Dr. Joevie Belasoto, Dr. Nida Ferrer and Dr. Salvacion Yee- Billena. Dr. Samoro was accepted in UP-PGH for Pulmonary Medicine subspecialty; Dr. Ferrer went into Rheumatology at UST, while Dr. Belasoto went to the US to pursue Infectious Disease subspecialty.
1992 and 1993 brought revisions and refinements. Additional subspecialty sections were added to the training program. Residents at the time included: Dr. Milagros Tespoer-Layson, Dr. Melanie Jane Ausan-Tendencia, Dr. Evis Pabua, Dr. Agnes Jean Maleficio-Villaflor and of course Dr. Patricio Palmes. West Visayas State University Hospital, then a plebeian nobody was gradually earning distinction and recognition from the medical society. Dr. Palmes topped the PCP in service examination for his year level in Western Visayas.
The department was reaccredited in 1994. The training program was re-evaluated and additional subspecialties were added. Resident graduates at that time were Dr. Cecille Gumarin, Dr. Lina Casiple-Amsua, and Dr. Teodora Trimanez. Proceeding graduates were Dr. Corazon Martir, Dr. Daisy Trabuena (1995), Dr. Orlando Aragona, Dr. Ma Cecilia Momville, Dr. Eleanor Ibojos (1996), Dr. Sylvia Lopez, Dr. Julie Christi de la Gente, Dr. Marcelino Felisarta (1997), Dr. Jeffrey Gellada, Dr. Fel Angeli Colon (1998), Dr. Hella Rose Elisterio, Dr. Ma. Crisanta Anayan, Dr. Vina Lyn Nolasco, Dr. Hope Saladar-Larot (1999), D. Cyrille Adraneda, Dr. Madonna Villanueva, Dr. Jenny Hisole, Dr. Marie Grace Dawn Isidro were the millennium graduates (2000).
In 2001, after finishing his subspecializations in Cardiology and Vascular Medicine, Dr. Palmes was awarded by the National Academy of Science and Technology as an “Outstanding Young Scientist” for his various local and international research publications in cardiovascular medicine.
By then the West Visayas State University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine has established itself as a training program replete with successful and driven graduates, with a training program at par and even besting the Manila-based programs.
Dr. Marlon Obligacion was the sole graduate in 2001. Batch 2002 graduates were Dr. Tomasito Sy, Dr. Cherry Lee, Dr. Feven Anthony Palomar. Dr. Ma. Dovie Lallaine Ygpuarra, Dr. Felibert Dianco, Dr. Christine Sayo comprised Batch 2003. Batch 2004 included Dr. Ike Minerva, Dr. Maila Buyco, Dr. Gilbert Alojado, Dr. Marione Sustiger.
Year 2005 had two graduates, namely, Dr. Helmar Fantilanan, Dr. Ma. Estelita Sabio. Batch 2007 included Dr. Ma. Theira Dorado, Dr. Dhee Uyaco. Our most recent gradutes include Dr. Eli John Berame, Dr. Rosinee Cagurin, Dr. Ronar Silao, Dr. John Lester Sartaguda, Dr. Khristian Traya and Dr. Dwanie Conlu (2008). Dr. Cagurin placed second place in the National PCP research contest (Investigational prospective research category).
Batch 2008 included Dr. Efren Estoce, Dr. Marian Grace Legislador, Dr. Liza Marie Lomigo, Dr. Anastacio Manuel Jun-jun Degayo, Dr. Rey Isidto, and Dr. Hyacinth Debuyan-Jumalon. Batch 2010 included Dr. Jandre Jomar Alipat, Dr. Noe Bataga, Dr. Jamela Compuesto, and Dr. Charlotte Pacardo.
Batch 2011 included Dr. Daniel Bodoso, Dr. Marie Elaine Capalla, Dr. James Catoto, Dr. Jennifer Escarilla, and Dr. Christine Train. Batch 2012 included Dr. Karen Marie Cuñada, Dr. Analyn Jumeras, Dr. Israel Millan, Dr. Joseph Riegel Hilado and Dr. Renato Ong Jr. After teaching and inspiring the residents to do research, It was in also in 2011 that Dr. Palmes was recognized as an “Outstanding Health Research Mentor” by the Philippine National Health Research System.
Dr. Ianne Myla Tasi-Jardinero was the sole graduate in 2013. Batch 2014 included Dr. John Reuel Magan, Dr. Diana May Baclay-Laraya, Dr. Jaypee Gargalicana, Dr. Celina Hamsani, Dr. Sitti Julyha Suib, Dr. Clement Cezar Suñer and Dr. Chariza Trompeta. Batch 2015 included Dr. Kristin Joy Alimon and Dr. Anjuli May Jaen.
Batch 2016 included Dr. Mark Adorada, Dr. Mark Christian Agase and Dr. Redan Mark Panelo. In 2015, and 2016, the institution has dominated the research contest of the PCP-Western Visayas Panay Chapter. Batch 2017 included Dr. Jan Patrick Ng and Dr. Darleen Sy.
Batch 2018 included Dr. Ryge Molina, Dr. Yvette Marie Jesena-Divinagracia, Dr. Alenwil Berdugo and Dr. Gerard Lorenz Penecilla. In 2018 and 2019, the institution garnered 100% passing rate in the Diplomate Exam by the Philippine Specialty Board of Internal Medicine. The latest re-accreditation of the Department was awarded on May 2019 for another 4 years (until December 31, 2022).
The graduates of 2019 included Drs. Jatter Duran, Thessa Ecarma, Melchor Altillero, Patrick Vera Cruz, Anna Melissa Ng, Rhona Dei Tecsonm Jann Christian Solis, Glenn Grecia Jr., Jennifer Cabanilla, Ronald Cabaces, Gresaneth Claire Lumasag, Francien Lumawag, Jed Baria, and Mary Grace Anisco.
It was in 2020 that all 15 (100%)graduates passed the PSBIM. Dr. Altillero was among the top winners of the Outstanding Residents in Internal Medicine. Drs. Solis, Tecson, and Anisco won in the national research paper contest of Philippine PCP. Dr. Vera Cruz also won in the Philippine Society of Vascular Medicine Research Paper contest.
Batch 2020 were Drs. Zara Ampordan, Yves Araneta, Bryan Atas, Kevin Andre dela Llana, Yrah Damiene Fernandez, Mark Dominic Iwag, Debbie Jardiolin, Manolo Angelo Hidrosollo, Aldin Inocensio, Ester Martinez-Dongon, and Christian Dalton Reyes. It was this year that the COVID-19 global pandemic broke out that has caused a lot of changes and dangers to our lives.
Batch 2021 included Dr. Henrex Paul Alemon, Dr. Ranee Joy Bunda, Dr. Michael Angelo Gallenero and Dr. Tracy Grace Marie Go.
Batch 2022 are Dr. Andre Karl Faculin, Dr. Kevin Bryce Fullo, Dr. Petersian Alcazaren, Dr. Tracy Roz Mallorca, Dr. Paula Kristine Marie Ong, Dr. Johana May Sayat, Dr. Angeline Veil Tiosayco and Dr. Danah Lyn Tusing-Soberano.
For the first time in history, the WVSUMC Department of Internal Medicine was granted by the Philippine College of Physicians a full 5-year accreditation effective until 2027.
Over the years, the Department of Internal Medicine is home to internists in training who have made her proud. Local and regional contests were topped. Several research papers had been published locally and even internationally. Some residents had even attended international lectures because of this. The attitude of learning remains strong and prevalent.mel
Our beloved department is still in the process of further growth and development. Change is fast and continuous and we have learned to roll with the punches, especially with the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic. And history does not stop here; it does not stop with us. The department will continue on, despite our comings and goings, and the future internists who will train under her wing will testify to her steadfastness and standard of excellence.