In celebration of its silver year, the Class of ’94 held 2 postgraduate courses in the Visayas region- the first one in March in Cebu City and the second in April in Dumaguete City. The theme was “Emerging Issues, Innovations and Modern Treatments: Taking Care of the Young Ones and the Young Once”.

The Cebu event was held on Ash Wednesday, March 6, 2019 at the auditorium of Perpetual Succour Hospital where almost a hundred physicians of different specialties were in attendance. The course was a multidisciplinary program addressing medical issues from childhood to adulthood. What was truly amazing was that all the speakers were graduates of Class 1994!

The morning session started with updates on Newborn Hearing Screening by otorhinolaryngologist Dr. Gina Seredrica followed by Chest Pain in Chidren by pediatric cardiologist Dr. Maria Raquel Pasimio. A pediatric allergologist/immunologist, Dr. Liza Peña-Sulay had a riveting discourse on Breaking the Antibiotic Habit: Alternative Treatment Options for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections. Neurologist Dr. Apollo Sitoy ended the morning session with updates on Alzheimer’s Disease.

The first half of the afternoon addressed endocrinology issues with Thyroid Clinical Scenarios by Dr. Vicente Perez, Jr. followed by Primary Care Management of Type 2 Diabetes by Dr. Marsha Tolentino, both practicing endocrinologists. Pain Management in Osteoporosis was tackled by orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jose Antonio San Juan and Preventing Cervical Cancer by gynecologic oncologist Dr. Raymond Sulay.

With fasting out of the question (it was Ash Wednesday after all) with the sumptuous snacks of suman at manga w/ tsokolate and a full-spread Filipino-themed lunch buffet, ashes were distributed to the Catholics in the audience during the morning break. Zumba sessions in between lectures kept the audience on their toes, literally. Consultants in attendance were ob-gyns, family physicians, internal medicine specialists, pediatricians, surgeons and anesthesiologists plus UPCM 1994 classmates. There were exhibit booths with our generous pharmaceutical sponsors in attendance. Truly this was a full day of learning and renewing old ties as some classmates who were present had not seen each other since graduation 25 years ago!

Dumaguete, the City of Gentle People, welcomed Class ’94 at Bethel Guest House last April 27, Saturday, for the second installment of the Visayas post-graduate course. The theme was the same as Cebu with slight variety in the lectures as some speakers from Cebu couldn’t make it. Pinch-hitters from Manila included UPMAS President and gynecologic oncologist Dr. Jean Anne Toral lecturing on Addressing the Concerns of the Menopausal Woman and Preventing Cervical Cancer and UPMAS Vice President and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Tammy de la Rosa reviewing the Diagnosis and Management of Common Hand Conditions in the Adult. Local host and neurosurgeon Dr. Kypton Kho discussed Brain Attack: How to Recognize the Early Signs of Stroke and Reverse the Deficit.

This CME course was well attended with a full house of local physicians and allied health professionals from all over the Negros Oriental province. Zumba sessions also kept the participants active and alert all day.

Overall, the Visayas leg of the Class 1994 postgraduate course was an outstanding success. We were able to educate significant numbers in both localities and the funds raised would go a long way in accomplishing the planned outreached programs in our silver year. Moreover, these mini-reunions of sorts make me eagerly anticipate the grand homecoming in December!