Department of Internal Medicine

The first chairperson of the Department of Medicine back in 1942 was Dean Ramon Macasaet. Dr. Mario Guerrero, Dr. Elpidio Gamboa and Dr. Virginia Dungo subsequently took over the chairmanship over the years. Dr. Jose S. Estrada was appointed chairperson from 1968 to 1970. He was the only cardiologist in the institution at that time. With him were seven consultants and 3 resident physicians. Dr. Estrada was the 64^th fellow of the Philippine College of Physicians and was a board examiner of the Philippine Specialty Board in Internal Medicine.

Dr. Lutgarda C. Quito succeeded Dr. Estrada whose term of office lasted from 1970 to 1984. She was the first MCU College of Medicine graduate (Class of 1960) to sit as chair of the department. During the first few years of her office she focused on the strengthening of the faculty staff and instituting curriculum modification and enrichment as mandated by the Department of Education, Culture and Sports through the APMC.

In the mid-seventies, the department recruited and retained a number of qualified faculty members. It was then that administration approved the reduction of freshmen student enrollees to only one hundred to improve the quality of the graduates.

Fund raising activities were held to support the different projects of the department. The administration, faculty and students supported these activities.

Dr. Virgilio V. Tablante, an MCU College of Medicine graduate of Class ’62 had a short stint as chair from 1984 to 1985. He continued the projects initiated by Dr. Quito. During his time the number of consultants had grown to 43.

Dr. Nicolas S. Zubiri was chair from 1985 to 1990. He was one of the top gastroenterologists in the country and was convinced by Dr. Quito to join MCU. He introduced computer technology to the institution. He was the Reynaldo Landero Professorial Chair holder for Internal Medicine and delivered a lecture on computer knowhow. He set-up the video-endoscopy section of the hospital, started publishing the department newsletter, computerized the daily department census, and organized medical missions in the rural areas.

Dr. Marcelito Durante was appointed chair from 1990 to 1994. After his fellowship in cardiology in France, he was invited by Dr. Quito to join the department in 1976. He continued the programs started by his predecessors especially the yearly postgraduate courses and the BLS-ACLS Course for the first year Postgraduate trainees. He established the Heart Station complete with a 2-D Echo machine. He invited specialists of the different subspecialties to complement the faculty staff of the department. During his term of office, Dr. Durante also held the following important positions: President of the Philippine Heart Association, Chair of the Philippine Specialty Board of Internal Medicine, and Member of the Board of Regents of the Philippine College of Physicians.

The third MCU College of Medicine almuni to hold the 10th chairmanship of the Department was Dr. Nenita Collantes who assumed the position in 1994. At the same time, she was elected and appointed to other important positions: President of the MCU Medical Alumni Association and the FDTMF Medical Staff Organization and member of the Philippine Specialty Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Collantes was instrumental in the establishment of the dialysis unit. During her tenure, the Problem Based Learning was introduced by the college, for which she developed the Block VI curriculum handling the cardiovascular system.

Dr. Rodolfo Rabanal succeeded Dr. Collantes in 2000. He introduced new programs to insure faculty development, residency training and student learning. He strengthened Block VI, the Cardiovascular System to further motivate the student learning. He represented the institution in the Philippine Specialty Board of Internal Medicine and became its chairman.

After the stint of Dr. Rabanal, Dr. Quintin Babaran took over the chairmanship in 2003. He introduced the team approach in patient management and effected several changes in the training program including reactivation of the dormant Harrison’s Club, the Journal Club and activated the Research forum. During his tenure, there was clamor for a change in the medical curriculum. The Modified Innovative Curriculum was then born. Dr. Babaran developed the MIC curriculum, a modular system of approach to learning Internal Medicine. He strengthened the Post-graduate courses and paved the way to hold the postgraduate courses outside MCU. With the postgraduate courses, the net proceeds markedly improved and supported the acquisition audio-visual equipment for use by the department during its conferences. He held other positions including, member of the Philippine Specialty Board of Internal Medicine (PSBIM) and also became its chairman. He also became a Member of the Board, Philippine Society of Digestive Endoscopy acting as its PRO.

In 2007, Dr. Gedeonino Padilla became the Chair but had a short tenure for he was appointed Chief of Professional Services. He is also a member of the PSBIM and became its Chairman.

Dr. Gerard Perlas was appointed Chair and led the Department from 2008 up to 2011. He was able to recruit more faculty to be active lecturers for the College. He was the overall chairman during the Foundation Day and postgraduate courses were held on a regular basis. It was during his time that BLS-ACLS courses were offered by the Department. A good percentage of residents passed the PSBIM exam. Part of his recommendations were to increase the number of IM residents and to separate the College from the Hospital.

After Dr. Perlas, Dr. Ruth Saguil-Sy became Chair and served from 2011-2014. She also represented the Department in the Philippine Specialty Board of Internal Medicine (PSBIM). She continued the program started by Dr. Perlas.

In 2014, Dr Rolando Ligon was appointed Chair of the Department. He is also a member of the PSBIM. He implemented the Outcomes-Based Medical Education (OBE) mandated by CHED. Additional faculty members were invited to meet the demands of OBE. He recruited more residents and subspecialists to improve the medical services. He stirred the Department towards its re-accreditation with the Philippine College of Medicine.  In the latter part of 2016 the Department was divided into College and Hospital Departments. Dr. Ligon remains as Chair of the Department of the College of Medicine while Dr. Enrico Tuy serves as the Chair in the Hospital.