History
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology has a rich history having been headed and manned by some of the best specialists in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the country. The Department has been in service to women, their unborn, and their health providers throughout the years.
It was established as an academic department in 1947 as part of the MCU College of Medicine with four to five faculty members. The meritorious contributions of the faculty staff to the field of women’s reproductive health care earned five of them the distinct honor or being elected as Presidents of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS). They are:
Dr. Jose X. Genato 1951
Dr. Guillerma S. Naval- Sahagun 1986
Dr. Walfrido W. Sumpaico 1995
Dr. Lyra Ruth Clemente- Chua 2003
Dr. Regta L. Pichay 2009
During the chairmanship of Dr. Guillerma S. Naval–Saharan the department became POGS accredited for service. With innovative prowess, her programs earned funds for the department paving the way for the purchase of instruments and equipment that started the technology-based training programs which the department continues to provide up to this day.
Dr. Walfrido W. Sumpaico succeeded as the Chairman in 1985. He embarked on developing a well-trained and dynamic staff to further improve and expand the services of the department. During his tenure, the Department’s Annual Postgraduate Course was launched and attended by specialists all over the country. Also at this time, MCU Resident Graduates trained in reproductive endocrinology and infertility and gynecologic oncology after which they were tasked to develop their own Sections in the Department upon completion of fellowship training.
Dr. Lyra Ruth Clemente-Chua was sent to train in transvaginal ultrasound at the University of Tokyo. She became the first local OBGYN specialist in that field. The priority purchase of an ultrasound machine became the seed that gave birth to the Ultrasound Services, Inc (USI). The ultrasound training program and service were then set up. As the members of the team of ultrasound experts in the department grew, seminars and workshops were conducted nationwide. Preceptorship and fellowship training programs were offered in 1993 to bona fide members of the POGS. At present, its training programs have graduated many fellows and preceptees not only from various areas of the country but globally, e.g. Indonesia and Africa.
In 2004, ultrasound was officially incorporated in the residency training program of the POGS. Since then, our residents have started rotating to the Ultrasound Section as part of their training. The Department is confident that its leadership in ultrasound training will continue undiminished.
In 1993, the High Risk Unit (HRU) was established and fellowship training in Perinatology was offered. Improvement in the care of high-risk pregnancies and the reduction of perinatal deaths became the section’s mission.
The Section of Gynecologic Endoscopy was formed after the training of its head, Dr. Regta L. Pichay, in tubal microsurgery and Gynecologic Endoscopy. In 1996, they started the first of a series of seminar workshops in gynecologic endoscopy nationwide followed by the first preceptorship program in hysteroscopy.
In 1996, the department continued to flourish as a recognized training institution. It was during this time that the section of Urogynecology and Trophoblastic Diseases Section was conceived.
In 2001, the Menopause Clinic, which serves women in their peri and post-menopausal years, was revitalized. Towards the end of 2001, Mother’s Class Program was started to further educate women on the subjects of birthing, nutrition, breast feeding and family planning.
The services of the department grew with the development of the consultant staff. In addition to the basic services provided, it has developed five subspecialty sections, namely: Endoscopy, Menopause Clinic, Oncology and Trophoblastic Diseases, Perinatology and Ultrasound.
At the Operating Room/ Delivery Room (OR/DR) Complex, there are six Labor Room beds for private patients and five service beds, equipped with cardiotocograph (CTG) machines, blood pressure monitors, among others. There are two Operating Rooms and two Delivery Rooms serving both pay and charity patients. The Isolation Room for infectious cases serves as the third Delivery Room located outside the OR/DR Complex.
The High Risk Unit within the complex is equipped with two beds and 1 ultrasound machine with Doppler capability and a CTG machine. A post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and a nurse station complete the complex.
The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the MCU-FDT Medical Foundation Hospital aims to attain COMPETENCE in the three areas that is: in SERVICE, TRAINING, and RESEARCH.
At present, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology has twenty-one active staff who are all fellows of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) and other subspecialties
