#HAWMC Day 5: Breaking News

#HAWMC Day 5:  Breaking News:  Share your proudest accomplishments in the last 5 years.

The past five years have been a series of transitions for me.  From a series of examinations and graduations, the forks in the road have lead me to different opportunities that I would not have even imagined I would have.

Graduation from Residency Training in Obstetrics and Gynecology.  I was fortunate enough to graduate from residency training with my healthy batchmates, with whom I've been with through thick and thin.  I am very thankful for all my great mentor who guided me and helped me to be the obstetrician that I am today.

Passed the Philippine Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology Diplomate Examinations and Induction as Fellow.  I am blessed to have passed both the written and oral diplomate examinations so that by 2014, I was inducted as a board-certified fellow of the Philippine Obstetrical and Gynecological Society (POGS) Inc.

Graduation from Fellowship Training in Infectious Disease Subspecialty.  After graduation from residency, it was providential that I spoke with a revered mentor, Dr. Ricardo M. Manalastas, who honored me by inviting me to train as an infectious disease specialist for OBGYN.  It was not a piece of cake, as I really needed to work doubly hard to study infections and antibiotics and stewardship.  I was introduced to the advocacy on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the concentrated epidemic in the Philippines, a ticking time bomb that I think has already exploded and needs to be contained.  This remains a personal advocacy as I commit to preventing mother to child transmission of the infection.

Participation in the 2013 BIARI Research Institute in Providence, Rhode Island, USA.  Towards the end of my fellowship training in infectious diseases, Dr. Cecilia Llave recommended me to the BIARI program at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, USA.  To my greatest surprise, I was chosen among thousands who applied worldwide and was among the four Filipino delegates to this prestigious research institute.  This was my first and only opportunity so far to travel outside of the country, to venture out of my comfort zone and to lose sight of my "shore" and experience a whole different world.  Here I learned a lot about geography and varied cultures, realizing that the situation in the Philippines is a stark contrast to the situation in Africa and in the temperate countries.  This experience broadened my horizons and taught me that humans no matter the color of skin, nor accent in speech, are all the same inside - with needs to love and be loved, to care and to be cared for.

Graduation from Masters in Public Health.  I have always wanted to pursue further studies.  It was my veterinarian friend Dr. Mej Villareal who introduced me to the notion of public health.  Being at PGH, I was privileged to apply for the fellowship scholarship grant that would allow me to take a two-track program where I could pursue my masters degree at the UP College of Public Healthy while working on my fellowship training in infectious disease.  After all, infections and public health go hand in hand.  Going back to class work, it was tough, but very fulfilling.  Experiencing our field practice and investigating the surveillance systems on malaria elimination in Laguna, it was a memorable experience to have presented to the Department of Health then Secretary Enrique Ona our findings, and to be have been appreciated as a significant contribution to the National Malaria Program.  Another achievement was my passing the comprehensive examinations at the end of my course, lucky enough to pass on first take.  It is a humbling lesson since this examination was one of the most difficult I've taken thus far.  I am proud to have been the third graduate of the Masters of Public Health - Tropic Medicine course.