Message From The Chairman

Dr. Arsenio MArtin, M.D.

I would like to take a moment to share with you some of the things that I, as Chairman of the Board of our Alumni Foundation, have been doing since I assumed office July 2008.

I have been actively involved with our young graduates who are pursuing their postgraduate training here in United States. Three of them stayed at my house and observed patients with me and other consultant in the hospital where I practice. I also followed up some alumni who are in Boston, San Francisco, and New York.

My communication with the Dean Remy Habacon has been constant and she had been updating me on the happenings in our school and about our young scholars. I also sent review materials to the new graduates in preparation for their Medical Board Examination.

Three of the ones I have kept in touch with since last year became the top three graduates. They are Marlon Garcia, Alexis Castillo, and Judy Emil Dela Cruz. The first two took their Board in August 2008 with Marlon topping the medical board and Alexis ranking in the top 15. Another new graduate,  Dr. Joy Tan, who was in Boston, also benefited from our support and encouragement, earning double 99% (Step 1 and 2) on her USMLE, placing her in the most elite percentile. She accepted a residency in Pathology in Boston.

On January 15 -17, 2009 Hernani and I headed our Foundation during the Balik FEU Reunion in the Philippines. Speakers from US were Dr. Raymund Razonable and Dr. Rosalina Liongson Abboud of the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Nunilo Rubio from Chicago, and Dr. Emy Balcos of Minnesota.

Hernani and I met with our scholars and gave them some encouragement and also emphasized to them their responsibility as scholars. Our deserving students received the student achievement awards. Dr. Noli Guinigundo, our newsletter editor, was one of the presenters. We also met with our alumni officers counterpart and at another occasion the Chairman of each Department. We reassured thme that we would continue to support our medical school. In return, they pledged to continue to do their best to have more students like Dr. Marlon Garcia in the future.

I gave a review class to those who are preparing for the board examination and USMLE on January 17. The Balik FEU was highlighted with the Grand Ball which honored the Golden and Silver Jubilarians. We also presented the $1000.00 award to Dr. Garcia during that affair for topping the Physicians National Board Examination.

Following the Balik FEU,  we had our Medical Mission in Sorsogon and I brought Dr. Garcia and Dr. Grace Lucas, who  graduated first in her class, to that mission. Other FEU graduates on that mission were Dr. Ed Relucio, Dr. Fe Martin and Dr. Mike Tan.

While I was in the Philippines, I interviewed candidates for our scholarship program. I accepted three; one Summa Cum Laude from FEU, one Magna Cum Laude from UST who was 5th placer on the Medical Technology Board, and another Cum Laude from UP who was also on the Faculty of her alma mater and 6th placer in her board examination. I also interviewed 6 other candidates, three Summa Cum Laude and three Magna Cum Laude for the last spot on our scholarship program for this year.

Dr. Judy Emil Dela Cruz, who took his licensing board this February, placed second overall. I called him right away after the results were announced and he gave his appreciation to our Alumni Foundation of all the support that we have given him. During the same week, Marlon Garcia also received his grades in his USMLE. It was 99%, score of 269 out of 270. He probably got the highest score among all takers around the world. Marlon and Grace Lucas will be rotating with me in May when they come here for their USMLE CS practical examination. Judy Emil will follow a few months later.
 
For the new graduates who want to pursue their training here in the US, they are required to complete USMLE Steps 1 to 3. In addition, the Step 2 USMLE CS is a practical examination with patients, only given in the US. Therefore, many of these young graduates will need help because housing will be required for a couple of weeks while they are in the US. During that time they also need to do observership (like an extern) to increase their chance of being accepted here. Because of conflicts in scheduling, my wife and I can not accommodate them all so anyone who can accommodate this future generation will be appreciated by your Alma Mater and her alumni.

Arsenio Martin, MD
Chairman
FEU-DNRSMAF

Amante G. Legaspi, Sr. M.D.

Warm greetings to all!

Before anything else, let me thank the Board of Trustees for entrusting me with this very important task of serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for 2006 to 2008. Knowing that this is a tedious job does not deter me from accepting it, since I know that I can make a contribution to the stability and progress of our foundation, our school, our students, our hospital and my fellow alumni.

During what I would consider my fairly extensive history of leadership, I had one guiding dogma on how to lead: sharing responsibilities with others and choosing the best people for the job. Ina nutshell, it is placing “collective leadership” into action! Somewhere in this newsletter is a list of my committee appointments. These are the people whom I trust to lend their expertise to the association, the people who are willing to serve and the people who share my vision for the next two years.

My expectation from the Board of Trustees and the Committee Chairs is for them to give their all in the position or committee to which they are assigned and to continue on developing new ideas to produce best results. Although this is a voluntary job which often times interferes with medical practice, we have to remind ourselves that accepting the position is tantamount to a commitment to serve.

My expectation of my fellow alumni is for them to give us constructive feedback on how the association should be run, to remind us of the things that need our attention, and, to maybe, give us a pat on the back if there is a reason to do so.

My hope is to develop a mutually trusting and friendly relationship with our Philippine Foundation, with our alma mater and the hospital, and to form a common bond that would be mutually gratifying for those abroad and for us, here in the U.S. I share the hope of all that we continue to improve and maintain our leadership role in the medical scholastic arena.