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U.S.T. MEDICINE 1967 |
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The non-profit organization of U.S.T. Medicine Class of 1967 |
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as compiled by Danny Deaño
We, the members of the USTMAAA Board had the same concerns about the new USTH, Inc. as everyone else after reading allegations from both priests and physicians about UST Hospital. Since the USTMAAA exists primarily to help the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and the UST Hospital, it was of utmost importance that issues are clarified. My meeting with Dr. Cenon Alfonso was candid, direct and non-accusatory. I found Dr Alfonso to be straight forward, unassuming and sincere. As background, it might be of interest to everyone that Dr. Cenon Alfonso was in the seminary with many of the current Dominican friars including Fr. Arceo, the new Rector. He opted to go into Medicine for personal reasons, but remained true to his vocation as a catholic physician, committed to healing both body and spirit. He maintained his close relationship with the Order of Preachers. In assuming the controversial role to revitalize the troubled UST Hospital, he unfortunately became object of hateful tirade from both priests and physicians who were displaced by the decision of the UST Board of Trustees to reorganize the UST Hospital that was on the verge of bankruptcy. Perhaps, the reason for his defensive stance. His was not an easy or enviable position. But in three years, UST Hospital has definitely turned bankruptcy into profits, and the hospital is thriving. A new hospital tower and medical office edifice is rising in place of the antiquated, delapidated structures, one we all can be proud of. UST Hospital is well on its way to be once more the top medical center of excellence in the country. The crucial question of personal investment and personal profits of investors other than Dominican friars are unfounded. The new managing private corporation, is a non-stock, not for profit corporation that remains essentially the property of the University of Santo Tomas. When asked point blank if the lay investors, specifically the two doctors and a lawyer, would benefit from profits generated by the managing corporation, USTH, Inc. as registered with SEC, the answer was definitely: NO. While some alumni continue to express retiscence and dubious acceptance of the new UST Hospital management team, I strongly maintain that they are unfounded, and can only be divisive. Unfortunately, those that remain reluctant, can only undermine their own participation to enhance the new revitalized UST Hospital, Center of Medical Excellence, that we should all proudly support. We should all rally to make UST Hospital, the best that it can be. God Bless! Boy Abay
I am so glad to read the comments of Dr. Abay about Dr. Cenon Alfonso and the recent restructuring of the UST Hospital. I have aired my sentiments several times since the beginning of this controversy. As I have been doing medical missions every year at least for the past 8 years, I have been observant of the medical activities in the Philippines especially in Manila. Although I was never involved with any specific major hospital or institution in the Metro area, simple and plain observation tells me that the UST Hospital then was lagging behind the more progressive hospitals like St. Lukes, Makati Med, Medical City etc. While one would see in the newspaper ads of St. Lukes bragging about their Biplane, Flat panel, Philips cath lab, UST did not have one. They have one now and it is a nice Philips lab.The physical facilities were obviously not comparable as well. In short, the venerable UST Hospital cannot catch up with the changing times. When I heard of the change and the reasons why the change was made, my immediate reaction was so favorable even not knowing the specifics as I knew that any change has to be better than the status quo (which means further decline as well) We have to be realistic about this, medicine is not the same kind that we use to know. Practice of medicine needs financial support to be able to survive. As much as we old timers may not want to accept the business part of medicine, we really don't have any choice to be able to compete. In the last 2-3 years I have been involved with the Save a Heart Medical Mission at the UST Hospital Cardiac cath lab. I had the opportunity to meet and interact with Dr. Alfonso and his staff, although not in the same depth as Dr. Abay or the USTMAAA Officers and Directors. Yet, I find him to be intelligent, honest, straight forward and with sufficient data to back up his current and future plans for UST Hospital. He has publications to show what the change has done. Anyone who visits the UST Hospital will see the changes that are happening. Every year I return, there is something built, a new program established and future programs on the table. These are tangible proof of the success of the change. I know there are naysayers, for whatever reasons they have. They say the FMS certainly is not a happy partner. I am not privy of the reasons behind. Of course we have classmates who would know much more. I would imagine though that after 50 or so years managing UST Hospital, FMS should have had all the chances and opportunity to keep it at par with the times. Tony P
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