Conference Speakers

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Rev. Nicanor Pier Giorgio Austriaco, O.P., Ph.D., S.Th.D.

Fr. Nicanor Pier Giorgio Austriaco, OP completed his Ph.D. in Biology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Doctorate in Sacred Theology (S.Th.D.) at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland.

He is Professor of Biology and Theology previously at the Providence University in Providence, Rhode Island, USA, and now at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines. He is the founding director of ThomisticEvolution.org, and is a bioethics consultant for the Catholic bishops’ conferences of the United States and of the Philippines.

Fr. Austriaco had more than fifty publications in peer-reviewed journals in biology, philosophy, and theology. Among his widely accepted works is the book Biomedicine and Beatitude: An Introduction to Catholic Bioethics, which was recognized as a 2012 Choice outstanding academic title by the Association of College and Research Libraries.

The Saga of the COVID-19 Sequelae: Lung Chronicles

Maria Rhona G. Bergantin, MD, MSc, FPCP, FPSMID

Dr. Maria Rhona G. Bergantin is an Associate Professor in the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Manila, Philippines.

She is a clinician practising internal medicine and is specialist on infectious diseases interested in all aspects of ID but most especially virology.

She is an active staff and consultant in the section of infectious diseases, and a training officer for the adult infectious diseases fellowship training program at the Department of Medicine, University of Santo Tomas Hospital. She earned her Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, and her Master of Science in Virology from Liverpool John Moores University, United Kingdom.

FUNCTIONAL FOODS’ ROLE IN BUILDING A HEALTHY AND DISEASE-RESILIENT PHILIPPINES

Myra O. Villareal, M.Sc., Ph.D.

Prof. Myra O. Villareal, M.Sc., Ph.D. obtained her B.S. Agriculture and M.S. Microbiology degrees from the University of the Philippines (Los Baños), and her Ph.D. in Agriculture from the University of Tsukuba in Japan.

Prior to her pursuit of PhD and work in Japan, she has previously taught biology subjects at the Biology Department of Ateneo de Manila University. She also served as Quality Control Manager at Peter Paul Philippine Corp., and worked as University Research Associate at BIOTECH-UPLB.

Currently, she is a DOST-PCHRD Balik Scientist, with Bicol University as her host institution and at the same time affiliated with the Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences of the University of Tsukuba in Japan. Prof. Villareal is engaged in functional food research, specifically in the use of natural products from foods for health, and she has authored and co-authored more than 30 publications in this field.

ETHICAL ISSUES AND CHANGES IN RESEARCH DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC

Fidela Llorca Moreno, M.D.

Fidela is a seasoned and well-rounded clinical research professional and physician, with extensive U.S. and international experience in clinical research. Her career to date includes 9 years in academia, 10 years as a clinical site investigator, 18 years with the pharmaceutical industry, 20 years in executive/management roles, on the-ground clinical operations experience in Hong Kong for 3 years and in India for 1 year, and independent consultant work for cardiovascular research for the last 11 years.

Fidela is recipient of several distinctions and awards in research and medicine. She completed her medical education at the University of Santo Tomas (Manila), Residency in Internal Medicine at the Veterans Memorial Hospital (Quezon City), Fellowship in Adult Cardiology at the Philippine Heart Center for Asia, and Fellowship in Noninvasive Cardiology at the University of Utah and LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT, USA

SUSTAINING FLEXIBLE LEARNING IN HIGHER EDUCATION

Ms. Liza Libertine L. Magana

Ms. Liza Libertine L. Magana is the OIC Chief Education Program Specialist of CHED-NCR. In her 20 years in CHED, she was assigned to various technical working groups of the Commission and became a member of Regional Inter-agency Committees and consortia such as Regional Statistics Committee, Regional Development Council and Metro Manila Health Research Development Consortium.

Aside from her technical expertise, Ms. Magana is a certified ISO Lead Auditor and the Regional Internal Auditor for ISO of the CHED-NCR. She is also a certified Mediator for the Conflict Resolution Program of the Commission.

Interprofessional Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Erlyn A. Sana, PhD

Dr. Erlyn A. Sana is a full-time professor of health professions education at the National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions, University of the Philippines, Manila. She handles classes in educational planning, evaluation, research, organization and leadership both to master’s and doctorate students.

Dr. Sana also serves as a project leader and principal investigator of ongoing commissioned studies with the Health Policy Development and Planning Bureau of the Department of Health, Vital Strategies, the United Nations Children’s Educational Fund (UNICEF), and the Philippine National Police.

EDUCATIONAL CHANGES IN ELEMENTARY AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC

Daniel B. Saroca, Jr., PhD.

Daniel B. Saroca, Jr., PhD. obtained his Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Management at the De La Salle Araneta University. He has been an educator his whole life. He worked in a small private school, in a public school, and in the US before working as a grade school teacher in Adamson University.

Currently, he is the Grade School and Junior High School Principal of the Adamson University – Basic Education Department and a part-time faculty of the Graduate School under the College of Education and Liberal Arts of the same institution.

Systematic Reviews in Higher Degrees: New knowledge or regurgitated research?

Craig Lockwood, Ph.D.

Prof. Craig Lockwood is the Director of Implementation Science for JBI, and has worked across each of the Institute’s core programs. Craig’s interests include scholarship and research related to implementation fidelity, and assisting practicing professionals to participate and lead local evidence-based practice initiatives. He has been the postgraduate coordinator for Higher Degrees by research over the last 10 years, and is a senior University of Adelaide supervisor.

Dr Lockwood completed his PhD at the University of Adelaide, is Adjunct Associate Professor at Queen’s University School of Nursing in Canada, Co-Chair of the JBI Implementation Science Methods Group, and editor in chief of the journals JBI Evidence Implementation and BMC Systematic Reviews. He maintains ongoing interest in journalology and qualitative evidence synthesis methodology.

For questions, please contact:

UST Office of the Vice Rector for Research and Innovation
Phone: +63-2-8740-9731 / +63-2-3406-1611 local 4039
Email: ovrri@ust.edu.ph

MMHRDC
Phone: (02) 8352 3832
Email: mmhrdc@gmail.com