Professor Sandra Teresa V. Navarra, MD, FPCP, FPRA, has served in the Department of Medicine at the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine & Surgery (USTFMS) since 1985. Her academic journey is marked by significant contributions to Internal Medicine, Rheumatology, and the study of autoimmune diseases with particular focus on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Dr. Navarra has held key administrative roles as Section Chief of Rheumatology at USTFMS 1999 to 2020 and UST Hospital 1999 to present. She is a steering committee member of Lupus Academy, executive board member of Asia-Pacific Lupus Collaboration (APLC), founding member of Asian Lupus Nephritis Network (ALNN) and former secretary-general and current scientific committee Mentor of Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR). Dr. Navarra’s outstanding contributions have been acknowledged through various academic, research and leadership awards, including the Most Distinguished Physician (Dr. Gonzalo F. Austria) Award of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) (2012), the Dr. Paulo C. Campos Award for Health Research by the Philippine Association for the Advancement of Science and Technology (PhilAAST) (2020), and the APLAR Master Award (2021), as well as numerous UST Rector’s awards for Research and International Publications. A staunch champion for patient and physician education, she is the prime mover of numerous health advocacies like People Empowerment for Arthritis and Lupus (PEARL) and Lupus Inspired Advocacy (LUISA).
