UST confers Navarra, Moreno with Doña Victoria Ty Tan Professorial Chair in Medical Education

Two medical doctors from the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery were conferred the Doňa Victoria Ty Tan Professorial Chair in Medical Education in a ceremony held on December 19, 2019 at the Dr. George S.K. Ty Function Hall, Paredes Building, UST. 

Conferred were faculty members and established researchers Prof. Sandra Teresa V. Navarra, M.D., and Prof. Fidela L. Moreno, M.D. 

Navarra is the current chief of the Section of Rheumatology of both the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and the UST Hospital, while Moreno is currently affiliated with the Intermountain Heart Institute in Utah, USA as consultant for Operations, Regulatory Compliance, and Medical Writing. 

The Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) established the Doña Victoria Ty Tan Professorial Chair in Medical Education in the UST Research and Endowment Foundation, Inc.to support the University of Santo Tomas in its endeavor to further develop, enhance and innovate its programs on medical education.  On its inaugural year, Navarra and Moreno were named as its recipients. 

The initiative of the MBFI and the UST Research and Endowment Foundation, Inc., the Doña Victoria Ty Tan Professorial Chair in Medical Education is aimed to encourage the educators and medical researchers of the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (FMS) and the UST Hospital (USTH) to author and publish research works that introduce new concepts and approaches in designated areas of medical education. It can also be awarded in the form of a research grant. 

Beginning in 2019, the holders of the Professorial Chair will deliver lectures on issues and advancements in the field of Medicine. At the culmination of the program in 2023, a book containing all the treatises and research works of the ten chair holders will be jointly published by the University of Santo Tomas and the Metrobank Foundation.

The Professorial Chair is named in honor of Doña Victoria Ty Tan, the mother of Metrobank Founder Dr. George S.K. Ty, who holds a Doctor of Humanities degree, honoris causa, from the University of Santo Tomas. Dona Victoria, who was born in Fujian, China on June 12, 1908, directed the family’s socio-civic projects, such as the Ty Family Association and the Yong Zhun Hometown Association. She passed away at age 98 in 2006.  

In her welcome remarks, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Dean Ma. Lourdes D. Maglinao, M.D., thanked the Metrobank Foundation for trusting UST with the Professorial Chair and assured them that “[UST-FMS] will work to visualize and concretize the ideals envisioned by Doña Victoria Ty Tan, fully determined to bring about real and relevant innovations in medical education.”

Delivering a message on behalf of the MBFI was its President Mr. Aniceto Sobrepeña. He thanked UST for “Under Father Dagohoy’s  leadership, the relationship between UST and Metrobank and GT Foundation has blossomed and cut across several initiatives.” It would be remembered that in March 2019, MBFI recognized the University of Santo Tomas as a Partner in Empowerment, Advocacy, and Commitment to Excellence (PEACE) at the MBFI 40th anniversary celebration.

UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P., assisted by Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl R. Peralta, DrPH, presented the Certificates, while Vice Rector for Research and Innovation Prof. Maribel G. Nonato, Ph.D., and MBFI President Mr. Aniceto Sobrepeña assisted the Father Rector in presenting the Professorial Medals to the conferees. 

Professorial lectures

After the ceremonies, the newly conferred chair holders delivered their respective lectures to an audience composed of students and faculty members from the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, medical doctors from the UST Hospital, administrative and academic officials, and Dominican Fathers. 

In Navarra’s Professorial Chair lecture, titled “Roads Less Travelled: Clinician as Teacher and Researcher,“ she emphasized that collaboration of researchers across medical disciplines can lead not only to innovations in treatment and knowledge advancement, but also to continued professional development as they learn from each other.

A prolific researcher, Navarra has authored more than 100 papers in peer-reviewed national and international journals. She has received recognitions and awards, among them, the Most Distinguished Physician Award from the Philippine College of Physicians. She is a prime mover of the Lupus Inspired Advocacy (LUISA) Project for lupus education, and research and the People Empowerment for Arthritis and Lupus (PEARL) Movement, and has organized several national meetings on Rheumatology. Presently, Navarra serves as the Chief of the Rheumatology Section of the UST-FMS and USTH.

Discussing a lecture on “Teaching and Research: Are they Exclusive?”  Moreno talked about the integration of teachers with researchers to ensure continuous learning of both parties while keeping abreast of regulations and knowledge that would improve patient safety and treatment effectiveness.

Moreno has held key positions in global pharmaceutical companies, such as Vice President for Global Development Operations of Allergan in Ireland; Executive Director for the Global Development Operations of Amgen in the United States, and several directorial positions at Pfizer, among others. An alumna and Visiting Professor of the University of Santo Tomas, she spent her elementary years until the end of her medical school years at UST. She is currently affiliated with the Intermountain Heart Institute in Utah, USA, as consultant for Strategic Operations, Regulatory Compliance, and Medical Writing.

Immediately prior to the solemn investitures, a preliminary ceremony for the blessing and unveiling of the Dr. George S.K. Ty Hall marker was held. Leading the rites was the UST Rector Very Rev. Fr. Herminio V. Dagohoy, O.P., assisted by Office for Grants, Endowments, and Partnerships in Higher Education Director and UST Secretary-General Rev. Fr. Jesús M. Miranda, Jr., O.P., and Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Regent Rev. Fr. Angel A. Aparicio, O.P. The Hall, located at the fourth floor of the UST Blessed Buenaventura Garcia Paredes O.P. Building, was inaugurated on January 20, 2014.

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