- The Department of Anatomy was one of the original nine departments present even during the early period of existence of the Afable College of Medicine which was to become the MCU College of Medicine.In 1947 Dr. Leonardo Mendiola was the chairperson of the department. He was connected with the former Afable College of Medicine even before the war and stayed in MCU until his retirement. He was a by-word among the medical students then is still remembered fondly by those who had been under him. At that time, his Synopsis of Anatomy, Histology and Neuroanatomy were likened to the bible as far as Anatomy was concerned.
In 1955 to 1970 Dr. Lily Peria-Cabellon assumed the position as secretary of the department, the equivalent of the coordinator during those times. In 1971 Dr. Pemia migrated to the USA and the following year Dr. Pacita P. Garcia assumed the position of secretary of the department until 1983.In 1984 Dr. Mendiola retired as the chairperson of the department. He, however, retained his teaching position as professorial lecturer for another year after which he finally stopped teaching. Immediately after Dr. Mendiola's retirement the responsibility as passed on to the equally competent Dr. Pacita P. Garcia.During Dr. Garcia's term many changes were implemented. This included the physical rearrangement of the office and the renovation of the second floor of the Anatomy Building. Several rooms were made after partitions were put up.To cope with the changing curriculum and the demands of the time, other changes included the revision of the Laboratory Manuals in Gross Anatomy, Histology and Neuroanatomy by Dr. Garcia.In 1987 Dr. Ferdinand Pagdilao, one of the faculty members at that time, was appointed as the department coordinator. Other coordinators who were appointed after him were: Dr. Rosemarie Abiog (I 991-1992), Dr. Margarita Cadoma (I992-1993) and Dr. Lily-Ann Cabuling.
At present, there are two coordinators of the department: one for Gross Anatomy and another for Histology and Neuroanatomy).This change was initiated by Dr.Garcia who realized that a single coordinator could not cope with the magnitude of the work. Anatomy, after all, was composed of several subjects (Gross Anatomy, Histology, Neuroanatomy, Radioanatomy, Surgical Anatomy and Clinical Neuroanatomy).
The succeeding years showed not only changes in the Department but also professorial growth of the faculty staff. In 1991 Dr. Pacita P. Garcia delivered her Professorial Lecture on Osteoporosis at the Tanchoco Auditorium. In 1993 to 1994, Dr. Pacita Garcia was elected as Vice-President of the Philippine Society Of Anatomists. She was also named the Overall Annual Convention Chairperson of the said society during the year.
In July 1993, realizing that Anatomy, being an exact science need not be static, and hence it can be as dynamic as the other fields of Medicine, the faculty members, spear-headed by Dr. Norman Garcia, prepared a research paper, which eventually found its way in the First Paper Reading Session of MCU-FDTMF College of Medicine. The research was entitled; "Model Study of Human Anatomy as a Possible Alternative to Cadaver Dissection."
In August 1993, Dr. Pacita P. Garcia was provided the opportunity to visit the United States. With the support of the administration and the help of friends and alumni based in he US, particularly Dr. Lily Pernia-Cabellon, who was a staff member of the department for 18 years, Dr. Garcia was able to visit several colleges and universities. This provided her an opportunity to compare our curriculum with others and observe the plastination process of preserving cadavers.
In August 1993, Dr. Margarita Cadorna left for the USA to participate in an educational program at St. Louis University Medical Center for one year. This educational program was made possible by the help of the Association of the Philippine Physicians in America. In September of the following year, she came back to the College of Medicine full of new knowledge and experience.The curriculum has undergone several modifications. A departure from the traditional system was instituted when a, competency-based curriculum was implemented in 1992 . In 1996 another dramatic change took place. After a year of planning the problem based curriculum was fully implemented in the in the first year.
Presently the department is chaired by Dr. Lily Ann Cabuling. Through her able leadership, the department handles the musculoskeletal block of the curriculum.
Norman S. Garcia, M.D.
Chairman
Lily Ann H. Cabuling, M.D.
Ma. Lourdes M. Liwag, M.D.
Ma. Concepcion R. Comia, M.D.
Edgardo L. Montemayor, M.D.
Gracelito A. Cristobal, M.D.
Benedicto A. Plete, M.D.
Rodante P. Galiza, M.D.
Edwin N. Ramirez, M.D.
Cesar H. Garcia, M.D.
Leandro U. Sacro, M.D.
Pacita P. Garcia
