CHAIRMAN: Dr. Niña Angelita M. Gonzales
FACULTY STAFF:
     Dr. Ma. Lita C. Britanico
     Dr. Sui Hoc Sy Ferrer
     Dr. Edgardo C. Lazaro
     Dr. Marie Clare V. Robles

HISTORY

When the MCU College of Medicine was founded in 1947, the combined departments of Biochemistry, Pharmacology and Physiology were under the chairmanship of Dr. Alfredo P. Navato. In 1950, Dr. Processo Arenas took over the combined departments as chairperson, a position he held until Dr. Cesar Laguno took over as OIC for two years. By that time Biochemistry had been separated as a single department, Dr. Veronico Agatep was appointed to lead the department from 1968 to 1970 and Dr. Carmen Sitco-Malit was acting head from 1971 to 1972. Dr. Teresa Cordero held the position from 1972 to 1973.

Dr. Amelia Maniquis was appointed chairperson from 1974 to 1989. During her term she introduced the modular method of teaching in Biochemistry. The curriculum was revised to make room for innovations like the introduction of problem set discussions, clinical games and mini-researches. While the first semester emphasized basic biochemistry, the second semester dealt with its clinical correlation. Nutrition was also introduced in the curriculum.

Dr. Ma. Lita C. Britanico was appointed chairperson in 1989. It was during her term that the MCU-FDTMF was elected member of the board of the Philippine Association of Academic Biochemists (PAAB) and produced the PAAB Newsletter for two years. A biochemistry curriculum produced by the PAAB in agreement with other medical schools was immediately implemented in MCU-FDTMF.

On May 1993, the Department bravely ventured to offer its first Biochemistry Update at MCU-FDTMF and became a biennial event.

On August 1, 1995, Dr. Lourdes Balcueva, a pediatric geneticist, was appointed chairperson. She succeeded to the position vacated by Dr. Lita Britanico who was appointed College Secretary and later became Dean of the College of Medicine. Dr. Balcueva played an important role in curriculum planning and implementation of the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) curriculum. She helped integrate the Biochemistry topics into the PBL curriculum. The department handled the modules on nutrition, nutritional disorders, diarrhea and genetics mainly for 1st year medical students as well as correlate lectures in Biochemistry for the 2nd and 3rd year levels.

In 1999 and 2000, the department was awarded by the Dean’s Office as the best Department in the Basic Subjects in the College of Medicine.

On June 2001, Dr. Sui Hoc Sy Ferrer was appointed as the new chair while Dr. Balcueva was appointed as the chair of the Pediatrics Department under the term of Dr. Ma. Lita Britanico as the dean of the College of Medicine. Dr. Ferrer was elected as member of the Board of the Philippine Association of Academic Biochemists the following year.
From June 2005 up to the present, Dr. Niña Angelita M. Gonzales heads the department. With the new Modified Innovative Curriculum (MIC) being implemented at present, the department continues to provide the medical students with adequate knowledge of basic Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics to fulfill its commitment in educating and developing competent and compassionate doctors who will be asset not only to the institution but to the community and to the country as a whole.

DEPARTMENT CHAIRS:

1947 – 1949: Dr. Alfredo Navato 1972 – 1973: Dr. Teresa Cordero
1950 – 1965: Dr. Processo Arenas 1974 – 1989: Dr. Amelia Maniquis
1966 – 1968: Dr. Cesar Laguno 1989 – 1995: Dr. Ma. Lita Britanico
1968 – 1970: Dr. Veronico Agatep 1995 – 2001: Dr. Lourdes Balcueva
1971 – 1972: Dr. Carmen Sitco-Malit 2001 – 2005: Dr. Sui Hoc Sy Ferrer

2005 – present: Dr. Niña Angelita M. Gonzales

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Biochemistry is a yearly, 6-hour a week subject that aims to provide the first year students with the basics of biochemistry and molecular genetics as well as the most significant advances in biochemistry that are important to medicine. Its major objective is the complete understanding, at the molecular level, of all the chemical processes associated with living cells; to relate the biochemical events to the physiological processes occurring in the human body; and to cite examples of deviant biochemical processes in human disease.

To infuse dynamism and fondness for Biochemistry, a subject that most students steer clear of, the new Modified Innovative Curriculum (MIC) sets its eyes on creating an amalgamation of the best that Problem Based Learning (PBL) curriculum and the Traditional mode of instruction can offer.

First semester topics include: generalities, enzymes, the structure and metabolism of macromolecules namely, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins and nucleotides as well as their many functions. Second semester topics include: structure, function & replication of nucleic acids; aspects of extracellular and intracellular communication and discussion of special topics such as: nutrition, micronutrients, muscle and the cytoskeleton, glycoproteins, extracellular matrix, blood components and metabolism of xenobiotics.

Classes are held three times a week, two hours per day. Competencies are tackled through large group discussion (during which a pre-test is given, an interactive session or a seatwork is incorporated during the lecture hour followed by a post-test), small group discussion, journal report, project presentation & laboratory. Each are evaluated/graded (summative/formative) independently.