- Originally, the present Department of Family and Community Medicine started as the Department of Hygiene. It was first headed by Dr. Regino Padua. During the succeeding years, the Department was combined with the Department of Bacteriology and Clinical Laboratory which was headed by Dr. Alfredo Pio de Roda. In 1953 it was renamed the Department of Bacteriology and Preventive Medicine. The Department was again rechristened the Department of Microbiology, Hygiene and Laboratory Diagnosis in 1954 under Dr. Eusebio Y. Garcia. In 1955 the Department was divided into two: the Department of Microbiology and the Department of Preventive Medicine.
During the late fifties, Dr. Jacinto Dizon headed the Department of Preventive Medicine. In 1961, while still under Dr. Dizon, the department was officially called the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine. Dr. Dizon continued to chair the department. Dr. Manuel Manahan succeeded him until the late seventies when Dr. Secundino Jao took over as chairperson.
In 1985 Mrs. Aurora Cudal was appointed the department chairperson. To insure community exposure of the clinical clerks, she coordinated with the Kalookan Health Department in developing a community program within the area.
The changing of names ended in 1987 when the department adopted its final name-Department of Family and Community Medicine. Prof. Aurora Cudat continued as chairperson, in a hold -over capacity from the previous term.
Frenetic changes took place during the late eighties. A Residency Program was started by Dr. Raquel So-Sayo and Dr. Annie Francisco. Phase I Accreditation of the residency program by the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP) was awarded to the department. Affiliation with several hospitals like San Lazaro Hospital, Veterans Memorial Medical Center and Dermatology Training Center was facilitated.
On November 4, 1987 the Bagong Silang Health Center was inaugurated to help the under-privileged families in that community. Clinical clerks and FCM staff were assigned on a regular basis to the area. In 1988, PAFP awarded the department the Phase 11 Accreditation of the Residency Training program.
In 1989 Dr. Raquel So-Sayo, was appointed chairperson after she completed her masteral course at UP College of Public Health . The department continued its match forward to the nineties. In 1990 two pioneer residents, Drs. Dinah Navarro-Medel and Grace Vaterio-Villanueva, completed their residency. The following year, Dr. Medel was granted a scholarship to the SEAMEO-TROPMED at the University of Mahidol , Thailand while Dr. Valerio passed her oral and written examinations given by the Board of Specialty of the PAFP.
In 1991 St. Peter St. John Health Center was included in the community work being handled by the department. This was facilitated by UNICEPS Chairperson Dr.Manuela Unite.
In 1992, the PAFP awarded the Phase III Accreditation of the Residency Training Program to the Department. Research as a separate subject was incorporated into the curriculum.
Meanwhile, members of the faculty staff gained recognition outside the academe. Dr. Primitivo Chua was elected President of the Philippine Medical Association for two terms. Dr. Patrocinio Dayrit was elected Vice-President of the PAFP. Dr. Raquel So-Sayo became the Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of the Philippine Medical Association for two terms and was a member of the Specialty Board of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians from 1990 to 1996.
The following residents of the department passed the written and oral diplomate examination of the Board of Specialty of the PAFP: Drs. Dinah Medel, Irmina Beltran and Matilda Gonzales. Dr. Roberto Viguilla, the first male resident of the department, and Dr. Lily Ann Hadloc-Cabuling finished their residency training .
Dr. Lily Ann Hadloc-Cabuling topped the Diplomate Board Exam given by the Specialty Board of PAFP in 1993. Drs. Delia Lim, Mary Ann Virola and Sharon Rebong graduated from the residency program and, the following year Drs. Lim and Virola passed their diplomats examination. Full accreditation of the FCM training program was given by the PAFP in 1994.Dr. Cathrina de Leon and Dr. Erwin Fabros, recent graduates of the residency program, passed both the written and oral examinations.
In 1995 Dr. Jesse Cortez, at that time still a postgraduate trainee of the department, won first prize in the first PMA Resident Case Presentation during the 88th PMA Annual Convention held on May 24, 1995 at the PICC. In the same year, the department successfully held its First Annual Postgraduate Course In Family Medicine on August
In 1996 Dr. Delia R. Lim won the First prize in the 13th Annual Research Contest held during the 35th Anniversary and Annual Convention of the PAFP on March 2, 1996 with the paper entitled 'Protective Effect of Vitamin A on Children 0-5 years Old."
Presently, the department continues its strong residency training program and its role in the education and development of medical students. It looks forward to the future with optimism after having reaped its hard earned accomplishments in the past.
In June 1998 Dr. Irmina Beltran was appointed chair of the department to take the place of Dr. Raquel So-Sayo who was appointed Chief of Chief of Professional Services.
Upon the resignation of Dr. Beltran, in August 2000, Dr. Delia Lim was appointed to the position
Delia R. Lim, M.D.
Chairman
Suzette S. Armin, M.D.
Zenaida O. Ludovice, M.D.
Ma. Rosario E. Bonagua, M.D.
Raquel S. Sayo, M.D.
Lily Ann H. Cabuling, M.D.
Grace V. Villanueva, M.D.
Jesse C. Cortez, M.D.
Gerard Edwin P. Zuniga, M.D.
Mary Ann V. Leh, M.D.
