CURRENT CHAIR Dr. Cesar M. Ong
FACULTY STAFF
Dr. Elvira M. Abreu
Dr. Hilda Diana A. Alava
Dr. Divina Y. Beato
Dr. Genaro A. Bermudez
Dr. Ma. Rosario S. Cruz
Dr. Julieta V. Dizon
Dr. Jocelyn Y. Franco
Dr. Edornie Elizabeth V. Garcia
Dr. Felizardo N. Gatcheco
Dr. Catherine G. Gironella
Dr. Nina Angelita M. Gonzales
Dr. Cherry U. dela Rosa-Lee
Dr. Benjamin T. Lim
Dr. Melba V. Masigan
Dr. Nepthalie R. Ordonez
Dr. Adelaida L. Pedraja
Dr. Della G. Pelaez
Dr. Felices Emerita P. Perez
Dr. Ma. Lucila M. Perez
Dr. Teresita N. Rabanal
Dr. Elizabeth R. Reyes
Dr. Marie Clare V. Robles
Dr. Florentina U. Ty

HISTORY

The birth of the department was witnessed in 1950 under the hard labor of Dr. Leon V. Pecache. He eventually became the first chairman despite having only three members of the staff. In his 12 years of struggles, he slowly but steadily established what was soon to become one of the best assets of MCU-FDTMF - the Pediatrics Department.

Rightfully following the footsteps of the Dr. Pecache was Dr. Aurora B. Alcid, who became the chairman in 1962. She pursued the upliftment of the services in the department.

In 1963, Dr. Rosita S. Brillantes received the baton of chairmanship. In her time, the bed capacity of the department increased to thirty. The Pediatric Service was stratified as Clinical and Pay Divisions.

It was in 1977 when Dr. Esperanza Figueroa-Rivera (dean of the College of Medicine, 2002-2004) took over as the chairperson. Under her perseverance, the residency training program was started in 1979 and eventually won the accreditation from the Philippine Pediatric Society in 1984. The Nursery was strengthened and rooming in of babies in the mothers' rooms was initiated. She also staged the very first Postgraduate Course. She attacked the problem of low OPD census by offering free immunization, free consultation for the first three visits, and launched the "teen center" for adolescent patients.

In 1986, Dr. Nilda Sunico-Castro was appointed chairperson. She instituted major renovations in the department. An isolation room and infectious ward were added. The training of faculty members and residents was emphasized. Seminars, lectures and conferences were regularly scheduled and weekly lectures on breastfeeding were given at the maternity home. She emphasized the importance of nutrition and control of diarrhea in collaboration with the Department of Health, and the Diarrhea Treatment Unit (DTU) was inaugurated. The first Leon Pecache Memorial Lecture in the postgraduate course was held.

Dr. Lucita P. Aguilar was appointed as the chairman in 1989. Her thrust was the residency training program. The first intradepartmental case presentation and research paper were held. She was the first to invite foreign guest speakers in the annual postgraduate courses. She initiated giving of incentive awards to topnotch students in Pediatrics. During her term, the PICU was equipped with mechanical ventilators, cardiac monitors and pulse oximeters. In 1994, she had to bow out and resign from the chairmanship when she was appointed as one of the examiners in the Board of Medicine (1993-1995).

In 1994, Dr. Manuel F. Ferreria took over the chairmanship. He prioritized the renovation of Neonatal ICU. He acquired the first transport incubator and equipped the NICU with blue light and bililight. The renovation of the payward and provision of more air conditioned rooms were done. He collaborated with Jollibee to put on murals on all pediatric hall way walls to create a wonderland atmosphere. He also adopted the Problem Based Learning Curriculum of the College of Medicine in the department.

Dr. Elvira M. Abreu took control as chairman in 1997. She initiated the renovation of Neonatal ICU and provided reverse isolation room. Additional bililights, radiant warmers and pulse oximeters were purchased. Through her efforts, the camaraderie of the consultant staff was enhanced. She had to bow out as the chairman after three years when she was appointed chief of professional services.

Dr. Lourdes L. Balcueva became the department chair in 2000. It was during her chairmanship when the MCU-FDTMF Department of Pediatrics hosted the PPS Annual Convention, which proved to be successful.

In the year 2003, it was Dr. Teresita N. Rabanal who heired the throne of chairmanship. In her efficient skills, the department continues its role in full-scale training of pediatric residents and students, and providing excellent care for our patients. The department now boasts of the "Play Therapy Room" equipped with modern facilities and manned by child psychologists, to give psychological support to our in patients. New highly technological equipments like state of the art incubators, radiant warmers, pulse oximeters and computers were installed. Moreso, the consultants have become closer to one another as never before as she staged the successful "team building" activity.

The Department showcases a comparatively comprehensive pediatric health services in the KAMANAVA area. Increased in bed capacity for in patients, expanded and much improved OPD facilities with a more convenient waiting area for patients availing of our general pediatrics and subspecialty services, and upgrading of the technological facilities in the department, particularly in the NICU and PICU have been executed.

Not to be left behind is the number of consultants in our roster. There are presently 23 Philippine Pediatric Society Fellows and 6 Diplomates in our staff of which 16 are with subspecialty and themselves are fellows and prominent in their respective fields.

Exodus of Doctors and the bandwagon effect of the doctors taking up nursing is having its toll in residency training nationwide. However, we still are able to produce pediatric residents who pass the PPS subspecialty board and who subsequently take further subspecialty training.