The New PSPC President In Focus
The New PSPC President In Focus
Dr. Maria Corazon Abu-Estevanez, whom we all fondly call “CORA”, is the 13th President of the Philippine Society of Pediatric Cardiology (PSPC) since its birth in 1992 and was one of the 16 Charter Members of the society. She will be the “Silver Anniversary President” when the society will celebrate its 25th year of existence next year.
Personal background:
She was born on August 20, 1958 in Quezon City, the fourth child of Crispin Abu and Purificacion Murillo. She spent her growing-up years in Cubao , Quezon City. but presently resides in Cainta , Rizal. She is married to a very supportive husband Serafin Estevanez (“Sonny”) whom she credits to have taken care of her children while she was in residency and fellowship training for 7 years. She said that Sonny patiently took all the responsibilities of being both mother and father to their kids while she, Mommy Doc, was away during her tour of duties in the hospital. They are blessed with 5 children: Mary Christine Estevanez (works as a Dining Manager of Vikings), Paul Richard (a small scale entrepreneur doing tie dye business), Peter James (a recent Board Certified Medical Doctor who graduated from UERMMC College of Medicine), Mary Ann (a special one whom they consider their “forever baby”) and Mary Elizabeth ( a Third year BS Biology student at UST). Cora is also now a doting grandmother to 4-year old Maria Cassandra, daughter of her eldest child.
Professional Background:
She completed her medical degree at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) and had her residency training in Pediatrics at the Armed Forces of the Philippine Medical Center. She had her Fellowship Training in Pediatric Cardiology at the Philippine Heart Center and proceeded to be a Clinical Research Fellows in Pediatric Echocardiography also at the Philippine Heart Center.
Aside from being the current PSPC President, she practices Pediatric Cardiology at the National Capital Region and Region 4A: Calabarzon. She is an Active Consultant in Pediatric Cardiology at the Philippine Heart Center, Quezon City General Hospital and Batangas Regional Hospital. She is likewise a Visiting Consultant at Delos Santos Medical Center, Mary Meditrix Medical Center, Lipa Medix, Lipa City Villa, Hospital, Lipa City St. Patrick’s Hospital and Golden Gate Hospital.
She is a Fellow of the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and the Philippine College Of Cardiology (PCC). She is likewise a member of the Philippine Society of Echocardiography (PSE). She was a Past President of the Philippine Heart Center Medical Alumni Society (PHCMAS).
Plans for the PSPC:
Having served the society as officer and member of the board for 7 years before becoming President of the society, she has outlined solid plans for the next two years of her term of office, which are the following:
To align with the Mission and Vision of the PSPC and to our two Mother Societies namely, Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and Philippine Heart Association (PHA):
1) To promote continuing medical education by holding quarterly Round Table Discussions, Postgraduate Course and Biennial Convention. These scientific meetings and convention not only will enhance professional growth but will also promote camaraderie among members.
2). To provide optimum cardiovascular care the members must be encouraged to attend conferences here and abroad and that members who will attend such meetings are obliged to share the knowledge and learning.
3). To continue with our Advocacy of Prevention and control of RF-RHD by pursuing with the registry , Echo screening of school children age 5 to 15 years old and provide educational learning thru social media and radio-television.
4). To encourage all members to do research
5). To conduct Basic Pediatric Cardiology lectures to Regional Heart Centers
6). To do Clinical Practice Guidelines on Newborn Cyanosis, Cyanotic Congenital Heart Disease , Kawasaki Disease and Heart Failure
7). To present the Bedside Cardiology Learning Module to the general membership for appraisal, correction and approval
8). To bid for the 2020 Asia Pacific Pediatric Cardiology Society (APPCS) Congress
9). To create linkages with International Societies and contribute to database of Congenital Heart Diseases and Rheumatic Heart Disease
10). To do fund raising activities
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH:
Dr. Maria Corazon Abu-EStevanez, FPPS, FPCC
President, PSPC
Induction Ceremonies, June 30, 2016
Good evening ladies and gentlemen. I am honored and truly humbled for the trust and confidence you have entrusted to be the 13th President of the PSPC. Eight years ago when I became a board member, how I wondered on what are the expectations for the position. At first, being new in the Board was not hard because you just have to follow what is asked of you to do, being an assistant to the treasurer. Then I became treasurer and served the vice presidency twice. So from the different positions held, I must be able to perform and function as expected of me.
The Society is now 24 years old and it was on April 10, 1992 when the Society was born. It was organized by 17 Pediatric Cardiologists at Westin Philippine Plaza Hotel. Our founding president, Dr. Wilberto Lopez initiated the program “Adopt a Regional Hospital” where we started with Iba Provincial Hospital in Zambales and Batangas Regional Hospital. In 1994 – 1996, Dr. Luis Mabilangan advocated holding of lay fora and lectures for midwives and barangay health workers. It was during the term of Dr. Asuncion Reloza when the PSPC hosted the Heart Institute of Chicago International Symposium in 1998 headed by Dr. Rene Arcilla.
During the term of Dr. Edgardo Ortiz in 1998 – 2000, the First World Forum of Pediatric Cardiology was held in Manila headed by Dr. Jane Somerville. During Dr. Teofilo Cantre’s term in 2000 – 2002, he founded the Heart Museum to preserve rare and interesting specimen of Congenital Heart Defects. In 2002 – 2004, during the term of Dr. Ma. Lourdes SR Casas, when the first Post Graduate course on Critical Cardiopulmonary Care was held, in cooperation with the Philippine Foundation for Lung Health Research and Development, then chaired by Dr. Milagros Bautista. During the term of Dr. Rhodora de Leon, she conducted several team building seminar to strengthen commitments and camaraderie among members, the Vision and Mission was formulated and Round Table Discussion started. The first Biennial Convention was also held.
Dr. Della Pelaez served as president in 2006-2008 and during her term the PSPC constitution and bylaws was ratified. RUV’s for the different pediatric cardiac procedures were formulated. The first APPCS was held in Bangkok Thailand on October 31 – November 4, 2006 where Dr. Pelaez led the PSPC delegation. In 2007, the Camp Braveheart was formed and initiated by the efforts of Dr. Jhuliet Balderas in collaboration with the Council of Congenital Heart Disease of the Philippine Heart Association.
Dr. Aurora Gamponia took over from 2008 to 2010 where a post graduate course was held on the Critically Ill Child from ER to ICU on May 2009, and the 3rd Biennial Convention was held in May 2010 with the theme “Adolescent and Young Adult with Heart Disease Towards a Brighter Future”. She headed the delegation to Cairns, Australia on June 2009 in the 5th World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery and the PSPC office on the 4th floor of PPS building was realized during her term. On 2010 to 2012, during the term of Dr. Aurelia Leus, the 20th anniversary of the society was commemorated with a grand celebration during the 4th Biennial Convention. The PSPC Hym of which the lyrics was composed by Past President Dr. Doris de Leon and music arranged by Dr. Jorge Sison was launched.
Dr. Magdalena Lagamayo served as President from 2012 to2014. During her term, there were 2 Round Table Discussions held. The first is the Perspective in Postoperative Care of Congenital Heart Disease with Dr. Terence Lim from National University Heart Center of Singapore as the guest speaker on October 29, 2013. The second RTD was held on February 2014 with Dr. Elaine Urbina as guest speaker on Ambulatory BP Monitoring. On May 27 and 28 , 2013, Postgraduate Course on Ambulatory Pediatric Cardiology in Practice: Issues and Challenges. The 5th Biennial Convention with the theme “Pediatric Cardiology: Current Practices and Beyond” was held on May 26-27,2014 at Luxent Hotel.
Dr. Eden Latosa served her term from 2014 to 2016. She felt that it is important to develop a learning module on important topics that can be of help for non-Pediatric Cardiology practitioners in their daily practice. Topics that were included are Heart Failure, Cyanosis, Chest Pain, and Bedside Cardiology. The Postgraduate Course on “Throwback Issues and Trending Modalities” Heart Disease in Children and Young Adults back to back with PHA RF-RHD Mission ASAP Preconvention and Clinical Pathways on Control, Prevention and Treatment was held at EDSA Plaza on May 25 and 26, 2015. The 6th Biennial Convention was held at Novotel , Araneta Center on May 23 and 24, 2016 with the theme: “Cardiac Connections, the Heart and its Interaction with other Organ Systems”. The Constitution and By Laws of our Society was also amended during the term of Dr. Latosa and with special mention to the great efforts of Dr. Della Pelaez who made it possible. The Society is also regularly invited to speak in Lay Fora especially during the Heart Month.
With all these accomplishments of our Past Presidents, we are all inspired that they will continue to guide and advise us for our future projects and plans for the Society. Next year 2017 will be our 25th year. And that means we have to do an extra effort to realize our dreams for the Society. It may be too ambitious but I realize that probably it’s high time that we bid for the Asia Pacific Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery this coming year. We need to collaborate our effort with the PHA, PPS, Philippine Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons Inc. , Department of Health, and Department of Tourism. It is a difficult task but we must give it a try. If it fails we can try again for the next APPCCS. The bidding process as I have seen in the past every time I attend the APPCS involves showcasing the beauty of the country. Now that the elected president Rodrigo Duterte is also having his Induction today, I cannot help but recognize that change is really coming.
Our 25th Anniversary celebration will be culminated with a Post Graduate Course which we regularly hold just before the annual PHA convention and the overall chair for the postgraduate course is Dr. Bernadette Azcueta.
For the 4 round table discussions (RTD), I assigned the 2 Board of Directors namely Dr. Maria Ronella Francisco and Dr. Rey Lapak to coordinate the activities and would like to hear and discuss your inputs about the topics worth discussing in our RTDs.
We are now 108 regular member and Associate members. The induction of new regular members was conducted on May 24, 2016. Our new Regular members are: Dr. Leng Mandigma, Dr. Mylah Alfeche, Dr. Roge Olais and Dr. Mae Dagooc. Our new Associate members are: Dr. Eleanor Portigo, Dr. Mayette Lozada, Dr.Maria Cristina Joy Irorita and Dr. Jethro Macallan.
For the next 2 years, the different standing committees of the society are as follows:
- The Committee on Constitution and By-laws chaired by Dr. Della Pelaez
- Committee on Continuing Professional Education chaired by Dr. Maria Ronella Francisco and Regente Lapak
- Committee on Finance chaired by Dr. John Reganion
- Committee on Publication Lay Program and Medical Mission chaired by Virginia Mappala
- Committee on Credentials and Membership chaired by Bernadette Azcueta
- Committee on Research and Therapeutics chaired by Dr. Ninfa Villanueva
I would like to thank everybody for the unending support and likewise I would like to thank my family for being supportive of my endeavor. They may not be here but in spirit they are present. I would also like to thank all the Past Presidents, members , officers and above all to our God Almighty for giving us strength, courage, hope and health. May we enjoy the night and have a safe trip back to our homes.
To end, the road to success is not a smooth one. It has ups, downs, bumps, twists and turns. But a strong Society with faith in God will not go wrong. It will get stronger and the members will be more cohesive and cooperative.
Announcements:
- 6th APPCS on October 20 to 23, 2016 at Shanghai International Convention Center, Shanghai, China
- 7th World Congress of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery to be held next year, July 16 to 21, 2017 at Barcelona, Spain