3 PSPC Webinars in June 2020

During the onset of the COVID pandemic, face-to-face contact among members of the society for round-table discussions, scientific meetings and conventions were no longer possible. The RTDs with DR. DANS on Formulation of Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) and DR. FATIMA GIMENEZ on “Updates on Pediatric Immunizations were cancelled. Likewise, the first-ever collaboration of the Philippine Society of Pediatric Cardiology (27th Annual Meeting and 8th Biennial Convention) with the Philippine Heart Association for its 51st Annual Convention and Scientific Sessions last May 26 -29, 2020 (“NEXT LEVEL STRATEGIES”) was also cancelled. Thus, despite concerns and apprehensions with technical issues and the like, the Scientific Committee with the PSPC Board planned to have on-line webinars as a means to provide continuing medical education and venue for exchange of discussions among its members. Most of the webinars were on guidelines on the treatment and management of cardiac problems in infants and children in COVID times.

As earlier reported in this website, the PSPC had its 2 first successful webinars last May 14, 2020 (“Cardiovascular Involvement in Pediatric Patients with of COVID-19”with DR. SHELDON P. PARAGAS as speaker) and May 21, 2020 (“Interim Guidelines in Performing Echocardiography in Pediatrics amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic” with DR. AURORA S. GAMPONIA as speaker).

For the month of June, we had three webinars. The 3rd PSPC webinar held last June 4, 2020 was on “BASIC LIFE SUPPORT AND PEDIATRIC ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT IN THE SETTING OF THE COVID PANDEMIC” with DR. MARIA THERESA C. ROSQUETA as the speaker. Dr. Rosqueta who a certified American Heart Association (AHA) BLS and PALS Instructor at the Philippine Heart Center International Training Center, is a Fellow of the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and the Philippine College of Cardiology (PCC) Training and is the Research Coordinator in Pediatrics at the Philippine Heart Center. In her lecture, Dr. Rosqueta gave the new guidelines set forth by the AHA in the conduct of BLS and PALS during this pandemic with emphasis on the safety of the rescuer before giving resuscitation. PSPC Vice-President DR. MARIA BERNADETTE A. AZCUETA was the emcee-moderator. There were 241 participants.

The 4th PSPC webinar held last June 11, 2020 was on “CATCHING HIGH-RISK NEWBORNS IN TIMES OF COVID” with DR. KATHLYNNE ANNE ABAT-SENEN, a Neonatologist from UP-PGH, as the speaker. The PSPC is deeply honored to be given the opportunity to have Dr. Senen as one of our speakers. (Note: Dr. Senen passed away because of COVID last August 23, 2020) Dr. Senen was a Fellow of the PPS and the Philippine Society of Newborn Medicine. She was also the Head of the Section of Neonatal Medicine of UP-PGH. In her lecture which she videotaped before she was first admitted (the night before the webinar), Dr. Senen gave guidelines on the role of pediatricians in the care of newborns, especially those belonging to the high-risk group (including cardiac patients) in the pandemic. The webinar was well-attended by other neonatologists who actively participated in the open forum which was moderated by DR. LOUISA JOAN G. GO. There were 347 participants.

The 5th PSPC webinar conducted last June18, 2020 was on “CARDIAC IMAGING IN CHILDREN AMIDST TIMES OF COVID” with DR. JUSTINE IRIS C. YAP as speaker. Dr. Yap, Pediatric Cardiologist practicing at UP-PGH, is a Diplomate of the PPS, a Fellow of the PCC, a Fellow of the European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging and an Honorary Fellow in Advanced Cardiac Imaging, Evelina London Children’s Hospital, United Kingdom (Cardiac CT and Cardiac MRI for Pediatric and Adult Congenital Heart Diseases). She had training in Advanced Cardiac Imaging for Congenital and Structural Heart Diseases at the Birmingham Children’s Hospital, United Kingdom. In her talk, Dr. Yap gave the indications for cardiac imaging such as cardiac CT and cardiac MRI. PSPC Secretary DR. JUAN G. REGANION was the emcee-moderator. There were 166 participants.