Featured Internist: DR. JULIANA GOMEZ-TAMAYO
A Heart Doctor with a Loving Heart
(IM Pulse 2007)
by Lelanih Tangpos, MD & Naheeda Dimacisil, MD
As the department celebrates its anniversary, so does the institution celebrates the fortune of having a vibrant Clinical Training Program Director, who graduated Cum Laude in our very own institution and who became the first Perpetual Help medical graduate to attain fellowship in the Philippines College of Physicians – Dr. Juliana Gomez-Tamayo.
Electrocardiography (PACE), now fellow of the American College of Cardiology, Dr. Baby, as friends and colleagues fondly call her, is the lone doctor in the family, and humbly relates how her elementary years became very challenging due to the of school teachers during their time, recalling how first grade to fourth graders would share in one classroom and one teacher. Nevertheless, the sturdy student made it through high school, graduating valedictorian, and later on attained a Bachelor’s degree in nursing at the
Next to Drs. Hilario Katigbak and Lilia Maranan of UST, she became the next Department Chairman who originally graduated from this institution and has been serving the institution for more than 15 years as a Professor in Cardiology and Clinical Training Program Director.
When asked about what would be her advice to young colleagues and aspiring doctors, she says,
“A doctor need not be very intelligent. What matters most is how one loves his patients like kin, for when you do, you will want to know what you don’t know (to alleviate that patient’s condition).”
Dr. Tamayo was former President of the Philippine Heart Association-Southern Tagalog Chapter as well as the Philippine College of Physicians-Southern Tagalog. She became a Member of the Board of Examiners in the Philippine Specialty Board of Internal Medicine and Member of the Board of Directors in the Philippine Heart Association for a year.
Aside from the hectic schedule of seeing patients at the
Married to Mr. Rafael Tamayo, son of the late Dr. Jose G. Tamayo, Dra. Baby has two children, the eldest being a Medical Intern at the University of the East and the youngest in high school at De La Salle University.
When, asked how she would want to be remembered, she answered, “I would simply want to be remembered as someone who loves her patients dearly and that I hope my students will do the same.” Truly, a heart doctor who has a loving heart.
THE PERPETUALITE INTERNIST
By: Dr. Juliana G. Tamayo
How do I describe a Perpetualite Internist? Upon receiving the text message from Dr. Geraldine Almarinez-So requesting to me to write something about the making of Perpetualite Internist. I could not help but go through series of “flashbacks”. I could still vividly remember my first day as a cardiology fellow-in-training at the operating room of St. Luke’s
My journey to memory lane went even further remembering that the department was first chaired by the late Dr. Raymundo Katigbak and among the first graduate is our very loyal Dr. Ricardo Enriquez who has devoted his entire professional life since then to
The teachings of
After Dr. Maranan, came the very amiable, a man of few words but a lot of actions - Dr. Ricardo Salonga. He bridged the gap from Dra. Maranan to the new generation. He was so selfless in sharing his time and expertise at the time he was needed most. His first commitment though was with the Department of Internal Medicine in Perpetual Help Medical Center Las Pinas.
History dictated that it was time that a graduate of the training program be the Chairman. Yours truly, was the reluctant appointee. Reluctant, not because I was unwilling to do the task but rather because of the “large shoes” of my predecessors that I may not be able to fill in. But what a blessing it was! Mentors and former co-residents were very supportive and cooperative to the different endeavors of the department. On top of it, this was also the very timely entry of new consultants, young blood armed with zest and vigor coupled with enthusiasm, to name: Drs. Geraldine Almarinez-So, Amelita Brillantes, Rene Librojo and Rosalina Picar. Realizing the importance of updating teaching strategies, we started the Friday club. We all sat down as “classmates” in the post graduate course on medical teaching strategies. Being the Chairman of the department, was definitely a demanding task but very fulfilling indeed! The experience even paved the way for my having been given the honor and privilege of being one of the members of the Specialty Board of Examiner in Internal Medicine. Being called upon to do other tasks even outside of the medical center I had to relinquish the chairmanship to the forever “Dedicated Ideal Teacher” in his capacity as the training officer of the past three chairmen.
Dr. De Mesa is really a born good teacher. There are many intelligent doctors but only a few has the gift of being able to impart their knowledge to the students of medicine, definitely Dr. De Mesa is one of them! Despite the prevailing economic turmoil and the sad flight of doctors then as nurses to other countries, he led the department by example, even willing to go on 24 hour duty again when the need arise.
Dr. De Mesa was succeeded by another graduate of the training program our current dynamic Chairman Dr. Elizabeth Carreon, whose dedication to her task cannot be questioned. Ably supported by her equally devoted and dependable hardworking Executive Training Officer Dr. Rhodora Valenzona, the department was able to maintain its PCP accreditation despite all odds. We now have the able support of new consultants with diverse specialties in the likes of Drs. Armando Lontoc, Lynn Bilar, & Rey Murillo. Of course it is also heart warming to note that our graduates like Drs. Ariel Boongaling, Anner Marquez and Ronald Hingzon are also very actively participating. The department is still a work in progress so to speak, but with the prevailing harmonious family atmosphere among its members the department will continue to harness compleat physicians. The compleat physician when treating diseases, look for not only the etiology and treatment of the disease but look after and care for a sick patient as a human being.
It goes without saying, that in treating the human being with disease, physicians deliver health care that includes complete recovery of the person beyond the confines of his illness but extends even toward his speedy return to the mainstream society. The Perpetualite Internist believes that in the practice of the profession he should observe the canon of the Hippocratic writings. It states that he who is truly suited to the practice of medicine must posses in natural disposition, education, industry and time. He practices the precepts of the Hippocratic Oath which emphasizes the following. 1. Respect for parents and mentors alike. 2. Delivery of the best health care based on medical judgment and conscious avoidance of harm or wrong doing to the patients, 3. confidentiality of communication.
The Perpetualite Internist believes that healing has a touch of the divine and we are only the instrument of the greatest healer himself. Although we physicians are not given the power to resurrect the dead, divine providence allows some patient to be resuscitated. The best example of a Perpetualite Internist is recorded in the bible-with that of the Good Samaritan helping the distressed traveler. In his dealing with his patients the Perpetualite Internist always remember these words “Whatever you do to the least of my brethren you did it unto me”.
