Dr. Juliana Gomez-Tamayo

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.

Currently the President of the Philippine Association of Clinical

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 University of Sto. Tomas as an academic scholar.

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 UPHDJGT Medical Center’s Heart Station, she is also Chief of Section on ECG and Holter Monitoring at St. Luke’s Medical Center in Quezon City.

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 Medical Center. My first rotation was cardiac monitoring of all surgical patients. The very first mentor I met asked me the following question: Where did you have your internal medicine training? Where is that hospital located? Is it a PCP accredited training program? Did you take the PCP fellowship examination? I must admit I felt those were probing question which deserve nothing but candid and forthright answers. The answers were: I am a graduate of the residency program in Internal Medicine of the Perpetual Help Medical Center it is in Binan, Laguna. And yes, it is a PCP Accredited Institution. No, I haven’t taken the examination but I shall take it after my fellowship.

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 Perpetual Help Medical Center. Because of the early demise of Dr. Katigbak, he was succeeded by the very motherly yet disciplinary chairmanship of Dra. Lilia Maranan. She was ably supported by the pillars of the department then including: Drs. Carmelita Fernandez, Cynthia Lubaton, Benigno Ong, Ramon dela Paz, Delia Bayog and Nicolas De Jesus initially and later on joined by Drs: Artemio De Mesa, Roberto Guzman, Patrocinia Mallabo, and Jose Cuevas. The resident physicians then included according to seniority: Drs. Adolfo Llanura, Felicitos Obillo, Arnel Bella, Susan Alcasid, yours truly, Elizabeth Carreon, Marivic Perez, and Fernando De Mesa. I remember Dr. Maranan as caring and nurturing and yet during grand rounds she was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court so to speak. Those were the days when Dra. Carreon and I would even run the risk of being bitten by stray dogs in the slum areas as we follow up cases to be presented in the grand rounds. There were neither laptops nor cell phone, but Dr. Umil will never as in never miss bringing the grand rounds protocol to the horseshoe residence of Dr. Maranan. Dr. Obillo was as handsome as a movie star in his immaculately white blazer ready to discuss his case at 8:00 am sharp Monday. I don’t remember seeing a 2D echo Machine, nor an ABG analyzer, nor a CT scan. But of course, we had thorough history, complete physical examination, ECG, Chest X-ray and perhaps Ultrasound. And most of all evidences gathered from the experiences and lessons learned from the wisdom of our mentors were more than sufficient. Of course, Harrison was our best friend.

The teachings of Harrison were read and discussed mightily after evening rounds over cup of coffee, macaroni soup, or at time litson manok. The sincere camaraderie was uplifting and yet at the same time the stiff healthy competition to excel was also apparent. There was even an unwritten agreement to take diverse specialties and practice in the department. That was the reason why Dr. Obillo is a Pulmonologist, Dr. Umil a Gastroenterologist, Dra. Carreon our chairman is a Diabetologist and yours truly a Cardiologist. These “ambitious” residents vowed that the department should be accredited by PCP and it was indeed accredited for the first time last May 3, 1986.We will forever be thankful to Dra. Lilia Maranan because most of us graduates in the program stand a little taller than we really are because along the way she has carried us upon her shoulders.

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”.

Chairman's Desk

Dr. Elizabeth V. Carreon

Outgoing Chairman

Before I start, let me congratulate the people behind making this newsletter possible. It is not easy a job to take part of medical journalism whilst coping with one’s practice and academic activities; so, to them my deepest admiration.

As I stepped down as chairman of the department, I am now being asked to write down my achievements for the last 3 ½ years that I have chaired. That I find difficult. . . I have not been used to being praised; more so, “to praise myself” seemed to be too egotistical for me. But a task is a task, so here I go narrating to you not my accomplishments but that of my department.

Late of September 2003, I received a letter from former Dean Theresita R. Lariosa MD appointing me to be chair of the Department of Internal Medicine. Hesitantly, I said yes (there was really no choice). I was constantly asking myself if I was right for the position; I had no experience and had very little concept of what a “chairman” does or must do. All I prayed for was to make sure that the department does not collapse during my term; lest, I be banish from the department (forever).

So, what do you do with a department that was literally “in disarray” and whose accreditation was in probation then later, suspended? Plenty, I knew. The first 2 things that I instinctively knew that I had to do at the start were to find a way on how to “unite” us and think as a department and second to assign the right kind of people to do particular jobs that they feel responsible for and at the same time be proud of. To be able to accomplish these would be the end of “my achievement” and the start of “ours” (achievement). .

The first sign that we “long” for unity was when we started attending our regular Friday conferences. In time, we all wanted to create changes in our department’s policies , creating rules for us to follow, penalizing ourselves if we do not. Professionals starting to take responsibilities (that made me happy - we are as a department maturing). The rest was history. We were successful creating funds through our bingo socials. We learned and shared our expertise by providing lectures like in our yearly Diabetes Lay Education, ECG workshop last 2006 and Advanced Cardiac Life Support this 2007. The increasing number of our residents (especially coming from our own graduates) from two to eight is a source of pride; also an accomplishment. How come? Deep inside, I know that the changes that we have made; our sacrifices had bore fruit. We have inspired our students to be one of us.

As I end my term, I could not say I feel fulfilled. There are still a lot of work to do, conflicts to be patched, issues to be settled, resentments to be healed. Yet, I know I have to step down and let the next chair bring us to the next level. One that would bring us up a step higher. If ever she could do that, I would have to say, that would be “my accomplishment”.

Dr. Amelita C. Brillantes
Incoming Chairman

These are exciting times to be a Perpetualite Internist. We are in the thick of preparations for the First Annual Perpetualites’ Night – a night to honor all those who have molded and shaped our department into what it is at present, a night to welcome back all those who have walked these hollowed hallways with the hopes of becoming an internist.

Our department E-group is up and running, and we are coming out with the pilot issue of IM Pulse, our very own department newsletter. Indeed, these are exciting times to be a Perpetualite Internist.

It is hard to believe that it has only been a dozen years ago when I was warmly welcomed to the department like an adopted daughter. And I have witnessed – first as a curious observer, next as a passive member and later as an active participant how the department has crawled, toddled and jumpstarted into the active, progressive, ever-changing entity that it is today.

We look back with nostalgia to the “good old days” – how it was when the hospital was new, the earliest residents (who now make up the core consultants), the pioneer mentors, our 1^st PCP accreditation, our yearly Xmas celebrations, the major projects (ECG course, BLS, ACLS) our fundraising Bingo activities, those dark days when our accreditation was suspended, and the dwindling number of residents.

As we fondly reminisce about the past, so we also take pride of the great many changes that have been firmly put in place – our successful re-accreditation, an almost full roster of residents, regular and well-attended Friday conferences; streamlined and fully implemented residency training program.

With these we excitedly look forward to tomorrow to greet the challenges yet to be faced.

Let’s aim for a bigger and better department! More specifically – we can-

- Build camaraderie among consultants and residents by team-building activities.

- Upgrade our material resources : sound system, laptop

- Build an “e” library – a collection of lecture modules that can be used to teach and which will be readily accessible to our students and trainees

- Increase participation in PCP related events like quiz contests, research activities.

- Start contributing to the society where we belong by initiating lay fora on common preventable diseases.

We have already walked the distance; there is no doubt that TOGETHER we can do it!