UST grad tops list of new doctors

A graduate of the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Medicine and Surgery topped the 1,597 examinees out of 2,300 who passed the August 2010 Physician Licensure Examination. The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announced UST graduate Chitra Deepak Punjabi garnered the highest score of 89.42, comprising the Complete and Final with Preliminary Examinations. See: Complete list of the August 2010 Physician Licensure Examination The others in the top five are Percy Balderia of University of the Philippines Manila (89.00), Nikki Doreen Angbue Te of UST (88.33), Gwenalyn Gail Garcia of the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERMMC) (88.17), and James Phillip Esteban of UP Manila (87.92). Completing the top 10 are Michael Conrad Tongol, UST (87.83); Paul Vincent Co, Cebu Institute of Medicine (87.75); Karen Hernandez, UP Manila, (87.67), Kristianne Emmanuelle Bagaoisan, UST (87.50); and Rozelle Jade Javier, UST (87.42). Meanwhile, UST likewise topped the list of schools with the highest passing rate of 99%, followed by West Visayas State University (98%), UP Manila (97%), Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (96%), and Saint Louis University (94%) The other top performing schools were Davao Medical School Foundation (89%), Xavier University (88%), Cebu Doctors University – College of Medicine (82%) and UERMMC (81%). The examinations were administered in the cities of Manila, Cebu and Davao on August 7, 8. 14 and 15. This year’s passing rate is 69.4%. The members of the Board of Medicine, which gave the licensure examinations, were Dr. Mildred Pareja, chair, and members Drs. Florentino Doble, Restituto De Ocampo, Edgardo Fernando, Miguel Noche Jr. and Jose Cueto Jr. The registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card and Certificate of Registration will start on Monday, August 23 but not later than August 27, according to the PRC. Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 2 pieces passport size picture (colored with white background and complete name tag), 1 piece 1" x 1" picture (colored with white background and complete name tag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps, and 1 short brown envelope with name and profession. There will also be an Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2010-2013. Meanwhile, the oath-taking ceremony of the successful examinees for August 2010, as well as the previous ones who have not yet taken their Oath of Professional, will be held before the Board on September 5 at 1:00 p.m. at the Plenary Hall of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Roxas Blvd., Manila. Registration for membership with the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) will likewise start on August 23.—Jerrie M. Abella with Andreo C. Calonzo/JV, GMANews.TV