SPSA Elects New President
SPSA has a new president. At the recent Nile cruise and the Spring meeting of the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America, the members Board of Governors who were present elected Honorio Cruz MD FACS as the new president. His term for 2019-2020 starts with his election. The Board also re-elected the present members of the Board of Governors.
Dr. Cruz has been a long standing member of the Society and has served in various capacities as a Fellow. He has been on the Board and was at one time its Executive Treasurer. A general surgeon who for many years practiced his specialty in New Jersey until his retirement in 2011, he now lives In Nevada with his wife of 50 years Elda. He remains very active in both the social and medical activities in his capacity as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and memberships in several surgical and medical societies. He has joined the surgical missions to the Philippines on numerous occasions .
Dr. Cruz has 3 sons, all of whom are engineers in different fields of endeavor. A sport enthusiast, he plays regularly with a golf club to which he belongs to In Las Vegas.
Canadian Plastic Surgeon Passes Away
SPSA just got a word from Dr. Bayani Ignacio, former SPSA president and a yearly SPSA surgical missionary, that Canadian plastic surgeon Winston Spencer Parkhill passed away January 15, 2019. Dr. Parkhill, a plastic surgeon and former Chief of the Plastic Surgery Department at Dalhousie University, and his wife Mary were members of a team of many surgical missions to the Philippines. Members of the SPSA holding the annual CME meeting in Nova Scotia in 2014 exchanged pleasantries with Dr. Parkhill, his wife Mary at one of the clubhouses during one afternoon. He had retired from academic and surgical practice pursuits at that time.
The Society will surely miss him and his surgical skills he brought to the underserved patients in the Philippines..
SPSA Holds Spring Board Meeting with Nile Cruise
The Spring Board Meeting of the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America recently
concluded with a cruise to the Nile River in Egypt, March 14-26. Some of the SPSA
contingent of twenty-four members started with a side trip to Jordan before
arriving at Cairo International Airport, The others who elected to go earlier to
Jordan in November arrived from separate airports in the United States on the same
day and all were met by representatives of UniWorld Cruises who brought SPSA
fellows and members for a day stay at Four Seasons in Cairo. Thereafter the group
flew to Luxor International Airport where every member of the tour group boarded
the river boat Tosca for the excursions along the Nile, visiting the many historic
places of antiquity and of civilization. Additional side trip options were taken
advantage of by the group, some flying in to another airport for another visit to
temples of pharoahs , others taking an early balloon ride through the dessert for an
overview of some additional ruins. The Valley of the Kings, the Cairo Museum that
houses many relics of Egyptian civilization, the burial places of Tutankamenh,
Nefertiti and Nefertari, the Sphinx and the pyramids of Giza, the obelisks erected in
a homage to a pharaoh , and many more stimulate the wonders of how many
centuries before Christ, Egyptians were able to construct these monuments with
ingenuity of the human mind.
During the cruise, the business of SPSA was conducted on board by the president of
the Society, Dr. Romy Laygo who presided over the election of his successor as
president, Dr. Honorio Cruz who is a long time fellow of the Society and a previous
Executive Treasurer and member of the Board. A continuing medical education
seminar also was held for two afternoons by the six speakers during the symposium.
Dr. Edgardo Barcelona , SPSA surgical mission co-chair recounted the surgical
mission conducted earlier in Ormoc, Leyte, Dr. Domingo Alvear, former SPSA
president and founder of the World Surgical Foundation described his experience
and treatment recommendations of superior mesenteric syndrome. Dr. Armando
Dijamco, a nephrologist from Atlanta, Georgia gave an update on nanotechnology
and its implication in the treatment of cancer, notable pancreatic cancer and the
continuing efforts in the Philippines. An interesting topic on how to eat clean and
healthy foods were dissected in a paper that was delivered by Mary Zamora, R.N.,
SPSA’s Executive Secretary and a dissertation on diversity was the subject of Dr.
Edward Quiros’ talk. But the most that garnered so much interest was the
extemporaneous presentation of Joseph Powers who described his continuing
management of his juvenile diabetes that was discovered since he was 2 years of
age. The Spring Board meeting ended with the Society planning for next year’s
cruise in Scandinavia and the upcoming Fall meeting in San Francisco in
conjunction with the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress in October.
The Lady with the External Fixators
By: Dr. Edgar Gamboa
Medical/surgical missions are replete with war stories. Like the teenager who underwent a colostomy
(an exteriorized segment of large bowel) when he was a child.
Click here for
.
Former SPSA President Dr. Agaton Gualberto Passes Away
Dr. Agaton Gualberto, former Society of Philippine Surgeons in America president passed away last September 10, 2018 from complications secondary to cerebrovascular accident one week prior to his demise. He graduated from University of Sto. Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in 1961 and immigrated to the United States in 1963 after a two-year medical practice with his brother in the Philippines. He did his internship and surgical internships in the United States at various hospitals and was drafted in 1968 in the US Army during the Vietnam war, honorably discharged with the rank of Major in 1970.
Dr. Agaton is survived by his wife of 56 years, Virginia three children, Geri, Mary, and Rey plus his 4 grandchildren. The SPSA valued his many charitable and civic involvement in California where he served on the staff of Seton Medical Center for many years but his volunteer work on several surgical missions the Society undertook in underserved areas in the Philippines.
SPSA Holds Board Meeting in Boston
The Society of Philippine surgeons in America held its annual fall Board meeting last October 22, 2018 at the Marriott Hotel in conjunction with the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress. The meeting is part of the Society’s mandate in its Constitution to continue its tax-exempt status since its founding in 1972. Dr. Edgardo Barcelona, a former Society president and a general and vascular surgeon in California conducted the meeting in place of the Society’s president, Dr. Romualdo Laygo from Georgia because of his previous commitments.
During the meeting, several items were discussed. Among them were the Executive Director’s report by Mary Zamora who at the last moment could not attend because of family emergency. Her report was given by her husband, Dr. Ben Zamora who also is the Convention chair. The several designated committees also gave updates and impending issues they have to deal with. The financial status of the Society was presented and reviewed including the funds available to the Surgical Mission Committee.
The minutes of the meeting is attached separately for the members and the public to look at.
Click here for
The Departure Lounge
Heart to Heart
Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS
Last year, my wife, Farida, and I were out to lunch with some friends, the youngest ones in their early 70s. During our conversation, a surgical colleague, who was in his mid-80s, sharp, brilliant, and witty as ever, said in a serious tone of total surrender as he clasped his cane, “Philip, we are now in the departure lounge, waiting for our number to be called.”
I told him much as I loved and respected him as a friend I truly admire, I begged to disagree with the implication and the “final destination” of his thoughts. I said, “if we are in the departure lounge, we are there eagerly waiting for our next flight to tour more places in this wonderful world and enjoy to the hilt whatever time we have left.” I continued “I will not sit around, waiting for my number, and waste God’s precious blessing of time, just waiting to die...I still have a lot of plans and want to take full advantage of, and really cherish, His generosity.”
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Former SPSA President Passes Away
Enrico Garcia, M.D. President of the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America 2004-2006, passed away in Las Vegas, Nevada where he retired in 2013. He was 84 years old. Born in Bayambang, Pangasinan, Philippines to his father Jose Moya Garcia, a lawyer, and his mother Catalina Itchon, he graduated from University of the Philippines High School and obtained his medical school degree from the University of Santo Tomas in 1962.
He completed his residency in general surgery at St. Vincents Hospital and Doctors Hospital in New York, practiced for a while in Toms River, New Jersey before spending most of his career in Terre Haute, Indiana where he became involved in many civic and professional societies and organizations. A recipient of numerous national and statewide awards, he also served as Commissioner of the Vigo County Health Department from 2002 until he retired 2013.
While President of the Society of the Philippine Surgeons in America, he established a Liaison Committee with the Philippine College of Surgeons to work in mutually beneficial relationships and understanding between the two organizations in the fields of postgraduate medical education, scholarships and surgical missions.
Many Fellows of the Society and many of his classmates were in attendance at a memorial service held at Holy Spirit Catholic Church August 17 2018 in Las Vegas, one of the many memorial services held in his honor in different States and in the Philippines.
He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Dr. Evelyn Garcia, his ten children, stepchildren, 20 grandchildren and former spouse and friend Barbara Hinchcliffe.
Eulogy delivered by Dr. Danny Fabito - Click here for
SPSA Gears Up for Its Ormoc Mission
January 13-19 2019 will be SPSA’s next surgical mission. It will be the third time that the Society will return to the city. The first two surgical missions were held under the auspices of Congresswoman Lucy Torres-Gomez. The Society represented by Drs. Mel Simon and his wife Lydia, and Drs. Ed and Corazon Quiros, returned in 2014 to hand over the Society’s donation of a new surgical ambulance following the typhoon devastation the year before. Some medical paraphernalia was also given during that time to Gatmaitan Hospital which hosted pediatric surgical cases during the two earlier missions.
Arrangements this time is being made through the Office of the Mayor, Richard Gomez and the OSPAC Hospital medical and surgical departments. Complements of surgical, dental, anesthesiologists, and ancillary personnel comprising the surgical mission staff are being assembled by the SPSA’s surgical mission committee which will then be forwarded to the Office of the Mayor and the host city.
SPSA Celebrates 45th Anniversary in Las Vegas, Nevada
The Society of Philippine Surgeons in America celebrated its 45th founding in Las Vegas, Nevada August 22-25, 2017 at the South Point Hotel and Casino. In conjunction with the celebration, the Society also held its 43rd Annual Continuing Medical Seminar in Surgery, entitled “Standards of Medical Practice, Diagnosis, Complications and Management”. Keynote speaker was Vice-Admiral Raquel Cruz-Bono who spoke on “ The Military Health System-A Model for National Health Care Reform”. Admiral Cruz is the highest ranking Filipino-American officer in the US Navy, the director of the Department of Defense Military Health Care system and the daughter of Anatolio Cruz MD FACS, a former president of the Society.
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SPSA Fellows Award Recipients
Four Fellows of the Society, all former presidents of the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America, were recently awarded different awards for their exemplary achievements in their chosen field of medicine.
Dr. Reynaldo Lee-Llacer, a general and trauma surgeon from Maryland was recognized as University of Santo Tomas 2016 Outstanding Thomasian Alumni for Health-Medical, TOTAL Awards last November 2016. The University grants the award to an alumnus who has become leader in their field and has made a “notable difference in people’s lives”. Dr. Llacer is a UST Doctor of Medicine graduate in 1958. He underwent his training at National Childrens Hospital, and University of Maryland . He has been presidents of several State organizations and a recipient of several distinctive awards by several Maryland governors, the Maryland Senate, the Philippine Medical Association of Metropolitan Washington and many different associations . He was also one of the founders of the UST Alumni Association in America. Dr. Llacer is presently the Chairman of the By-laws and Constitution Committee of the SPSA.
At the recent Congress of the Philippine College of surgeons December 4-7 2016, Dr. Rolando Mendiola and Dr. Thomas Y. Chua, were recognized by the Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons (PALES) for having taught and performed the first laparoscopic surgery in the Philippines. Many laparoscopic surgeons went to Midwest Laser Institute to learn how to do laparoscopic procedures under the tutelage of both surgeons. Dr. Alex Erasmo, former PCS President and presently the President of PALES presented both the awards to both Drs. Mendiola and Chua, both of who still in active practice; Dr Mendiola in the Philippines where he actively teaches other surgeons in laparoscopy, and Dr. Chua, who practices laparoscopic bariatric surgery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Dr. Eduardo Barcelona, a general, thoracic and vascular surgeon in Palmdale California, was recently awarded by the High Desert Surgical Group, Practitioner of the Year. Dr. Barcelona who is the head of the surgical group, was given the distinction of being the most approachable and respected member of the surgical staff. He is a 1972 graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, actively involved in the UP Alumni association in the United States and presently co-chairs the Surgical Mission Committee of the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America.
Some members of the surgical mission group in front of Betania Retreat housed where most stayed
SPSA Conducts Cebu Surgical MissionAs one of its avowed mission, the Society of {Philippine Surgeons in America just concluded its annual surgical mission to the Philippines, This time it was in Cebu, the second largest city in the Philippines, January 22-28 2017. Logistical arrangements for the surgical mission was through the efforts of Dr. Edgardo Gamboa and his wife Dr. Lucy Gamboa, both of whom practice in California and who are from Cebu.
The mission was sponsored by the Cebu Institute of Medicine and the Velez General Hospital, the Perpetual Succour Hospital , and the Santo Nino Charity Clinic in Pasil, Cebu. Despite some logistical snafus that materialized during the mission week, 364 procedures were performed by the surgical mission group that included dental, ophthalmological, general and obstetrics surgeries as well as anesthesia , nursing and volunteer groups most of whom came from US and Canada as well as local missionaries from the Philippines.
Several businesses and civic organizations as well as local NGOs contributed to the mission. Dr. Ed Barcelona and Dr. Ed Quiros, co-chairs of the Surgical Mission Committee thanked all who participated giving everyone certificates of appreciation during one of the dinner events. Next surgical mission venue will be either Palawan or Legaspi, Albay. Definite location will be decided at the SPSA,s Spring Board Meeting next month.
SPSA Founder to Receive Presidential Award
Dr. Hernan Reyes, founder and first president and CME chairman of the Society of the Philippine Surgeons in America will be conferred the PamanangPilipinasaward by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte this December at Malacanang Palace. Dr. Reyes, an internationally recognized pediatric surgeon led the establishment of the SPSA and the impetus for it’s surgical mission committee which has served the medically poor areas in the Philippines every year since 1986. He was formerly the chairman of the Department of Surgery at Cook County Hospital, Professor of Surgery at Rush Medical College where he was also an Assistant Dean. He taught and was a professor of University of Illinois medical school and the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, among the many achievements since he graduated from the University of Sto. Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in 1957.
Dr. Reyes plans to meet with the new Secretary of Health and President Duterte next month together with US contingent to discuss several aspects of foreign surgical missions to the Philippines and some of the solutions proposed in an attempt to solve the problems that has beset humanitarian endeavors to the homeland by Filipino expatriates.
The Presidential Awards institutionalized since 1991 is a biennial search for overseas organizations and individuals who have dedicated their work for the service of Filipinos. It is done by four different committees of Philippine Diplomatic Posts, inter-agency committee which screened this year’s 103 nominations from 22 countries to come up with this year’s 23 outstanding individuals and organizations. The Presidential Awards have four categories: LingkodsaKapwa Pilipino (LINKAPIL) where SPSA’s late Manny Cacdac was a recipient, Kaanibng Bayan Award, Banaag Award, and Pamanang Pilipino Award.
Nevada Doc Assumes SPSA Presidency
Corazon P. Quiros, MD, an obstetrician-gynecologist from Texas but now resides in Nevada, assumed the Presidency of the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America, 2016-2017. Dr. Quiros was inducted together with the elected and re-elected members of the Board of Governors at the recent SPSA annual convention and continuing medical education activities at the recent cruise aboard the Anthem of the Seas last July 23, 2017. The new set of officers were inducted by Dr. Ed Barcelona, a general and vascular surgeon from Palmdale, California and a past president of the Society. Dr. Carl Calica whose tenure as president Dr. Quiros followed, was not able to attend the turnover ceremonies because of unforeseen events relative to his group practice in upstate New York.
Dr. Corazon Quiros, together with Dr. Ben Zamora, SPSA’s CME and Convention chair are busy preparing for next year’s 45th Sapphire Anniversary celebration and convention festivities in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Text of C.P. Quiros Short Acceptance Speech
This year has been a year of surprises, of things that were thought as unexpected and unpredictable. First, there was the election of the new President of the Philippines who was not thought to be that of a serious candidate considering the political elites that he eventually defeated and vanquished from the political landscape. In a very few weeks, he has started to make an impact on the lives of the Filipinos and the contorted and convoluted government bureaucracy.
Second, as you probably have watched on TV, a political outsider by the name of Donald Trump became last night the official Republican nominee for President of the United States. When he announced last June 2015 he was running for the presidential nomination, no one gave him a chance to win. But he did, demolishing his 16 establishment oponents.
Third, here I am before you assuming the presidency of one of the most prestigious Filipino-American organizations in the United States. Now I do not to want to imply for any moment that I am as important and of equal footing as President Duterte and Donald Trump because I am jus a very small and unknown small fry.
However, you have placed your confidence in me to lead this Society, especially on the SPSA ce;ebratory year, its 45th year and the possibility that its ACCME accreditation will soon end after it expires in 2017 after more than 3 decades of continued accreditation, under the leadership of the Society’s founder and first CME chairman, Dr. Hernan Reyes. As most of you know, for the past 30 some years, Dr. Ben Zamora who has continuously served as CME chair, and of course with the able assistance of his wife Mary, has indicated his intention of retiring the gavel unless we could change his mind or p[rod him to reconsider.
I will assure you however that with your help and especially of the President-Elect, that this year and the years to come, despite the problems—and you all know what these are—that our Society faces, SPSA will continue and survive. We will have an exceptional as always an annual convention and continuing surgical education meeting next year in Las Vegas. We will continue with our yearly surgical missions, one of the reasons our Society was founded and continue to exist. Most importantly, the camaraderie that we have all these years will surely be a part of the cornerstone of our lives.
I look forward to this tenure you have honored me with and will promise to you all that despite my shortcomings, I will work hard to meet your expectations and that of the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America.
Marami pong salamat.
Cebu, the second largest metropolitan city in the Philippines , will be the site of the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America surgical mission next January 22-28, 2017. The proposed mission is coordinated by Dr. Ed Gamboa , a general and robotic surgeon from California , and his wife Dr. Lucie Gamboa, an internist in conjunction with Drs. Ed Barcelona and Ed Quiros, SPSA Surgical Mission co-chair.
The surgical foray into the city is being sponsored and undertaken by the Cebu Institute of Medicine and its teaching hospitals as well as the different hospital venues accommodating general, obstetrics-gynecology, plastic, orthopedic, ophthalmology and dental teams that have signed up for the event. Additional local support for the mission for the medically underserved patients in the city are the Diocese of Cebu, the Redemptorist nuns, and local people and NGOs contacted by Dr. Gamboa. Tentative schedule including the departure for Cebu and other logistics of the mission will be given to the missionaries to give them time to prepare for the undertaking.
The Society of the Philippine Surgeons in America, a 501-c3 organization, has been undertaking a yearly, occasionally twice a year, surgical mission to the Philippines for over 30 years.
ors, nurses, and ancillary personnel.
