Located near the imposing Monumento Circle in Caloocan City is the sprawling compound of Manila Central University. Tall Acasia trees dot the ten hectare lot providing a refreshing spot amidst the busy industrial surroundings. A look at MCU-FDTMFs history shows the indomitable spirit of its founders, the late Atty. Filemon D. Tanchoco and his wife, Mrs. Purificacion Gallego-Tanchoco.
In 1946, the Board of Directors of the Manila Central Colleges (MCC) considered offering the first years of the Medical and Nursing Curricula due to public demand. The plan came at an opportune time because at about this time, the Afable College of Medicine and Surgery was at the verge of closure. The owners, heirs of Dr. Valentine Afable were no longer interested in the continuance of its operation. Upon the appeal of the students of said school for the continuance of its operation, the MCC Board of Directors then arranged for the lease of its facilities as well as that of the Manila General Hospital. Thus, in 1947, the plan for a College of Medicine of the MCC was realized. Since its inception in 1947, the College of Medicine and the College of Nursing used the facilities of the Afable Hospital in Quezon Boulevard. However, in 1949, a ten hectare lot was purchased from the Novitiate of San Jose in Caloocan to house the institution. Subsequently, the needed facilities for the College of Medicine were acquired and completed a year later. With the inspiration of her husband, Atty. Filemon D. Tanchoco, Mrs. Purificacion G. Tanchoco initiated the construction of the MCU Dispensary to give the medical students the needed practice and training in the management of patients. In 1951, she again spearheaded the construction of a two story semi-concrete 120 bed capacity hospital purely for teaching purposes. At that time Dr. Alfredo Guerrero blazed the trail as its first dean.
Dr. Ramon Macasaet, its second dean, reorganized the nine departments of the MCU College of the Medicine In line with modern trends, Dean Macasaet renamed the Department of Bacteriology and Preventive Medicine in 1951 to the Department of Microbiology and Preventive Medicine.In 1954, Dean Macasaet separated the Department of Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat to the Department of Ophthalmology and the Department of Otorhinolaryngology. This gave the MCU College of Medicine the distinction of being the first Medical College in the country to separate the two specialties in both teaching and hospital services.
At about this time, Mrs. Purificacion Tanchoco had the Laboratory building completed. It housed the Departments of Anatomy, Pathology, and Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Hygiene, Parasitology and Laboratory Diagnosis. The succeeding Dean, Dr. Alfredo Ortiz separated the areas of Microbiology and Preventive Medicine.
In 1962, the MCU College of Medicine qualified to be a member of the Association of the Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC). As the College of Medicine grew stronger, other buildings were put up in the campus. A four story building was completed in 1959 and a three-story concrete hospital edifice accommodating 220 patients replaced the rest.
To assist its medical graduates, the MCU Hospital offered training programs in 1971 for its postgraduate trainees in all clinical departments including Anesthesia. In the same year the Board of Directors of MCU decided to convert the College of Medicine and the hospital into a non-stock and non-profit educational foundation. Thus on June 28, 1971 the two entities became the MCU Filemon D. Tanchoco Medical Foundation (MCU-FDTMF).
Two other deans followed: Dr. Floria Velasquez and Dr. Jaime Aquino . Each contributed their share to make MCUFDTMF what it is today. In 1974, through the initiation of Dean Buenaventura Angtuaco, the Out-PatientDepartment and the Emergency room were renovated to give students better clinical exposure. Provisions were made for a medical auditorium and an audiovisual room. During Dr. Angtuaco's time the College of Medicine voluntarily reduced its first year admissions by 50% to ensure better quality of graduates. Dr. Victor Valenzuela succeeded Dr. Angtuaco as Dean and continued the program for the improvement of the college. He also strengthened the Department of Family and Community Medicine and recruited qualified faculty members.
On August 4, 1984 Dr. Lutgarda Celestino-Quito, succeeded Dr. Valenzuela. She was the first MCU Alumna to be appointed as dean and under her leadership, the College entered a new era in its development and growth as an institution of learning. She coordinated actively with the alumni association in the United States and was instrumental in establishing a stronger bond between the alumni and their Alma Mater.
During the deanship of Dr. Jesus E. Fojas, MCU-FDTMF College of Medicine shifted to the Innovative Curriculum using the Problem Based Strategy. It was the first of the original medical schools to do so. Dr. Ma. Lita C. Britanico, the 10th dean, continued the basic policies set down by her predecessors. With the support extended to her by the faculty and administration, the College of Medicine has succeeded in pursuing its commitment to medical education. The 11th is Dr. Esperanza Figueroa-Rivera, former Medical Director and Chairman of the Dept. of Pediatrics. The present dean is Dr. Divina Y. Beato, former College Secretary, Faculty member of the Dept. of Pediatrics, MCU-FDTMF.
MCU-FDTMF, true to its mission statement, is committed to graduating doctors who are competent, caring and responsive to the needs of the Filipino communities they shall serve. Indeed the MCU-FDTMF has met the challenges of the past and has withstood the test of time. Now, MCU-FDTMF through hard work, continues to sustain its successes. It is proud of its recognition by the CHED and the Association of the Philippine Medical Colleges, and its recognition by various national agencies as a member of the Metro Manila Health Science Community. Having been in existence for more than half a century, MCU-FDTMF is proud of its highly qualified and dedicated faculty staff who are fully committed to education and service. It is also proud of its thousands of Medical Alumni who unselfishly serve, not only the Filipino community but also the community of nations.
(taken from the MCU-FDTMF website)
In 1946, the Board of Directors of the Manila Central Colleges (MCC) considered offering the first years of the Medical and Nursing Curricula due to public demand. The plan came at an opportune time because at about this time, the Afable College of Medicine and Surgery was at the verge of closure. The owners, heirs of Dr. Valentine Afable were no longer interested in the continuance of its operation. Upon the appeal of the students of said school for the continuance of its operation, the MCC Board of Directors then arranged for the lease of its facilities as well as that of the Manila General Hospital. Thus, in 1947, the plan for a College of Medicine of the MCC was realized. Since its inception in 1947, the College of Medicine and the College of Nursing used the facilities of the Afable Hospital in Quezon Boulevard. However, in 1949, a ten hectare lot was purchased from the Novitiate of San Jose in Caloocan to house the institution. Subsequently, the needed facilities for the College of Medicine were acquired and completed a year later. With the inspiration of her husband, Atty. Filemon D. Tanchoco, Mrs. Purificacion G. Tanchoco initiated the construction of the MCU Dispensary to give the medical students the needed practice and training in the management of patients. In 1951, she again spearheaded the construction of a two story semi-concrete 120 bed capacity hospital purely for teaching purposes. At that time Dr. Alfredo Guerrero blazed the trail as its first dean.
Dr. Ramon Macasaet, its second dean, reorganized the nine departments of the MCU College of the Medicine In line with modern trends, Dean Macasaet renamed the Department of Bacteriology and Preventive Medicine in 1951 to the Department of Microbiology and Preventive Medicine.In 1954, Dean Macasaet separated the Department of Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat to the Department of Ophthalmology and the Department of Otorhinolaryngology. This gave the MCU College of Medicine the distinction of being the first Medical College in the country to separate the two specialties in both teaching and hospital services.
At about this time, Mrs. Purificacion Tanchoco had the Laboratory building completed. It housed the Departments of Anatomy, Pathology, and Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Hygiene, Parasitology and Laboratory Diagnosis. The succeeding Dean, Dr. Alfredo Ortiz separated the areas of Microbiology and Preventive Medicine.
In 1962, the MCU College of Medicine qualified to be a member of the Association of the Philippine Medical Colleges (APMC). As the College of Medicine grew stronger, other buildings were put up in the campus. A four story building was completed in 1959 and a three-story concrete hospital edifice accommodating 220 patients replaced the rest.
To assist its medical graduates, the MCU Hospital offered training programs in 1971 for its postgraduate trainees in all clinical departments including Anesthesia. In the same year the Board of Directors of MCU decided to convert the College of Medicine and the hospital into a non-stock and non-profit educational foundation. Thus on June 28, 1971 the two entities became the MCU Filemon D. Tanchoco Medical Foundation (MCU-FDTMF).
Two other deans followed: Dr. Floria Velasquez and Dr. Jaime Aquino . Each contributed their share to make MCUFDTMF what it is today. In 1974, through the initiation of Dean Buenaventura Angtuaco, the Out-PatientDepartment and the Emergency room were renovated to give students better clinical exposure. Provisions were made for a medical auditorium and an audiovisual room. During Dr. Angtuaco's time the College of Medicine voluntarily reduced its first year admissions by 50% to ensure better quality of graduates. Dr. Victor Valenzuela succeeded Dr. Angtuaco as Dean and continued the program for the improvement of the college. He also strengthened the Department of Family and Community Medicine and recruited qualified faculty members.
On August 4, 1984 Dr. Lutgarda Celestino-Quito, succeeded Dr. Valenzuela. She was the first MCU Alumna to be appointed as dean and under her leadership, the College entered a new era in its development and growth as an institution of learning. She coordinated actively with the alumni association in the United States and was instrumental in establishing a stronger bond between the alumni and their Alma Mater.
During the deanship of Dr. Jesus E. Fojas, MCU-FDTMF College of Medicine shifted to the Innovative Curriculum using the Problem Based Strategy. It was the first of the original medical schools to do so. Dr. Ma. Lita C. Britanico, the 10th dean, continued the basic policies set down by her predecessors. With the support extended to her by the faculty and administration, the College of Medicine has succeeded in pursuing its commitment to medical education. The 11th is Dr. Esperanza Figueroa-Rivera, former Medical Director and Chairman of the Dept. of Pediatrics. The present dean is Dr. Divina Y. Beato, former College Secretary, Faculty member of the Dept. of Pediatrics, MCU-FDTMF.
MCU-FDTMF, true to its mission statement, is committed to graduating doctors who are competent, caring and responsive to the needs of the Filipino communities they shall serve. Indeed the MCU-FDTMF has met the challenges of the past and has withstood the test of time. Now, MCU-FDTMF through hard work, continues to sustain its successes. It is proud of its recognition by the CHED and the Association of the Philippine Medical Colleges, and its recognition by various national agencies as a member of the Metro Manila Health Science Community. Having been in existence for more than half a century, MCU-FDTMF is proud of its highly qualified and dedicated faculty staff who are fully committed to education and service. It is also proud of its thousands of Medical Alumni who unselfishly serve, not only the Filipino community but also the community of nations.
(taken from the MCU-FDTMF website)
No comments:
Post a Comment