The first focus-group workshop on lupus patients and caregivers, held last November 2009 at University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila was a big success. The activity was brilliantly planned and facilitated by the core group headed by Dr. Sandra Navarra (renowned rheumatologist and head of LUISA project), Dr. Marthony Basco (paediatrician and facilitator in group dynamics and training program sessions), Dr. Lyndon John Llamado, and Robelle Tanangunan (lupus patient and research assistant).

Keeping the advocacy of enlightening lupus patients and their caregivers as well as to improve their quality of life, LUpus InSpired Advocacy (LUISA) project, in coordination with the Lupus Group of Panay, had started to spread the patient enlightenment program outside Manila. The first regional workshop was held last 16 January 2010 at Iloilo Medical Society, La Paz, Iloilo City. Despite a stormy weather, 35 patients and 8 caregivers registered and actively participated, shared their thoughts and insights in the workshop. Spearheading the activity, Dr. Sandra V. Navarra encouragingly introduced the primary goals of spreading awareness and improving long term management on lupus. Four rheumatologists, namely Dr. Roger Dulos, Dr. Carol Arroyo (President of the Philippine Rheumatology Association [PRA]), Dr. Ma. Nida Ferrer, and Dr. Ma. Jovie Gerona unselfishly shared their time to facilitate the workshop. 

• Join the roster of muskoskeletal physicians who render competent care to millions of Filipinos with rheumatic disease.
   
  
• There are only less than 90 practicing rheumatologists in the entire Philippines who provide specialized care to patients with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
   
• LUPUS is becoming more common among Filipinos, and it is often the rheumatologist who is tasked to diagnose and oversee the management of this challenging illness.
   
• Rheumatology offers a broad range of interesting clinical interactions - from gout to systemic vasculitides, to the specialized use of biologic agents which can dramatically and positively impact patients’ lives.
   
• Learn musculoskeletal ultrasound & bone densitometry as add-on skills to supplement your professional practice.

The University of Santo Tomas Section of Rheumatology, Clinical immunology and Osteoporosis is now accepting interns (Philippine College of Physicians [PCP] board certified or board-eligible) for a 2-year clinical fellowship training, with the option to continue to 3rd year research fellowship.

• The faculty consists of 7 dedicated consultants including 1 geriatric and 1 pediatric rheumatologist – with subspecialty expertise in osteoporosis, SLE, crystal arthropathies and  vasculitides, as well as certification/ degrees in the related sciences of bone densitometry, musculoskeletal ultrasonography, biostatistics, clinical epidemiology and medical informatics.
   
• The program provides continuing mentoring and support for chosen career paths in the clinics, academe, and/or research – for the entire duration of, and extending beyond completion of fellowship training.
   
• With established links for international collaboration, there are countless opportunities to meet and actively interact (or undergo further training) with world experts in Rheumatology.

Interested applicants may submit/ email a letter of intent, and/or contact:
The Section of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology & Osteoporosis
Joint and Bone Center, 2/F, University of Santo Tomas Hospital
España Blvd., Manila, Philippines 1015
Tel/ fax: (02) 7499746 / 7313001 local 2393    Email

Deadline of applications:

• 31 May 2010 - for fellowship start-of-training on 01 July 2010

• 15 December 2010 - for fellowship start-of-training on 01 February 2011

Check our websites www.retfi.org or www.luisaproject.org.

LEARNING CHRONIC RHEUMATIC DISEASES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM:
EXPERIENCES AND INSIGHTS BY A MEDICAL STUDENT

[Dr. Charles A.C. Villamin won the international Articulum Prize for Best Essay in Musculoskeletal Diseases with this entry. He is currently on his third year Orthopedics residency at the University of Santo Tomas]
 
With a combined feeling of accomplishment and overwhelming expectations at things yet to be done, I eagerly ride on the transition from medical clerkship (fourth year) to medical internship (fifth year) - at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and UST Hospital in Manila, Philippines – hoping to further hone in my clinical skills to become a competent and compassionate physician.
I entered medical school thinking not so much of people – but rather thinking more of books and sleepless nights, and endless chapters of anatomy, physiology and pathology. I have always thought that if I can understand the disease and know what to do with it, I can deal with patients, considering them as merely secondary to the disease. That is, until (for scholarship funding purposes) I applied and was accepted as a research and academic student assistant at the UST Section of Rheumatology, Clinical Immunology and Osteoporosis from my second year of medical school up to the present.