FL

Contact Name: Maria Kristina Cecilia P. Ozaeta-Lorilla, MD, FPCP, FPCC

Contact Name: Renato C. Ong Jr., RMT, MD, FPCP, FPCC

r.ongjrmd@gmail.com

+639171859797

Makati Medical Center (MMC) is a premier tertiary hospital in the Philippines for over 50 years. A 600-bed tertiary facility in Metro Manila, it is one of the pioneers and leaders in cardiovascular health care in the country and Southeast Asia. MMC, branded as the hospital with a heart, fulfills its promise in rendering premium and personalized healthcare services. It seeks to deliver quality and compassionate services through its highly skilled, competent, and board-certified physicians, nurses, allied healthcare professionals, and management staff, equipped with modern facilities and state-of-the-science medical equipment and technology. It was one of the frontline institutions in the National Capital Region of the Philippines which battled the first wave of COVID-19 starting in March 2020. On its 50th anniversary, MMC partnered with UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of the leading cancer centers in the United States. The agreement with the University included the development of an international Cancer Care Network, a cancer registry in MMC, training programs for cancer care, a second opinion program, and on-site clinical rotation from various subspecialties in oncology. On November 2022, MMC was recognized as the first Cancer Specialty Center in a General Hospital in the Philippines accredited by the Department of Health. Like in most other countries where the COVID-19 pandemic decimated lives and paralyzed economies, the Philippines was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on a global scale and the worsening epidemic of cancer treatment-related CV toxicities were equally devastating. However, this did not hinder the Section of Cardiology in Makati Medical Center (MMC) to pursue the vision of putting up a new training program. Dr. Saturnino P. Javier, MMC Medical Director and Chief of the Section of Cardiology, conceptualized the establishment of a formal Cardio-Oncology (CO) training in the Philippines in the latter quarter of 2021. Through the years, MMC has been providing specialized care to its cancer patients. Recognizing the burden of cancer in the country and the emerging need for a discipline that encompasses the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and its impact on cardiovascular health, Dr. Javier immediately took steps to put up a program that addresses this complex issue - in the midst of a pandemic. After initial presentation to the Section of Cardiology and after several virtual sessions of planning and brainstorming with a core group of cardiologists, Dr. Javier presented the general plans and curriculum to the other sections and departments which will be involved in the new training program which he received enthusiastic support. Most importantly, the Management under Atty. Pilar Nenuca P. Almira (President and CEO) envisioned that MMC should pioneer in those disciplines where MMC had no expertise yet. In February 2022, the Section of Cardiology communicated its plans to the leadership of the PHA which fundamentally oversees all cardiology training programs in the Philippines. The association recognized the initiative as basically aligned with the objectives of the Council on Cardio-Oncology to strike a balance between cancer treatments and CV morbidities. Being the pioneer training program for CO in the country, the program was not only recognized, but was also extolled as “another milestone in Philippine Cardiology” by the leadership of PHA. The training commenced last August 2022 with two trainees: Dr. Maria Kristina Cecilia P. Ozaeta-Lorilla, and Dr. Renato C. Ong Jr., board certified Cardiology graduates of MMC who enthusiastically accepted the invitation of the Program Director to be the first trainees of the newly established program. The training core is in constant communication with the PHA Council on Cardio-Oncology, who fully supported the training program since its conception. The council is now preparing a forum dedicated to introducing the MMC CO training at the national level in one of PHA’s major conferences. Both clinical research fellows were warmly received not only by the PHA and the MMC Community, but by the ICOS leadership and component ICOS chapter leaders as well. Executive Director, Stephen Casselli through his invaluable endorsement and support for the program, made the observership rotation possible with the different ICOS chapters [i.e., United States, Spain, United Kingdom, Germany and Australia). The trainees were likewise invited to participate in ICOS-sponsored Virtual Journal Club Meetings and Interesting Case Series Presentations.

Contact Name: Nicole Rivera