UERMMMCI President Romeo A. Divinagracia was recently honored by the two specialty societies he had served in the past in various capacities, including the presidency of both societies.

        The Philippine College of Physicians–the national association of internists for adult medicine–and the Philippine Heart Association/Philippine College of Cardiology–the national association of cardiologists–both bestowed the awards on Dr. Divinagracia during their respective national conventions last May 4 and May 28,2008, respectively. Dr. Divinagracia received the Dr. Gonzalo F. Austria Award (Most Distinguished Physician Award for 2008) from the Philippine College of Physicians and the Most Distinguished Fellow Award from the Philippine Heart Association/Philippine College of Cardiology. Both awards are the highest given to any member of each society for exemplary service to the society and in promoting the goals and aspirations of the associations.

        Cited among the contributions of Dr. Divinagracia–who earned his Master in Hospital Services Administration degree at the Ateneo de Manila University Graduate School of Business-to the specialty societies are: having designed, organized and implemented, with the late Dr. Ramiro de Guia, the first formal training program in cardiovascular medicine that became the basic training program for adult cardiology, cardiovascular surgery and pediatric cardiology at the Philippine Heart Center and, later, the prototype of cardiovascular training programs in the Philippines; having been the administrator of the Heart House since its inauguration in 1998 up to 2006; having authored or co-authored over 20 scientific publications; and having introduced and developed the first formal training program and certification in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, basic life support and advanced cardiac life support– based on American Heart Association standards–at the Philippine Heart Center.

        Dr. Divinagracia is currently the President, Executive Director and a Professor of Medicine of UERMMMCI. He is concurrently an attending cardiologist at the UERMMMC, the Philippine Heart Center for Asia and St. Luke´s Medical Center–all in Quezon City, Philippines.

        He earned his medical degree from the UERMMMCI College of Medicine in 1963, and subsequently trained in internal medicine and non-invasive cardiology at that institution, and in cardiopulmonary diseases at the Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, La Jolla, California, USA.

        He has served UERMMMCI in various capacities, including being Medical Director, Chief of Clinics, Chairman of the Department of Medicine, Director of the Alumni Relations Office of the College of Medicine, and President of the UERMMMC Medical Alumni Association, Inc. He was formerly the Assistant Director of the Philippine Heart Center until his retirement in 2006.

        He has authored or co-authored more than 50 scientific publications, and is an editorial consultant for a number of leading Philippine medical journals, including the Philippine Journal of Cardiology, the Journal of the Philippine Medical Association, and the Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine.

        Professor Divinagracia is a Fellow and former President of the Philippine College of Physicians (1985-1986) and the Philippine College of Cardiology (1984-1985). He is also a Fellow of international societies such as the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Chest Physicians, the International Academy of Chest Physicians and Surgeons, and the Asean College of Cardiology. He is the Founding Chairman and President of the Heart Failure Society of the Philippines and the current President of the Philippine Society of Critical Care Medicine.

        He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Chest Physicians, the International Academy of Chest Physicians and Surgeons, and the Philippine Society of Critical Care Medicine. Currently, he is the President of the Philippine Society of Critical Care Medicine and the Heart Failure Society of the Philippines, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Society of Hypertension.