UERM, recognized as Department of Science and Technology’s Niche Center in the Regions (NICER) for Assistive Technologies through Neolimb, continues its efforts towards capacity building and research excellence. The Neolimb program is composed of four pillar projects which spring from undergraduate level theses from the UERM BS Prosthetics and Orthotics (BSPO) program under the College of Allied Rehabilitation Sciences (CAReS).
Last January 8, 2024, the team behind Neolimb (also BSPO CAReS Faculty Members & UERM PMR staff), Mr. Nikolai Santos, Ms. Anna Margarita Santos, Mr. Japhet Regidor, Mr. Andre Rubiano, Dr. Josephine Bundoc, Ms. Krisha Tansiongco together with Mr. Felix Camagay, and Ms. Bianca Tablate (external collaborators with Neolimb), met with the newly-appointed UERM President and Chief Academic Officer, Dr. Norbert Lingling Uy, and Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Administrative Officer, Mr. Allan Quijano, together with Dr. Jennifer Nailes (Vice President for Research) and Dr. Raquel Cabazor (Dean, CAReS) to discuss the ongoing projects of Neolimb and its progress towards achieving their objectives. Innovations cultivated in the projects were geared towards exploiting renewable materials, and the use of 3D printing and scanning technologies to address accessibility barriers to prosthetic and orthotic devices
A meeting was held last January 10, 2024 with representatives of NORFIL Foundation, Inc. to plan the logistics for wheelchair, gait aids, and prosthetic-orthotic (PO) devices for future community-based rehabilitation programs involving the BS Prosthetics and Orthotics (BSPO) program under the UERM College of Allied Rehabilitation Sciences (CAReS). The meeting was attended by Ms. Gamilla Gay Avena, RSW (Program Officer, NORFIL Foundation Inc.), Ms. Bianca Tablate, Physicians for Peace-Philippines representative, and BSPO faculty members: Mr. Nikolai Santos (Clinic coordinator), Ms. Samantha Filamor (UERM- LDSC coordinator) and Ms. Rachelle Ligan (CBR coordinator). The UERM-NORFIL partnership is aimed at facilitating access and delivery of assistive and mobility devices to far flung areas, and empowering more PWDs through appropriate assistive technologies. Through this partnership, students of the BSPO program are exposed to a wide range of clinical and non-clinical training scenarios which hone their skills and make them well-rounded, future practitioners.
California State University (CSU) Masters in Prosthetics and Orthotics (MPO) student and UERM CAReS PSPO alumnus Mark Castillo visited on January 18, 2024 for a brief teaching demonstration on various advanced prosthetic components to Level 4 Bachelor of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics (BSPO) interns. Mr. Castillo graduated from UERM BSPO batch 2019. He is now based in the US and has continued further education at CSU.
Mr. Castillo, in his demonstrations, utilized advanced prosthetic components such as a carbon fiber socket, silicon liner, polycentric mechanical knee and energy return foot to an above knee amputee patient and taught the interns how it was assembled and fine-tuned to achieve an optimally aligned prosthetic leg. Mr. Castillo’s interaction with the BSPO interns gave the students a glimpse of what it’s like to practice outside UERM and the Philippines. The event also opened networking opportunities for the students, staff and alumni to pursue further studies in the field of prosthetics and rehabilitation abroad.
UERM is the only university in the country that offers the four-year BSPO program under the College of Allied Rehabilitation Sciences together with its Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy (BSPT).
The UERM BS Physical Therapy program was awarded by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) as the 5th Top Performing PT schools out of 84 physical therapy schools in the Philippines last January 29, 2024. This is based on the results of the December 2023 PT licensure examination. The UERM BSPT graduates registered an 89.47% passing rate, maintaining its current position as one of the best PT schools in the country. The plaque and certificate were received by the Dean, Dr. Raquel S. Cabazor, during the oathtaking ceremony of the newly-licensed physical therapists held at the Philippine International Convention Center.
The UERM BSPT program is under the College of Allied Rehabilitation Sciences (CAReS). It also offers the BS Prosthetics and Orthotics program.
On January 29, 2024, the 4th LDSC-UERM Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing was held at the Latter-Day Saints Headquarters at White Plains, Quezon City. The Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Chief Operating Officer Mr. Wilson Young, President and Chief Academic Officer Dr. Norbert Lingling Uy, Senior Vice President for Finance and Chief Administrative Officer Mr. Allan Quijano, Assistant Corporate Secretary and Legal Counsel Atty. Jonathan Sarte, Dr. Josephine Bundoc, Mr. Nikolai Santos, Ms. Anna Santos, and Ms. Samantha Filamor attended the signing. The MOA was signed by President Uy and LDS country head, Elder Jairus Perez, with SVP Quijano, Vice Chair Young, and some LDS members as witnesses.
The MOA was established in 2019, outlining a collaboration wherein the Latter-Day Saints Charities (LDSC) is committed to supply assistive mobility devices such as wheelchairs, canes and walkers, and allocate budget for raw materials for prosthetic and orthotic devices. This agreement, initially set for the duration of three academic years, has been extended for a fourth time. It allows the BS Prosthetics and Orthotics (BSPO) program to provide materials for the faculty and students and at the same time sponsor indigent PWD patients in need of mobility devices or prosthetic and orthotic devices. This venture aligns with the global humanitarian efforts of LDS and the UERM mission of providing quality care to patients of different backgrounds. The Church expressed appreciation towards the partnership as it allows both institutions to touch lives, highlighting that while they may have the resources to provide aid to PWDs, they need the professional skills of a prosthetist-orthotist to properly assess and deliver these devices to the right patient; and without the UERM College of Allied Rehabilitation Sciences – Philippines School of Prosthetics & Orthotics, this would not be possible.
The College of Allied Rehabilitation Sciences College Secretary, Prof. Esther Melody Nicolas, attended the Research Conference organized by the National Teacher Training Center for Health Professions with the theme “Health Professions Education in Universal Health Care”. The two day conference last January 29-30, 2024 was held at City State Tower in Ermita, Manila and covered innovative research on Health Professions Education (HPEd), along with a guide on Continuing Professional Education.
It was attended by medical and allied health professionals from different academic institutions in the Philippines. UERM sent members and officials of the academe to attend the said event, including Dr. Eric Constantine G. Valera, head of the Medical Education Unit, College of Medicine; Dr. Christian Lloyd B. Tan, member of the Curriculum Committee, College of Medicine; Dr. Gemma N. Balein, College Secretary of the Graduate School; Prof. Esther Melody R. Nicolas, College Secretary of the College of Allied Rehabilitation Sciences; Dr. Jocelyn M. Molo, College Secretary of the College of Nursing; and Prof. Ronel Wynlor D. Abarca, course coordinator for Medical Technology Laws and Bioethics in the College of Allied Health Professions.
The first day of the conference included discussions on the standards of practice among health professionals according to the Philippine Qualifications Framework (PQF), with Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) Commissioner Dr. Jose Y. Cueto as the keynote lecturer. Recognizing the qualifications and competencies of a health care professional was deemed relevant in the successful implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) law. Research studies on quality assurance, curriculum innovations and community practice in UHC were presented during the breakout sessions. A workshop was held in the afternoon, which grouped the participants to create a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) program. The outputs were presented and critiqued by Dr. Cueto and the NTTC members.
The keynote lecture of the second day was about the development of a value-based college research and extension frameworks, by Dr. Maria Cristina E. Zulueta, Dean of the College of Medicine, La Consolacion University Philippines. Practicing the core values of the institution by each employee was said to be vital in providing quality education and molding the students to become caring and compassionate primary health care professionals. There was also a parallel symposium for research presentation and a workshop on the development of a research and extension agenda consistent with the National Unified Health Research Agenda (NUHRA). The participants presented their proposed research agenda and were critiqued by the NTTC faculty members. Most of the participants presentation are geared towards pediatric, women and geriatric health care.
The main highlight of the conference was the promotion of quality education and training for students and professionals in preparing them to engage in primary health care settings in accordance with the Universal Health Care law.
Senior High School Students from St. Scholastica’s College Manila visited the University last January 31, 2024 to see possible career paths in healthcare and get an in-depth look at the program offerings of the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERM). The open house was organized by the Office for Admissions, in coordination with the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Office for Students Affairs and the various undergraduate colleges of the University.
At the College of Allied Rehabilitation Sciences (CAReS), student volunteers from the Allied Rehabilitation Sciences Student Council (ARSSC) spoke about college life, the BS Physical Therapy (BSPT) & BS Prosthetics-Orthotics (BSPO) Programs. Representatives from the Office for Admissions discussed requirements for application in the University.
The campus tour was led by student leaders from various colleges and the students from St. Scholastica’s College were able to get first-hand experience in using physical agents in the Clinic and Training Center, guided by PT Faculty members: Ms. Raine Lacza, Prof. Anna Miling and Mr. Arvin Aranda. Students were also able to see displays of anatomy models and got up close to prepared cadaver specimens in the CAReS Anatomy Laboratory as facilitated by Ms. Cherrie Ann Conanan and Ms. Michaela Lim.
Students also went to the Prosthetics-Orthotics (PO) Workshops and saw the new technologies utilized by the PO Department, such as the robotic prostheses, 3D Printing and the Motion Analysis and Biomechanics Laboratory (MABLAB) displayed through the efforts of Ms. Samantha Filamor, Mr. Andre Rubiano and Ms. Anna Margarita Santos.
The students were taken through the patient assessment facilities, workshop, classrooms, and the technologies laboratory where advanced patient assessment techniques, and assistive technology fabrication was showcased. The students were allowed a demonstration of plantar pressure analysis on the gait laboratory, and a hands- on experience with UERM CAReS 3D printed devices.
After the tour, students left with a greater knowledge on physical therapy and prosthetics-orthotics as viable career paths in the future.