Prof. Mar铆a Minerva P. Calimag, M.D., PhD., was conferred the Do帽a Victoria Ty Tan Professorial Chair in Medicine in a solemn investiture held at the Dr. George S.K. Ty Hall of the Bl. Buenaventura Garc铆a Paredes, O.P. Building on July 19, 2024. The professorial chair is named after Do帽a Victoria Ty Tan, mother of Dr. George S.K. Ty, who founded Metrobank.
UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (FMS) Dean Assoc. Prof. Ma. Lourdes D. Maglinao, M.D., in her message, said 鈥淲e profoundly thank the Metrobank Foundation for providing this relevant venue to promote this initiative in medical education in honor of Do帽a Victoria Ty Tan. May this occasion inspire continued dedication and provide lessons to shape a more adaptable, irrepressible, and resilient future.鈥�
Representing Metrobank Foundation at the event was its Executive Vice President Mr. Philip Francisco U. Dy, who extended MBF鈥檚 warmest congratulations to the conferee. He shared in his message that the said Professorial Chair aimed to contribute to the global competitiveness of our country鈥檚 medical practitioners and that UST and MBF shared the mission of proactively addressing development challenges in the Philippines, particularly in the health sector through research and the conduct of various fora.
The Acting Rector Rev. Fr. Isaias D. Tiongco, O.P., JCD, Mr. Philip Dy, and Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Cheryl Peralta, DrPH, presented the certificate, while Fr. Tiongco, Mr. Dy, and the Vice Rector for Research and Innovation Rev. Fr. Jannel Abogado, O.P., DTPS, presented the Professorial Medal.
The Key to Success
鈥淎s I accept the Do帽a Victoria Ty Tan Professorial Chair, I am reminded of the transformative power of education in shaping competent, committed, compassionate, and ethical medical professionals. I am committed to furthering this legacy by fostering an environment of critical thinking, empathy, and lifelong learning among our students and colleagues,鈥� said Dr. Calimag, who wears many hats as a clinician, academician, research scientist, pharmacoepidemiologist, anesthesiologist, organizational leader, patient safety advocate, and public speaker, among many others.
In her lecture titled 鈥淜nowing Oneself Inside and Out: Success Formula for Teachers/Students in Caring Professions鈥�, Dr. Calimag highlighted that health and wellness are not just the absence of disease or distress, but entail thriving physically, socially, and mentally in the personal and professional aspects of life. Hence, socio-emotional skills and competencies are necessary to develop.
These include self-awareness and self-management of emotions, thoughts, and behaviors; social awareness and empathy with others鈥� perspectives; positive relationship building with diverse groups and individuals; responsible decision-making; and a growth mindset. Such competencies build both resilience and grit, which would be well-supported by a sense of gratitude and humor, said Dr. Calimag, who added that the way to instill and develop these qualities in today鈥檚 generation of medical students is through mentorship.
鈥淭he ability to reflect is the beating heart of successful mentorship,鈥� shared Dr. Calimag, for 鈥淢entors help us see what we may not otherwise see in ourselves, help us clarify our career pursuits, and encourage us in areas where confidence may be lacking. They do not necessarily have the answers. Rather, they merely seem to ask the right questions so we may discover the answers within.鈥�
鈥淪tudy, study, study! Because that will be value added. It is not just the letter after our names. We take risks and tread new career paths. Be different and expand your boundaries! That will be your competitive advantage. Steer away from the traditional and look for the blue ocean, for that will be your market niche!鈥�
The Honoree鈥檚 Own Road to Success
Dr. Calimag began teaching at UST in 1986, and is now a Full Professor at FMS and a Professorial Lecturer at the MHPEd and MHA programs of the Graduate School.
After graduating magna cum laude from the UST College of Science in 1977, she completed her Doctor of Medicine degree at the UST FMS in 1981. In 2003, she completed her Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology degree from UP Manila, and obtained her Doctor of Philosophy in Education Major in Educational Management degree from UST in 2011.
She was the first recipient of the Eric Nubla Award for Excellence in the Professions by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC); the 2014 PSA Dr. Quintin J. Gomez Outstanding Filipino Anesthesiologist Award; the PMA 26th Dr. Jose Rizal Award for the Academe; the 2021 Metrobank Foundation Outstanding Filipino Teacher in Higher Education; the 2022 Gawad Banyuhay ng Kalusugan – Doctor Leader of the Year Award; and the 2022 Outstanding Mother Award by the National Federation of Women鈥檚 Clubs of the Philippines.
鈥淒espite all the accolades that come my way, my greatest achievement in life is being a wife and mother. I thank God for having given me the chance to share a full and fruitful life with my beloved husband, the late Dr. Placido Calimag, Jr., with whom I blazed a similar career path, and to be a loving mother to our brood of eight children,鈥� shared Dr. Calimag.
Dr. Calimag鈥檚 eight children all grew to become Thomasian doctors themselves, collectively winning The Outstanding Thomasian Alumni (TOTAL) Awards鈥� 鈥淭homasian Family鈥� award in May 2022.
Aside from her involvement in UST, Dr. Calimag is currently on her fourth term as President of the Philippine Medical Association. Prior to that, she previously led the Philippine Society of Anesthesiologists as well as the Asian and Oceanic Society of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Medicine,
The Metrobank Foundation, Inc., in partnership with the UST Research and Endowment Foundation, Inc., established the Do帽a Victoria Ty Tan Professorial Chair in Medical Education in 2019. As the fourth recipient of the Professorial Chair in Medicine, Dr. Calimag now joins the previous honorees Prof. Sandra Teresa V. Navarra, M.D., Prof. Fidela L. Moreno, M.D., and Prof. Angeles Tan Alora, M.D. Upon conferment to 10 medical educators and researchers, UST and the Metrobank Foundation will publish a book containing the collated lectures and research works.
