The 探花精选 hosted the 6th Metro Manila Health Research and Development Consortium (MMHRDC) International Symposium and 13th Annual Scientific Conference at the 21st floor of the Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati Building from November 24 to 25, 2022. Since the symposium will be delivered in a Hy-Flex format, virtual participants joined through Zoom.
With the theme 鈥淧ost-COVID-19 Pandemic Transformations and Innovations: Rethinking Practices and Strategies for a Resilient and Healthy Juan/Juana鈥�, the two-day symposium had for its keynote lecturer the UST Department of Biological Sciences Visiting Professor Rev. Fr. Nicanor Pier Giorgio Austriaco, O.P., Ph.D., S.Th.D.
Session 1 on Day 1 focused on Long COVID and the Complications of COVID.
Research Center for Natural and Applied Science (RCNAS) researcher and UST Hospital Medical Consultant Assoc. Prof. Ma. Rhona G. Bergantin, M.D., talked about the 鈥淧ulmonary Complications鈥� of the said virus, while Dr. Ronald Estacio, OIC of the Philippine Heart Center 鈥� Department of Cardiology, discussed the 鈥淐ardiac Complications.鈥� Finally, Philippine General Hospital Neurologist Dr. Michelle Anlacan discussed the 鈥淣eurological Complications鈥� related to Long COVID.
Session 2 (Day 1) highlighted 鈥淓ngineering Innovations During the Pandemic鈥�. The UST Faculty of Engineering Dean and RCNAS researcher Prof. Angelo R. Dela Cruz, Ph.D., served as lecturer.
On Session 3 (Day 1), MMHRDC Director Prof. Hilton Y. Lam, Ph.D., discussed the 鈥淣ational Pandemic Response Playbook鈥�, while Dr. Myra Villareal, a DOST-Balik Scientist and a faculty member of University of Tsukuba 鈥� Life and Environmental Sciences Department, shared some nutritional tips in her lecture on 鈥淔unctional Foods for COVID-19 Infection. DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development Executive Director Dr. Jaime Montoya, Ph.D., talked about 鈥淚nternational Collaboration in the COVID-19 Pandemic鈥�.
鈥淚nterprofessional Education鈥� was the focus of Session 4. Dr. Erlyn Sana, Chair of the Office of Research and Development of the National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions 鈥� University of the Philippines 鈥� Manila, served as the resource speaker.
Adamson University 鈥� Junior High School Principal Mr. Daniel B. Saroca, Jr., Ph.D., talked about the challenges of learning at the Elementary and Junior High School level, while Commission On Higher Education 鈥� Assistant Chief Dr. Liza Magana spoke about the concerns at the collegiate level for Session 5, which centers on 鈥淐hallenges in Education and Health During the Pandemic鈥�. In the same session, the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Dean Asst. Prof. Lourdes Maglinao, M.D., MHPEd, tackled 鈥淢edical and Paramedical Education鈥�.
Day 2 opened with Session 6, with the topic 鈥淓thical Issues and Changes in Research During the COVID Pandemic鈥�. DOST-Balik Scientist and UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Visiting Professor Fidela L. Moreno, M.D., was the lecturer.
鈥淭rends in Postgraduate Training in Health Sciences鈥� became the focus of Session 7, with Dr. Steve Milanese, Director of the International Center for Allied Health Evidence and a Visiting Professor, discussing 鈥淧hD in Health Sciences: By Research/Scoping Review.鈥� After that, Dr. Craig Lockwood of the University of Adelaide 鈥� Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences tackled 鈥淢S in Implementation Science鈥�, while Dr. Nadine Jose of the Rutgers University talked about 鈥淢S in Clinical Trials鈥�.
Research paper presentations followed after the sessions in two breakout rooms.
As of 2022, MMHRDC has 44 member institutions composed of 20 academic institutions, 9 medical centers and government and non-government agencies (private, NGOs, professional society). Over the years, MMHRDC has provided Basic Research Training to young and budding health researchers;聽facilitated the provision of research funding; showcased research, including lectures and research posters;聽capacitated institutions to attain PHREB accreditation;聽hosted scientific conventions and fora that allowed Filipino researchers and students to learn and interact with other researchers and scientist in the health research community.
