Jardine Sta. Ana, 2009 Residency Training graduate of the Department ranked number one among 220 examinees in the recently concluded Philippine Academy of Family Physicians Diplomate Board exams. He was consistently on the Dean’s List, both for his pre-medicine (Physical Therapy) and Medicine courses at the University of Santo Tomas.
Reviewing for the exam, while working at the clinic with his mom, he would read a few chapters during the lean hours. As the test was approaching he took some days of to review and participate in study sessions with his batch mates. It was beneficial to compare notes and do practice drills and as such, motivated him to keep studying.
Asked for his initial reaction about being number one in the exam, Jards says he was quite elated and proud. There were parts of the exam that made him doubt but it all turned out well in the end.
He was in the clinic when he first received the news so his mom was the first person to find out. She was more excited than he was – as mothers’ usually are, and he tempered his reaction afterwards. Still, it was a great feeling to have achieved this feat.
What lies ahead for Dr. Jardine? He is trying to balance a clinical practice with an academic one as well, and has submitted an application for the Clinical Epidemiology Program in UP as a post-graduate course. He plans to go into teaching also.
He considers the board exam as just one of the ways by which we are continuing the development of our specialty, and he appreciates the efforts placed into this undertaking. It is indeed a most difficult task to set a standard, in determining the minimum competencies needed for inclusion in our society. A test though is but a snapshot and not a clear representation of our respective training programs. As a young specialist, he looks forward to training programs and workshops developed by the PAFP, because they build upon the minimum and improve on the knowledge of the body as a whole.
(adapted from WoncAlert, Wonca Cebu Convention, Feb 2011)
Trivia: UP – PGH has produced the last four diplomate exam topnotchers: Jards Sta. Ana, Joe Babsa-ay, Ellen Biboso and Ning Dollaga. Prior to Ning, DFCM’s last topnotcher was in 2003, Grace Kaw. Our Department has produced a total of 9 topnotchers, the most of any training program: Nelson Almario (presently practicing in Australia, former PAFP Board of Directors) in 2000; Ma. Theresa Ferrer –Emano (also based abroad) in 1995; Annabelle Pabiona de Guzman (Chair of DFM in Western Visayas Sanitarium) in 1991 and our present Chair and incumbent PAFP Executive Secretary, Alex J. B. Alip, Jr. In 1989.
