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Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines - March 22-23, 2024 - The Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH) successfully organized the inaugural Asian Functional Medicine Conference with the theme "Journeys to Wellbeing: Inspiring Healthful Transformation through Functional Medicine in the Asian Landscape.”   This conference was done in a hybrid format. It was able to accommodate over 1,000 participants both online and onsite at the JY Campos Hall, Bayanihan Center of The United Laboratories, Inc. (UNILAB) in Mandaluyong.

Functional medicine represents a proactive paradigm in healthcare, delving into the underlying causes of illness rather than merely addressing symptoms. It focuses on personalized treatments tailored to individual needs. This approach highlights the significance of lifestyle factors, such as maintaining a nutritious diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and effectively managing stress, in fostering overall health and wellness. Though economic obstacles may hinder the adoption of functional medicine in less affluent nations like the Philippines, forums like this conference offer hope for broader acknowledgment and integration.

Dr. Cenon R. Alfonso, Dean of ASMPH, opened the conference with a lineup of distinguished speakers committed to promoting holistic approaches to healthcare and wellness. Among them were Dr. Martin Graciano Raymundo S. Baquiran, Mr. Michael Angelo Genato, Dr. Ava Angela V. Arugay-Magat, Dr. Angelica Lorenzo, and Dr. Lourdes "Tippy" Tanchanco, who also served as the catalyst and overall chair of the conference.

Adding to the event's prestige, International speakers including Dr. Michael Stone and Dr. Elizabeth Mumper contributed their expertise by discussing the integration of functional medicine into their existing practices. They interacted with local practitioners, medical students,  and enthusiasts, observing the growing traction of functional medicine within the Philippine healthcare landscape. Additionally, esteemed practitioner Dr. Kara Fitzgerald delivered a profoundly insightful virtual lecture and engaged in an illuminating Q&A session.

Additionally, panelists Denise Tjokrosaputro from Indonesia, Dr. Kadil Sinolinding Jr. from the Philippine Autonomous Region – Muslim Mindanao, and Former Senator Dennis Rodriguez, Jr. from Guam flew in to join the event and enriched the discussions with their invaluable insights. Dr. Menka Gupta joined the discussion virtually to speak about practices in Singapore and India. Participants engaged in panel discussions and interactive Q&A sessions, providing opportunities for knowledge exchange and in-depth exploration of key issues.

Sessions and discussions covered a wide range of topics, such as perspectives on health and wellness, basic foundations of functional medicine, and the role of functional medicine in optimal care throughout the lifespan from pediatric care to chronic non-communicable diseases including aging, cardiometabolic health, anxiety and depression, and mind-body medicine, to name a few.

After stimulating the mind with insightful topics on the first day of the conference, Day 2 started with an activity for the body. A Cacao Meditation Ceremony and Sound Bath led by Dr. Ava Angela V. Arugay-Magat and Catherine Chiong, a certified Level 2 Reiki Practitioner and Sound Healing Practitioner. This holistic experience provided intellectual stimulation and nourished participants on a deeper level, fostering a comprehensive journey to health and wellness.

A special highlight of the conference was the carefully curated menu crafted by Nutritionist Dietician Joemarc dela Cruz. The menu underscored the pivotal role of nutrition in fostering health and well-being, exemplifying the power of “food as medicine”.

The Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH) recently completed the 3-day Formal Visit by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges, and Universities (PAASCU) from February 12 to 14, 2024. This marks a significant milestone in ASMPH's journey toward accreditation, which began as early as 2017. 

In 2018, ASMPH formally expressed its interest to PAASCU and conducted extensive research, including a visit to Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro to learn from the experiences of an accredited school. Subsequently in 2019, the Medical Education and Quality Assurance Unit (MEQAU) of the ASMPH was formed to focus on steering the accreditation process.

On August 25, 2022, ASMPH submitted its comprehensive self-survey report to PAASCU, setting the stage for the Preliminary Visit on November 7 and 8, 2022. PAASCU then gave their feedback on how ASMPH could further improve before the upcoming Formal Visit. 

After more than a year of working towards continuous improvement, the ASMPH received the PAASCU team for its Formal Visit last February 12 to 14, 2024. The PAASCU team, headed by Dr. Susan Pelea Nagtalon, meticulously examined ASMPH's commitment to excellence. They were welcomed by key figures, including Dr. Maria Luz Vilches, Vice President for Higher Education of the Ateneo de Manila University, Dean Cenon Alfonso of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH), Dean Jowett Magsaysay of the Ateneo Graduate School of Business (GSB), Dr Raymundo Baquiran, Associate Dean of ASMPH and Professor Luisito Montalbo, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs of GSB. 

They were also joined by the Director of the Strategy and Quality Management Office (SQMO), Ms Rosario Banzon, Fr Raymund Benedict Hizon of the Society of Jesus and Chaplain for Higher Education. and the members of the ASMPH Dean's Council, Dr Lourdes Tanchanco, Director of the Ateneo Center for Research and Innovation (ACRI), Dr Roberto Tanchanco who serves as the Chair of the ASMPH Faculty Development Committee and Director of the MBA Program, Ms Maria Lourdes Benito, Assistant to the Dean, Ms. Rosa Quiambao, Assistant to the Associate Dean and Dr Jose Anthony Jocson, Chair of MEQAU. The other members of MEQAU who have been at the forefront of the entire accreditation process were present, Dr Blesilda Concepcion, Dr Aileen Pascual and Dr Kirk Plata. Also present to lead the community visits were Dr Limuel Abrogena, the Chair of the ASMPH Public Health Cluster. 

The evaluation during this visit covered various aspects such as teaching and learning, research, school leadership, resource management, partner hospitals and communities, quality assurance, risk management, student services and more.

As the ASMPH community eagerly awaits the official accreditation results, the institution emphasizes its commitment to fostering a Culture of Quality. Rooted in Ignatian principles, particularly the concept of "Magis," ASMPH is dedicated to continuous improvement, not just for compliance but to be men and women for others, embodying the Ignatian principle of doing more for Christ and, consequently, doing more for others.

ASMPH also expresses deep gratitude to the PAASCU team for the opportunity to undergo this thorough review. The institution extends its thanks to Dr. Nagtalon and the entire accrediting team for providing valuable input and feedback. The guidance received during this process will inspire ASMPH to continue its pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, and service. The ultimate goal is to elevate the standards of education and fulfill the mission of educating and forming Atenean physician-leaders, individuals committed to making a positive impact on society.

The Ateneo Center for Research and Innovation is the research unit of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, tackling various subjects of interest which include Health Governance, Mental Health, Environmental Health, and Biotechnology. They strive to develop research outputs with concrete impact to society, going beyond the learning community within the University to reach practitioners, policymakers, and community members in the country and around the world.

ASMPH-ACRI received the Gold Award for their project entitled “Maging MaTAALino”, alongside Batangas Medical Center, for spearheading citizen science and multi-sectoral approaches to mitigating arsenic contamination of drinking water sources in Batangas. ACRI also received the Bronze Award for developing the Philippine National Environmental Health Action Plan 2023-2030 (NEHAP 2030), which serves as the country’s blueprint for protecting the health of the environment and Filipinos. Both awards were received by Dr. Tippy Tanchanco (ACRI Director) and members of the Environmental Health (EnviHealth) Team, Dr. Gelo Apostol (Head-EnviHealth Program, Project leader), Dr. Sary Valenzuela (EnviHealth Specialist) and Ms. Samantha Eala (Project Manager).

The DOH’s Healthy Pilipinas Awards for Partners 2023 Awarding Ceremony was held last October 27, 2023 at the PICC Reception Hall. The said Awards aimed to celebrate outstanding projects and efforts by various organizations that advocate for health promotion through Healthy Governance, Healthy Settings, Health Literacy, and active Citizenship.