An impressive victory was achieved by the May 2006 board examinees from UP College of Dentistry when, not only did 100% (18 out of 18) of them pass, but 11 out of the 18 examinees got the Top Ten highest scores.

Dr. Jett Chua led the group with the score of 81.13%, followed by former College Student Council Chairperson Dr. Laarni Mendenilla (80.89%) in second place, Dr. Abegail Bongat (80.41%) also a former council officer in third, Dr. Anna Oliva (80.29%) in fourth, Dr. Carol Lam (80.22%) in fifth, and Dr. Angela Reyes (80.16%) in sixth. Drs. Glyne Arevalo, Jr. and Mary Charlotte Ayam tied at seventh place with the grade of 80.13%. Dr. Katrina Tan was eighth (80.11%), Dr. Effie Tan was ninth (79.88%) and Dr. Paula Gran (79.77%) was tenth among those who brought this overwhelming glory to the College.

The other successful examinees for this licensure examination are Dr. Catherine Chia, Dr. Rosabelle Cruzat, Dr. Abbie Dycoco, Dr. Ma. Aileen Ong, Dr. Lorraine Sison, Dr. Pamela Sy and Dr. Arlene Veluz.

(OFFICIAL PRC ANNOUNCEMENT)

DENTIST LICENSURE EXAMINATION RESULTS

The Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) announces that 379 out of 1,151 passed the Dentist Licensure Examination given by the Board of Dentistry in Manila last May 2006.

The members of the Board of Dentistry are Dr. Maria Liza C. Centeno, Chairman; Dr. Maria Teresa De Jesus-Amador, Dr. Rosita C. Nisce and Dr. Norma R. Ayap, Members.

The results were released in four (4) working days after the last day of examination.

Registration for the issuance of Professional Identification Card (ID) and Certificate of Registration will start on Thursday, June 15, 2006 but not later than June 27, 2006. Those who will register are required to bring the following: duly accomplished Oath Form or Panunumpa ng Propesyonal, current Community Tax Certificate (cedula), 2 pieces passport size picture (colored with white background and complete nametag), 1 piece 1" x 1" picture (colored with white background and complete nametag), 2 sets of metered documentary stamps, and 1 short brown envelope with name and profession; and to pay the Initial Registration Fee of P600 and Annual Registration Fee of P450 for 2006-2009. Successful examinees should personally register and sign in the Roster of Registered Professionals.

The oathtaking ceremony of the successful examinees in the said examination as well as the previous ones who have not taken their Oath of Professional will be held before the Board on Tuesday, July 4, 2006 at 1:30 in the afternoon at the Manila Hotel, One Rizal Park, Manila. STRICTLY business attire for all successful examinees.

Registration for membership with the Philippine Dental Association will start on Thursday, June 15, 2006.

The successful examinees who garnered the ten (10) highest places are the following:

Click here to view The performance of schools in the Dentist Licensure Examination May 2006 in alphabetical order as per R.A. 8981 otherwise known as PRC Modernization Act of 2000 Section 7(m) To monitor the performance of schools in licensure examinations and publish the results thereof in a newspaper of national circulation.

• Official website of the Professional Regulation Commission
•  http://www.prc.gov.ph/articles.asp?sid=4&aid=2575

A Master of Science in Bioethics Program jointly offered by UP Diliman s College of Social Sciences and Philosophy (CSSP) and UP Manila s College of Medicine was approved by the Board of Regents in May 2006. The project director, Dr. Leonardo de Castro and the academic staff started to offer Bioethics training as a one-year diploma course in June 2004. It has since spawned the interest of many in the health professions, as well as other professions involved not only in the care of patients but also those engaged in research involving human participants.

What exactly is bioethics? In a nutshell, it refers to a general interest in ethical issues arising from health care and the biomedical sciences. This includes issues on treatment of patients and inclusion of human participants in biomedical or social science researches. Bioethics involves a deeper understanding of the socio-cultural, legal, as well as medical issues and demands more critical thinking and reflection. It is not purely dependent on established codes of ethics but involves appreciation of human life as well as a more profound understanding of the significance of being human.

The Diploma Course in Bioethics helps professionals deal with ethical issues arising from medical practice, biomedical and social science researches, in a comprehensive and systematic manner. Core subjects delve into the understanding the value of the human being, the evaluation of risks to patients, the maximization of benefits to parties concerned and the carrying out of social justice and fairness in the distribution of benefits and risks. It emphasizes the legal system s role in the direction and regulation of science. This is an important consideration when evaluating or reviewing research protocols that involve legal issues. Appreciation of cultural diversity is stressed to emphasize the impracticality of applying a single ethical standard to all cultures within our country and the rest of the world.

Students learning is maximized through small group discussions, case analyses, presentations of oral and written reports and mini research works, which may involve interviews and group activities. There are film showings and lectures from both the faculty and guest lecturers from local and international bioethics organizations and ethical review boards. Learning opportunities are not only limited to in-school activities since students join the intensive training courses held in key cities around the country. These involve the students not only as participants but as facilitators/moderators and lecturers as well. It is espoused that the best way to learn something is to teach it.

For the author, the bioethics experience is a journey of revelations and never ending discovery. Bioethics training helps us realize that there are deeper issues involved in dealing with patients and research volunteers. Genuine patient care is never limited to delivery and reception of basic health care. A lot of it has to do with empathy to the people involved with the treatment or the research process. Though bioethics deals with concepts of right and wrong, it should not be a venue for moralizing. It should be about keeping an open mind for possible issues that may arise and handling each situation appropriately.

June 2006 is the first time that the Master of Science in Bioethics was offered by the two UP units. This marks the beginning for interested parties to learn more about PEOPLE the ones who are in need of medical aid, their health care providers, the families of the ailing parties, the society where they belong and the research volunteers who risk more than their lives to help bring benefit not only to themselves, but also to the rest of us.

The Southern California Filipino Dental Society (SCFDS) awarded Willard Belen a scholarship after ranking first in its fourth annual scholarship competition held last April 18, 2006 at the Philippine Dental Association Building, Makati City.

Belen, a fourth year student of U.P. College of Dentistry, was awarded a plaque and a check worth $1,400 (Php70,000).

Sixteen dental students from all over the Philippines joined the competition composed of a 40-point multiple choice question and a 150-point essay question. Dr. Ed de la Vega, executive director of SCFDS, served as the quizmaster.

Belen got 116 points, followed by a student from Fatima University with 104 points and a student from Centro Escolar University with 95 points. The second and third prizes were given Php1,000 and Php500 respectively. All the participants were given Php1,000 for joining the tilt. The awarding ceremony was held right after the grading of exam sheets.

In February 2005, Hu-friedy gave a set of periodontal instruments to a deserving senior clinician of the University of the Philippines College of Dentistry who showed excellent clinical performance in accomplishing requirements in Clinical Periodontics. The grant was awarded to Glyne M. Arevalo, Jr. who earned the highest rating in Clinical Periodontics 32.

This award clearly shows that hard work and enthusiasm do not go unnoticed.

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