Fantastic Fifteen Years

By Dr. Laurencia Trinchera

The Philippine Society of Vascular Medicine was founded in 2002. In the next 15 years of its existence, the Society has grown to around 125 member doctors and 110 vascular technician members. From an approximately less than 20 founding members, it has grown several-fold. The PSVM has since then established itself as a specialty to be reckoned with in the management of patients with vascular diseases. This is the vision that we have for the society, that the PSVM will be a recognized as a premier specialty organization of competent vascular physicians in the Asia-Pacific Region by 2018. Collaboration with various medical societies, both local and international, was carried out through hosting of international conferences in the country. The International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis and the Asian-Pacific Society of Atherosclerosis and Vascular Disease have successfully organized meetings in partnership with PSVM. The 1st Joint APSAVD-PLAS-PSVM Atherosclerotic Pheripheral Arterial Disease Forum was held on May 24, 2011 at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria Hotel in Quezon City. The PSVM and the Philippine Society of Haematology and Blood Transfusion jointly hosted ISTH “Educational Course on Thrombosis: Asian Perspective” on November 8-9, 2013 at the DAPA Hall of the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City. Over the years, graduates of clinical research fellowship in vascular medicine further trained in the United States and other countries. It has been one of our mission to encourage and support vascular research activities. Furthermore, the society has not been remiss in its goal to provide continuing medical education through its regular Vascular Convergence activity where rare, problematic and interesting vascular cases are presented by our trainees from various vascular medicine training institutions. This year, we will hold our 15th Philippine Society of Vascular Medicine Annual Convention, on October 26 to 27, at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. For the first time, a research paper contest will be Included in the annual convention.

Vascular Convergence in St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City last February 2017. The presentor,Dr. Angela Alday, with Vascular Medicine Research Fellows, Training Officers and PSVM Officers.

In 2007, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Proclamation No. 1321 and declared July 20 as Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Awareness Day. Since then, PSVM and Institute for Studies on Diabetes Foundation (ISDF) have joined forces with the support of Otsuka (Philippines) Pharmaceutical to promote activities in

the early recognition of risk factors, prevention and management of PAD. This year, on its 11th year, the PAD Awareness Day Caravan was held during the three Sundays of July in Davao City, Cebu City, San Fernando City and Lipa City. Participants were given free ankle-brachial screening. Lectures on risk factors of PAD and prevention as well as proper care of the feet among diabetics were conducted by the Vascular and ISDF specialists who are based in the area.

Top: Physical fitness activities with Zumba instructors and participants in the PAD Feetness Caravan in Lipa City

Bottom: Dr. Francis Gil Pelagio from San Fernando City and Dr. Liezl Comia of Lipa City are seen here giving lectures on PAD in their respective cities

The growth of PSVM to its present position of strength is due to the leadership of its past presidents. International recognition of its members through papers and cases presented in the Society for Vascular Medicine were gained through participation in their meetings. The ultimate form of acknowledgment was the nomination of one of our own past president, Dr. Ma. Teresa Abola, as a member of the Board of Trustees for the SVM. One cannot also forget that the first noninvasive vascular laboratory in the country was headed by the founding president of PSVM, Dr. Fatima Collado.

One of the key steps towards the recognition of the members and its trainees was to strengthen its vascular training program. Dr. Maribeth de los Santos has stepped in and gladly assisted the Society in formulating the training program of the four major medical centers in the country. In-Service examinations were given since the year 2013. With the goal of establishing a board certification in vascular medicine, a two-day course and workshop on “Outcome-Based Education in the Clinical Setting” was organized by Dr. de los Santos on June 9-10, 2017 in Alfonso, Cavite. Dr. Marivic Villamor gave lectures on OBE, 360-Degree Assessment and Test Development Process. The participants were the past presidents, present officers, heads of the vascular sections and training officers of the different centers with a vascular medicine training program.

Dr. Marivic Villamor, standing 7th from left, with the PSVM Past Presidents, Present Officers, and Training Officers of PSVM during the OBE Workshop in Sonya’s Garden, Alfonso, Cavite

Dr. Marivic Villamor facilitating OBE in the Clinical Setting lecture

the workshop

participants listening intently And posing for posterity

On September 9-10, 2017, a follow-up meeting at Ascott BGC in Taguig City, were the officers and board of trustees and past presidents took part. This time, the Chair of the Sub-Committee on Core Curriculum, Dr. Rosella Arellano, presented the COCATS 4- Patterned Training Program In Vascular Medicine. The formulation of this core curriculum started when Dr. Joel Paz assigned Dr. Arellano and the training officers to come up with guidelines in the adult vascular medicine training program. The writing of the core curriculum was in accordance with the goal of aligning it towards an outcome-based program set during the OBE Workshop.

Dr. Chilet Arellano is seen here presenting the Core Curriculum for Adult Vascular Medicine training program

All these step was precluded by a series of meetings among sub-specialty societies, Philippine Heart Association Councils and the Specialty Board of Adult Cardiology in February and November 2016. The SBAC Sub-committee of Subspecialty Societies was created during this period. It was formed to lay down the framework and code of conduct in the accreditation of training programs in Adult Cardiology and its sub-specialties and address the government requirements for recognition as specialists, e.g. PRC. It is also in preparation for the implementation of the Mutual Recognition Agreement the Philippine government has signed with our ASEAN member-nations. On May 3, 2017, at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, the Philippine Society of Vascular Medicine signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Philippine Heart Association and recognizes the PSVM as a Component Society.

Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding of the different Subspecialty Societies with the Philippine Heart Association on May 3, 2017 at Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria.

Among the notable activities conducted by the members of PSVM was a 12-day “Lymphedema Training Course”, initiated by the Philippine Heart Center through Dr. Gertie Plameras and was conducted by the team of Dr. Andrea Brennan, an occupational therapist and certified instructor of Complex Lymphatic Therapy. The Society in cooperation with PHA Bicol Chapter through its current President, Dr. Maribel Gutierrez-Cayetano, traveled to Naga City in the Bicol Region for a Vascular Journey. Members of the Society in the region were tapped to give lectures on Venous Thromboembolism in Special Population, Acute Limb Ischemia, Wound Care on Venous and Arterial Ulcers and Management of Carotid Artery Disease and Stroke.

Last March 15, 2017, a new vascular laboratory was added to the roster of excellent vascular laboratories manned by members of the Philippine Society for Vascular Medicine. The Vascular and Lymphedema Center of Makati Medical Center welcome both diagnostic vascular examination/procedures and started Casley-Smith Manual Lymphatic Drainage among the underserved lymphedema patients in the area. PSVM continue to train and expand our advocacy through our members who are well represented throughout the country. Truly the past 15 years has been a journey of learning, service, advocacy and fellowship among kindred spirits.

Today we try to reach out to larger and larger portions of society, we try to reach the entire archipelago and one day the rest of the world through our website, finding our audience in people who want to learn more about their vascular health. We provide the information to both doctors and lay people on key vascular diseases and how to detect and prevent them via our newly revitalized website the psvm.org.ph. Today we are connected and we are social.