Four Fellows of the Society, all former presidents of the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America, were recently awarded different awards for their exemplary achievements in their chosen field of medicine.
Dr. Reynaldo Lee-Llacer, a general and trauma surgeon from Maryland was recognized as University of Santo Tomas 2016 Outstanding Thomasian Alumni for Health-Medical, TOTAL Awards last November 2016. The University grants the award to an alumnus who has become leader in their field and has made a “notable difference in people’s lives”. Dr. Llacer is a UST Doctor of Medicine graduate in 1958. He underwent his training at National Childrens Hospital, and University of Maryland . He has been presidents of several State organizations and a recipient of several distinctive awards by several Maryland governors, the Maryland Senate, the Philippine Medical Association of Metropolitan Washington and many different associations . He was also one of the founders of the UST Alumni Association in America. Dr. Llacer is presently the Chairman of the By-laws and Constitution Committee of the SPSA.
At the recent Congress of the Philippine College of surgeons December 4-7 2016, Dr. Rolando Mendiola and Dr. Thomas Y. Chua, were recognized by the Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons (PALES) for having taught and performed the first laparoscopic surgery in the Philippines. Many laparoscopic surgeons went to Midwest Laser Institute to learn how to do laparoscopic procedures under the tutelage of both surgeons. Dr. Alex Erasmo, former PCS President and presently the President of PALES presented both the awards to both Drs. Mendiola and Chua, both of who still in active practice; Dr Mendiola in the Philippines where he actively teaches other surgeons in laparoscopy, and Dr. Chua, who practices laparoscopic bariatric surgery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Dr. Eduardo Barcelona, a general, thoracic and vascular surgeon in Palmdale California, was recently awarded by the High Desert Surgical Group, Practitioner of the Year. Dr. Barcelona who is the head of the surgical group, was given the distinction of being the most approachable and respected member of the surgical staff. He is a 1972 graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, actively involved in the UP Alumni association in the United States and presently co-chairs the Surgical Mission Committee of the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America.