A Happy New Year to Everybody! With the coming of year 2024, there is a flurry of activities in January and February beginning with 3 Medical Surgical Missions , the first one headed by Dr. Danny Fabito SPSA Executive Secretary in Munoz, Nueva Ecija on January 07-12, 2024; Dr. Ed Barcelona and Dr. Rolando Mendiola’s TEAM going to Borongan, Eastern Samar on January 15-20, 2024  and Incoming SPSA COPP Chairman, Dr. Bayani Ignacio’s Canadian TEAM going to Mariveles, Bataan on February 5-10, 2024.

In Addition to the above, our SPSA-PCS Sure Commission Rural Surgery Outreach Program bringing Surgery to the outreaches of the country, designated as underserved by the Department of Health of the Philippines, is off and running, with the addition of the World Surgical Foundation who will fund the Anesthesiologist, there will be a meeting on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024 at the PCS Building to discuss the program.

Honorio M. Cruz, MD, FACS

Let me just attach the Details of the Activities by enclosing the pertinent Emails below

On Thu, Dec 28, 2023 at 4:07 AM DANIEL FABITO <danielfab@cox.net> wrote:

December 27, 2023

Honorable Ted Herbosa M.D.

Secretary of Health, Philipines

Dear Dr. Herbosa,

     On behalf of the COUNCIL OF PAST PRESIDENTS(COPP), WHICH IS THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE SOCIETY OF PHILIPPINE SURGEONS IN AMERICA (SPSA) and FELLOWS of SPSA, Please accept our sincerest  CONGRATULATIONS on your recent Confirmation as the Secretary of Health under the Administration of President BB Marcos Jr. We look forward to a mutual Cooperation with you and your Department particularly on the Universal Health Care for our fellow Kababyans. As you are well aware of SPSA’s Surgical Missions and Continuing Surgical Education ACTIVITIES and close relationship with the Philippine College of Surgeons, we fervently hope to continue these endeavors during your term and beyond and hopefully forge a concrete and ongoing partnership with you and the Department of Health.

      I would like to share with you, SPSA’s Golden Gala Souvenir Journal and the 50th Anniversary Book 

” UNCHARTED JOURNEY” which is The inspiring saga of the Fil-Am Surgeon in North America, edited by

Dr. Philip Chua, Dr. Hernan Reyes, Dr.Honorio Cruz and Dr. Edward Quiros and published by SPSA.

Since your schedule does not permit your joining us on Monday, January 29, 2024 at 4:00 pm, Joint meeting with SPSA and PCS Sure Commission, I will give the Journal and Book to your designated representative .

      By the way, there are three groups of Medical-Surgical Missionaries with mostly Fellows of the Society of Philippine Surgeons providing Surgical Manpower. First group is my TEAM going to Munoz, Nueva Ecija on January 07-12, 2024; Dr. Ed Barcelona and Dr. Rolando Mendiola’s TEAM going to Borongan, Eastern Samar on January 15-20, 2024  and Dr. Bayani Ignacio’s Canadian TEAM going to Mariveles, Bataan on February 5-10, 2024.

       Again, Congratulations and hope to meet with you someday !

Sincerely,

DANIEL C. FABITO M.D. FACS, FPCS

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SPSA

PAST PRESIDENT, SPSA ( 1989-90)

PAST PRESIDENT APPA (1980-81)

Beda Espineda
Dec 29, 2023, 9:49 PM (3 days ago)
to DANIEL, Ted.Herbosa@gmail.com, MD, mcnacio@hotmail.com, me, njbvillaflor@hotmail.com, edbarcelonamd@yahoo.com, mon_inso@yahoo.com, scalpelpen@gmail.com

Dear Dr. Fabito,
Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!


First, on behalf of the PCS SURE Commission allow me to congratulate the SPSA for its recent Golden Anniversary celebration .We are one with you in all your endeavors and commitment to be of service to the poor and marginalized Filipino people in dire need of quality surgical care.
We are delighted to know that some  of your COPP and members will be attending the joint meeting of the SPSA-PCS SURE Commission to be held on January 29, 2024 , 4pm at the PCS building office. The highlight of this meeting will be on our discussion on the Rural Surgery Outreach Program , a collaborative effort by SPSA and PCS piloted in Sorsogon and other possible joint projects . We have invited Dr. Ted Herbosa or any of his representative from the DOH and other stakeholders involve in surgical outreach like the Philippine Society of Anesthesiologists (PSA), Operating Room Nurses Association of the Philippines (ORNAP),
League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) , Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and other NGO’s. 
Hope we can have a fruitful session and fellowship.


By the way, you mentioned that the SPSA has 3 possible surgical missions for January and February 2024 ( Munoz, Nueva Ecija, Borongan Eastern Samar , Mariveles Bataan)  Do you need an additional manpower for these outreach? like surgeons , anes and nurses? The PCS SURE Commission can coordinate  and request from the PCS local chapters  and our partners to provide additional volunteers.


Again, Thank you. Congratulations!
Happy New Year.


Best regards,
Beda


Ed Barcelona
Dec 29, 2023, 10:15 PM (3 days ago)

to Beda, DANIEL, Ted.Herbosa@gmail.com, MD, mcnacio@hotmail.com, me, njbvillaflor@hotmail.com, mon_inso@yahoo.com, scalpelpen@gmail.com


Dec. 29, 2023

Dear Dr. Espineda


Thank you for your update regarding the Rural Surgery Outreach Program, a joint project of PCS SURE Commission, Society of Philippine Surgeons in America (SPSA) and World Surgical Foundation (WSF).


SPSA is conducting a surgical and dental mission in Borongan City, Eastern Samar Jan. 21-27, 2024 and 3 PCS fellows from Manila, friends of Dr. Rolly Mendiola, are joining us in Samar. We welcome any assistance of any member of PCS, PSA and ORNAP residing and/ or practicing in Eastern Samar province.


Eastern Samar is classified by DOH as one of the medically underserved areas of rural Philippines.

Hernan Reyes
Dec 30, 2023, 11:04 AM (2 days ago)


to ted.herbosa, Edbarcelonamd, Beda, DANIEL, mcnacio, me, njbvillaflor, mon_inso, scalpelpen


Dear Doctor Beda,

For your information, in response to my letter dated, December 21, 2023, Secretary of Health, Dr. Ted Herbosa informed me that he will send a representative to the scheduled meeting between representatives of PCS, SPSA and others on January 29, 2024 at 4:00 pm at the PCS building. He is unable to attend this meeting, because he will be in Bohol.


Unfortunately, I am unable to attend this meeting because of health issues preventing me from going on a long flight. Nevertheless, members of the SPSA will be in attendance. Dr. Ed Barcelona has been appointed Vice Chairman of the SPSA Oversight Committee, SPSA-PCS Sure Commission Rural Surgery Outreach Program and will represent the Committee in my behalf. 


As we proceed with the program, the most pressing problem as I envision is the recruitment of a General Surgeon and probably an Anesthesiologist as well. For this reason, I would like to suggest that during this meeting, explore the possibility of developing a partnership with the Department of Health to take full advantage of their program wherein a surgical resident completing his/her training in a Public Hospital is required to serve a year of service in a designated hospital prior to receiving a certificate of completion of training. 


Additionally, SPSA through the leadership of the incoming SPSA COPP Chair, Dr. Bayani Ignacio and the SPSA Executive Director, Dr. Daniel Fabito will discuss with the group the possibility of establishing other collaborative programs between SPSA and PCS.


Lastly, can this meeting be made available as well by ZOOM? 


Best wishes to all for a Peaceful and Happy New Year. Best,


Doctor Hernan
Hernan M. Reyes, MD, FACS
Chairman, SPSA Oversight Committee, SPSA-PCS Sure Commission Rural Surgery Outreach Program
Outgoing  Chairman, SPSA COPP