MEETING PRESIDED BY DR. IGNACIO BAYANI, 2024 CHAIRMAN OF THE SPSA COUNCIL OF PAST PRESIDENTS (COPP)

ATTENDEES: DRS. IGNACIO BAYANI, HERNAN REYES,  DANIEL C. FABITO, ED BARCELONA, PHILIP CHUA, ED NAVARRO, FRANCIS VELCEK, JOHNNY MONTERO, HONORIO CRUZ, TONY DONATO, JAY SELDERA. ROLLY MENDIOLA (PACIFICO DORADO, CALLED ME SINCE HE WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE ZOOM LINK IN JOINING US AND WANTED TO BE ON RECORD THAT HE APPROVES THE ISSUES BEING CONSIDERED).

1. MEETING CALLED TO ORDER BY CHAIRMAN BAYANI AT 2:15 P.M.  (PST)
2. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS ZOOM MEETING DATED MAY 22, 2024 WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY SENT TO MEMBERS OF THE COPP AND CURRENTLY PROVIDED TO COPP MEMBERS WAS APPROVED.
3. TREASURER’S REPORT—–Ed Barcelona

      CHECKING ACCOUNT——–$27,703

      CERTIFICATE OF DEPOSIT—$ 31,857

      TOTAL——————————————–$ 59,560.00

• EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT
• Recommended to table the CBL amendment to create a SPSA COPP Chairman Emeritus and this was approved.
• Recommended appointment of Dr. Hernan Reyes as Honorary Chairman of the SPSA-PCS Sure Commission Rural Surgery Outreach program to continue his active participation with the project and take advantage of his experience and advice. This was unanimously approved.
• Recommended to have succeeding Chairmen of the SPSA-COPP to serve for two years starting in 2025 instead of one year. After discussion, it was approved to continue the one year term of the Chairman but with option of reappointment for another year.
• Letter of Dr. Jim Sanchez with “Hospital on Wheels” requesting support and help of the SPSA particularly his recent one year Fellowship on Regional Anesthesia of a General Surgeon for one year and $ 1000.00 stipend for a month. I wrote him a Letter that maybe a 3-6 months of Fellowship could be offered instead of 12 months. Also informed him after discussion with my son, Daniel Fabito Jr. M.D. a Board Certified Anesthesiologist and Certified Pain Management Specialist practicing here in Las Vegas and told me that Ultrasound Guided Regional Anesthesia is the current state of the Art. I asked Jim Sanchez to find out  cost of the Ultrasound in the Philippines. He wrote me back that he is currently working with the Philippine Ultrasound Society regarding this. We need more information on the Fellowship he is offering to General Surgeons,  which I believed the Fellow will join him on his twice a month  3 days weekends Medical Surgical Mission with some surgical residents to different parts of the Philippines.
• SPSA-PCS SURE COMMISSION RURAL SURGERY OUTREACH PROGRAM REPORT—–Ed Barcelona and Hernan Reyes

          Dr. Hernan Reyes reported that the Pilot program in Gubat, Sorsogon was successful with 105 major cases done for about $71.00 per patient. He recommended the continuation of the successful Pilot program in Irosin District Hospital in Sorsogon and possibly in Borongan, Samar and Surigao.

          Dr. Johnny Montero emphasized the need for Surgical Services in Surigao, but with his information that the Hospital in Tandag, Surigao was at one time adopted by the Department of Health (during the time of Health Secretary Ona) , the DOH might use the Hospital on it’s one year Deployment program. I did not see on the list of official  DOH Hospitals, so maybe the Hospital could be considered for the Rural Surgery project.

          Dr. Ed Barcelona reported on the Zoom meeting wit PCS Sure Commission and WSF last December 13, 2024 presided by Dr. Beda Espineda with Dr. Hernan Reyes, Dr. Ed Barcelona, Dr. Johnny Montero, Dr. Rolly Mendiola, Dr. Eric De Leon(WSF) and Dr. Robert Chacon in attendance. Applicants Dr. Dave Narciso Cortes.  (General Surgeon) and Dr. Alfredo Patriarcal  (Anesthesia) were interviewed. The consensus of opinion was to start the second round of the Rural Surgery Outreach Program in Irosin District Hospital, Sorsogon in January, 2025 for three months.

          Dr. Hernan Reyes additional report:

1. Include Kidapawan, Cotobato as a possible site for the Rural Surgery Program.
2. In a communication from Dr. Beda Espineda dated December 18, 2024, he talked to Dr. Jose Roel de Leon, Incumbent President of PCS who is based in Cagayan de Oro. Dr. De Leon will help with the initiation of our program in Dr. Montero’s adopted Hospital in Surigao. He is further involved in Outreach Programs in Bukidnon and Cagayan de Oro.
3. Dr. Reyes relinquished the Chairmanship of the SPSA-PCS Rural Surgery Outreach Program Oversight Committee to Dr. Ed Barcelona effective this COPP meeting.
4. 2025  Social Activities for SPSA—Dr. Philip Chua
5. He reported on a SPSA Cruise on May 12-24, 2025 at the Canary Islands, Portugal and Spain with 10-12 couples joining.
6. He will explore possibility of a get together Social Activity for SPSA in 2025.
7. Dr. Iggy Bayani has informed the group of Medical-Surgical Mission in Vigan, Ilocos Sur by the Canadian Phil-Am Mission Team on February, 2025 and requested one or two General Surgeons to join him. Dr. Rolly Mendiola who is joining the Milwaukee, Wisconsin Medical-Surgical team in Iloilo Mission in 2025 will try to have somebody join him.
8. The zoom Meeting was adjourned at 3:30 p.m.

PREPARED AND REPORTED BY:

DANIEL C. FABITO M.D. FACS, FPCS

SPSA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

  AND ED BARCELONA M.D. FACS

              TREASURER AND CHAIR, OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE