by Reina Lynn G. Antonio, MD, FPCP, FPSN
- To advance the knowledge of nephrology
- To promote a better understanding of the scientific principles of nephrology among physicians
- To encourage scientific investigations in the field of nephrology
- To disseminate the knowledge of nephrology among physicians throughout the Philippines
These were the primary objectives written in the constitution and by-laws of the Philippine Society of Nephrology when it was registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission in May, 1972.
But they were actually the first challenges our Society had to overcome so as not only to be recognized but also to be established as the governing body and an authority when it came to concerns about the renal health.
The number of the Nephrologists or Renal experts back then was disproportionate with the burden of serious kidney problems in our country that our PSN pioneers had to raise awareness first among the members of the Medical community regarding this and likewise, enlighten them about what the Society stood for and could offer.
And it was a nationwide campaign.
A promotional strategy was for members to give lectures throughout the Philippines as expert guests in local medical societies’ gatherings or conferences in provinces. And sponsorship back then was unheard of or very limited that these Pioneers were spending out of pocket to fund those trips. Because they were very dedicated to what they wanted to achieve: To inform Filipinos that there is an existing Subspecialty in Medicine that deals with Kidney illnesses.
And part of this ‘marketing’ approach was holding National conventions by the Society. Attendees were composed not only of members but mostly of internists and general practitioners whose interests were aroused by this newly founded medical organization.
During the first convention in 1974, the PSN pioneers set the standards for the practice of nephrology in the country. They all contributed based on their experiences and trainings they had in the other countries.
And these national conventions became thrust for learning.
Through their association with the International Society of Nephrology, Drs. Filoteo Alano and Aurora Padolina-Perez invited foreign resource persons to the PSN conventions to share their experiences and expertise with the delegates and at the same time, update them on the new developments and perspectives in the field of nephrology in other parts of the world.
They were also venues for presentation of clinic-based researches and comparison of the results with those of internationally conducted studies.
Thus, these conventions became the highlight of the Society’s activities. They were held every two years and organized by the officers themselves as the members were still very few back then that there were no chapters, committees or clusters yet.
Not until the third convention in 1978 that it became more systematized. Dr. Claver Ramos chaired the scientific subcommittee; Dr. Adriano de la Paz was in charge of the ways and means; Dr. Libertad Nazareno-Rosales chaired the Finance subcommittee and Dr. Celia Talusan headed the socials committee.
The convention also had become the platform for awarding the PSN diplomate certificates. The first awardees were the 18 original PSN members as certified by the newly formed Philippine Specialty Board of Nephrology, which was composed of Dr. Eduardo Gotamco Tan as the chair and Drs. Alano and Padolina-Perez as members.
This Specialty board set the standards for the board examination that would test the qualifications of the first set of locally trained nephrologists, who would emerge in the 1980s as the Philippine Society of Nephrology became bigger.
(lifted from Beyond Measure: 40 years of the PSN)
RLGA2021
