PHILIPPINE SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY – SOUTHERN TAGALOG CHAPTER
In 2009, the Philippine Society of Nephrology (PSN) decided to transfer the venue of the 2010 Midyear Convention for security reasons. This decision set a chain of events that created the Philippine Society of Nephrology – Southern Tagalog Chapter (PSN-STC). Under the leadership of the first PSN-STC president, Dr. Maria Gina Nazareth, the PSN-STC bravely accepted the task to host the 2010 PSN Midyear Convention in Tagaytay, Cavite. With just a few months before the convention, the nephrologists from Batangas, Cavite, Laguna, Mindoro, and Quezon formed the PSN-STC and worked hard to bring to fruition the 2010 PSN Midyear Convention. Needless to say, the 2010 PSN Midyear Convention was a success.
It has always been the thrust of the PSN-STC to be a catalyst for change. One way to change dialysis practice for the better, is to train and update dialysis doctors, nurses and paramedical staff in the proper dialysis operation. Hence the annual hemodialysis postgraduate course was born. The first hemodialysis post-graduate course was conducted last July 2010 in Batangas. Since then, a hemodialysis post-graduate course was done annually. Every year, there has been an increase in attendees to the hemodialysis post-graduate course. From 100 attendees in 2010 to 700 attendees by 2019. Typhoons and a pandemic, have not dampened the will of PSN-STC to train and teach. PSN-STC has forged on to bring hemodialysis information to dialysis staff of the southern tagalog region. The year 2020 marked the first year that the hemodialysis post-graduate course was conducted online. The first virtual hemodialysis post-graduate course was done last October 11 to November 8, 2020, and attended by 600 dialysis doctors, nurses and paramedical staff. The PSN-STC will continue its objective of teaching, training and updating dialysis personnel in the conduct of hemodialysis through its annual hemodialysis post-graduate course.
The PSN-STC has also vowed to promote green nephrology. With the advent of climate change, it is high time to bring the environment in the forefront. Under the leadership of Dr. Edgardo Faustino, PSN-STC has introduced green nephrology and the effect of dialysis to our environment during the 2017 PSN Midyear Convention held in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. PSN-STC hosted its 2nd successful PSN Midyear Convention in 2017, with lectures on green nephrology and a mangrove planting activity.
Twelve years since its formation, the PSN-STC has grown from an initial 30 nephrologists to 90 nephrologists with one common objective. The PSN-STC aims to be the leading organization in the region committed to promote awareness, prevention, and treatment of kidney diseases based on the highest standard of care by the Philippine Society of Nephrology, in accordance with the culture of sustainable Green Nephrology. We will continue pursuing our objective to infinity and beyond.
