Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC) was recently awarded National Exemplar under the People Program of the Year category at the People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP) Awards 2022. The ceremony was held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza Manila on Oct. 14, Friday.
The award was given for CSMC’s exceptional training program under the Philippine Center for Advanced Surgery – Minimally Invasive Surgery Training Center (PCAS-MISTC). Prior to this, CSMC was already named Regional Exemplar in the same category. In 2016, the hospital bagged the Employer of the Year Award, making it the first private hospital to receive this accolade from PMAP.
The PCAS-MISTC is a world-class training center equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and staffed by leading medical experts in various surgical fields. It is the Philippines’ first, and only MIS training center, and its programs have been accredited by local and international organizations, such as the Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia (ELSA), Asia Pacific Hernia Society (APHS), Asia Endo-Surgery Task Force (AETF), Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons (PALES), and Asia Pacific Endo-Lap Surgery Group (APELS). The center is headed by one of the leading MIS experts in the country, Dr. Alfred Allen Buenafe.
The PCAS-MISTC aids in nation-building by providing training opportunities for surgeons, particularly those who are based in the provinces. As a leader in the Asia Pacific region, the quality of training meets international standards, with foreign surgeons also attending workshops spearheaded by PCAS-MISTC.
“With much pride and great joy, we are extremely honored to receive such a prestigious award on behalf of our Caring Cardinal family. Yes, it is one of Cardinal Santos’ own ways of contributing to nation-building in the Philippines,” said CSMC President and CEO, Raul C. Pagdanganan in his acceptance speech. “This award fires up our commitment to continue introducing innovations in healthcare and providing excellent training comparable to those in advanced countries to help make MIS and its benefits more accessible to a greater number of people across the country and the world.”
The PMAP Awards Program was established in 1977, with the goal of recognizing outstanding organizations and individuals that have made strides in the advancement and improvement of people management in the country. As an organization, PMAP helps members become effective people managers that are able to participate actively in nation-building. This makes CSMC’s win all the more significant.