Aimed at creating 5-star family physicians by providing research programs and trainings to medical residents, the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP), with the help of New Marketlink Pharmaceutical Corporation (NMPC), featured and awarded the best research presentations during PAFP’s 54th Anniversary and Annual Convention recently held at the Philippine International Convention Center.
The event, led by PAFP National President Dr. Alex Bienvenido Alip, Jr., is themed Managing Patients with Multi-Morbidities: Complexities in Family Practice. It aims to help family physicians manage patients with multiple co-morbidities like hypertension, diabetes and renal problems by providing them research-based and evidence-based patient care.
According to Dr. Ma. Victoria Pilares-Cruz, PAFP Research Committee chairman, PAFP’s research program orients medical residents on the basics of research and research protocols which they will need to acquire their certification and use them in their everyday practice as a physician after their residency training.
“Not all medical institutions have their own research committees. This is why through our research program, we go to different areas like Metro Manila, Davao, Iloilo and Cebu to train medical residents. In two years, we have successfully helped more than 80 residents,” said Dr. Cruz.
PAFP’s research program results are seen on its annual research poster and oral presentation which showcases best research papers from practitioners. This year, 20 papers are chosen for the poster presentation and six papers for the oral presentation.
Out of six participants in the oral presentation, first, second and third places received cash prizes while non-winners received special tokens. For the poster presentation Day 1 and Day 2 with eight participants each, top three papers and a Delegates’ Choice awardee were chosen from both days. Winning papers are also published in the next issue of the Filipino Family Physician Journal.
“Now, we have about 52 research programs nationwide. We will continue to pursue our program to reach even more residency trainees and help them progress in their careers. And this won’t be possible without our partner, NMPC. We’re really happy that they support our program,” Dr. Cruz said.