Nemsu paves way for medical education in Surigao del Sur – The Manila Times

THE North Eastern Mindanao State University (Nemsu) paves the way toward providing accessible medical education for Surigao del Sur with the ongoing construction of its seven-story College of Medicine Phase 1 Building.

Surigao del Sur 1st District Rep. Romeo Momo Sr., the primary sponsor of House Bill 8825, has secured an additional P100 million in funding, supplementing the initial P95 million allocation.

During the ceremonial groundbreaking and partnership signing on July 3, 2024, Nemsu President Nemesio Loayon and Adela Serra Ty Memorial Medical Center (ASTMMC) chief Dr. Janice Pagaran-Alcordo, signed an agreement appointing ASTMMC as the base hospital for the new program.

Groundbreaking ceremony of the North Eastern Mindanao State University College of Medicine on July 3, 2024. FACEBOOK PHOTO/NEMSU

This partnership guarantees medical students will gain practical, hands-on experience in real-world healthc are settings.

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Beyond infrastructure development, the university is also working to meet Commission on Higher Education (CHED) compliance standards.

These efforts include improving the curriculum, faculty development, student manual, and prospectus of the College of Medicine through workshops, seminars, and benchmarking activities led by Nemsu Vice President for Academic Affairs Maria Lady Sol Suazo.

Loayon expressed his gratitude for the support received for the new program, underscoring its alignment with one of his eight-point agenda, particularly the Transformative Education and Excellence in Teaching and Learning sets a solid foundation for the university’s academic growth.

The medical program at Nemsu is a step forward in education and a response to the national “Doctor Para sa Bayan” Act (Republic Act 11509), which seeks to address the widespread shortage of doctors in underserved regions.

Providing a pathway for financially constrained students to pursue a medical education ensures that graduates serve in areas with limited medical professionals, thereby addressing health care disparities and creating an equitable health care distribution.

Nemsu expands its academic horizons and contributes to the national goal of strengthening health care systems nationwide.

Momo also highlighted the program’s potential to inspire more young Surigaonons to pursue medicine and emphasized the opportunities it offers to those who lack financial resources to study in larger cities.

“This program will unlock their full potential and fulfill their dreams right here in Surigao del Sur, at NEMSU,” he said in a Facebook post dated July 3, 2024,

With Phase 1 slated for completion in June 2025, Nemsu is poised to welcome 40 pioneering students once the College of Medicine officially opens, bringing a transformative pathway of medical education for aspiring doctors in Surigao del Sur.