PDS for All – Georgina C. Pastorfide, MD, FPDS President

Let me start off by saying KUNG HEI FAT CHOI because it’s never too late to wish everyone a prosperous and fruitful new year ahead. Secondly, I would like to thank everyone for electing us, the officers and board directors of the PDS. We are truly honored to serve you during the two years of our term.

Having said that, allow me to give you an overview of the direction that the Board and I wish to take during my two-year term as president. The theme is “PDS FOR ALL.” Why PDS for all? There are two reasons for choosing this theme. First of all, being a member of the PDS is already an achievement where one can proudly say “I am a PDS dermatologist.” Being a PDS dermatologist sets us apart from all the rest since we are the ONLY medical society for dermatology recognized by the PMA. So the by-word for who is a dermatologist in the Philippines should not be measured by media popularity, celebrity endorsements or hyped-up advertising and marketing visibility but rather, simply “PDS.” Secondly, PDS should also be shared with the general public, serving not just our paying patients, but more so the underprivileged, because they constitute the majority of Filipino society. This is in keeping with the PDS vision written in our constitution: The Philippine Dermatological Society aims to be a highly-recognized society, locally and globally, striving towards excellence in the attainment of healthy skin for all.

The PDS has 10 objectives written in our constitution. I have therefore set three goals that fulfill these objectives. The first is to actively participate in advocacies and outreach programs. We already have existing programs such as Skinweek and Leprosy Week. But in addition to this, there is the GABAY GURO which is supported by PLDT-Smart Foundation as part of its social responsibility to government school teachers and their dependents, CLEAN WATER advocacy headed by Pinky Tobiano of Qualibet and the Banaue medical mission organized by Dr. Antonio Ligot and Dr. Ida Tiongco. The mechanics of these programs/activities are still being ironed out and awaiting board approval. I will disseminate the details once they have been approved by the Board. It will suffice to say that these programs/activities will be able to accomplish the following objectives of the PDS constitution:

Produce competent dermatologists sensitive to the needs of the community

Promote public awareness on the prevention of skin diseases through information and education campaigns

Establish linkages with the other specialties/organizations for more comprehensive health care

Foster camaraderie among members

The second goal is to continue the campaign against pseudodermatologists. Currently, we have the Skin Safety Campaign which was spearheaded by our past president Dr. Nelfa Paliza, which made the public aware through quad media that the PDS dermatologist is a skilled and competent physician who is the authority in treating skin diseases. The quad media advertisements, especially the ones that came out on TV, had great impact on the public. This definitely must continue and be ingrained in the minds of the public. The smart info texting is still in the pipeline and is another venue in which the public can be aware that the PDS exists and that the PDS dermatologist is the physician to look for in the treatment of skin, hair and nail diseases. In addition, just to remind everyone, the PDS is supporting two very good bills: the first is the PMA integration bill which regulates the practice of medicine for each specialty and second, the Medical Act of 2008 which defines what constitutes the practice of medicine/specialties, including penalties. The objectives in the PDS constitution fulfilled by the campaign against pseudodermatologists are the following:

Produce competent dermatologists sensitive to the needs of the community

Promote public awareness on the prevention of skin diseases through information and education campaigns

Uphold professional and ethical standards among dermatologists

Protect members of the society against unfair practice and competition from unqualified practitioners through legislation and regulations

Foster camaraderie among members

Lastly, my third goal is to develop the PDS Health Information System which includes disease registries. This is important because the health information system can be used to assess the extent of diseases within the Philippines and therefore guide the PDS in making program and policy decisions, and secondly, it is useful in research and in standardizing and ensuring the quality of our data. Having this health information system will encourage residents and consultants to undertake more researches because data of dermatologic diseases will be more accessible. The objectives in the PDS constitution fulfilled by the PDS health information system are the following:

Provide avenues for exchange of ideas that will enhance the science and art of dermatology

Conduct researches and encourage publications relevant to the practice of dermatology

Promote local and international recognition of the specialty, and

Encourage academic advancement through scholarship and fellowship grants.

I therefore enjoin everyone to cooperate and support these noble goals. Each input from our members will make a DIFFERENCE in uniting and defining our society. May we lift PDS to greater heights!

Georgina C. Pastorfide, MD, FPDS
President