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December 5, 2022

Villanueva congratulates UST Faculty of Medicine: Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva co-sponsors Senate Resolution No. 336 on Monday, December 5, 2022, congratulating and commending the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Faculty of Medicine and Surgery on its 150th anniversary and for its contribution to the development of medical and health care education in the country. A Thomasian himself, Villanueva said that prior to the establishment of UST, Filipinos had to go to Mexico to study medicine. He said the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery is the oldest medical school in the country. It was established in 1871 and had Dr. Jose Rizal as one of its students. Over the years, Villanueva said UST produced over 40,000 doctors, some of whom became secretaries of the health department and national leaders, like Dr. Luisa Estrada, who served the Philippine Senate from 2001 to 2007. He said UST has also consistently landed in the list of top performing schools in the physician licensure examination. For instance, Villanueva said 416 Thomasian doctors, three of whom had topped the board, successfully passed the October 2022 physical licensure exam. He said the school had been a beacon for healthcare professionals in the battle against COVID-19. “Amidst the new normal, they came up with learning setups that best suit the delivery of education, especially in the Internal Medicine Clerkship Program,” Villanueva said. The body adopted Senate Resolution No. 336, subject to style. (Joseph Vidal/Senate PRIB)

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