Street Smart
Physicians for the people
By Mandy Navasero
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 00:12:00 07/05/2008
MANILA, Philippines—A group of promising medical minds is about to bring exuberance not only to the lives of their families, but to the underserved countryside, as well.
The third batch of medical scholars—now totaling 62—is scheduled to graduate in 2010, under the auspices of Mike Arroyo’s First Gentleman Foundation, which is an offshoot of the Department of Health’s Barrio Doctors Program.
The scholarship, which was launched on the First Gentleman’s 60th birthday, includes tuition fee, allowance, board and lodging, uniforms, books and payment of the board exam fee.
This year, 22 students made it to the prescreening and final interviews. The only commitment the project asks from each graduate is a two-year payback-service to a DOH-assigned, underserved area.
Incentives
Additional support to the DOH program comes in the form of incentives, including a fellowship training package to any Asian country.
The scholars come from all corners of the country, including Sultan Kudarat, Jolo, Samar, Zamboanga, General Santos City and Surigao del Norte in the south, and Ifugao, Pangasinan and Pampanga in the north.
The First Gentleman continues to grant scholarship requests for medical specialization courses, thus the new project, “Bagong Espesyalista Para sa Bayan,” which already boasts of 10 grantees to date. Applicants must have served as government doctors for at least two years and should finish their subspecialty training within two years.
E-mail mandynavasero@yahoo.com, or drop by our studio at Rm. 227, 210 Nicanor Garcia st., Bel-Air II, Makati City.
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