Article written by Bernice P. Varona, UP Newsletter
Volume xxxi Number 01 2010-01-01
Dr. Ernesto O. Domingo
Dr. Ernesto O. Domingo, currently university professor emeritus of the UP College of Medicine, is the newest National Scientist of the country. The proclamation was signed by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on January 14, 2010.
He was nominated by the National Academy of Science and Technology, one of the two advisory bodies of government in matters of Science and Technology. Dr. Domingo has been Academician of the NAST since 1992 in the field of health sciences, particularly in his field of specialization, internal medicine and gastroenterology.
Dr. Domingo is the 32nd National Scientist who is an alumni of the University, out of a total of 33 National Scientists.
Dr. Domingo’s vital work on liver cancer remains the major source in the country of information on the disease’s etiology, manifestation and treatment. His research focuses on three areas: schistosomiasis, viral hepatitis and liver cancer.
With the help of Dr. Augusto Lingao, he organized the Liver Study group engaged in research on viral hepatitis, especially epidemiology and vaccination in the Philippines. The Department of Health utilized their findings in developing the policy on hepatitis B immunization.
In the field of medical education, Dr. Domingo designed and implemented the specialty fellowship program in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) with the aid of a financial grant from the China Medical Board of New York. The format of this training program was subsequently adopted by other training hospitals in the country.
The Clinical Epidemiology Unit (CEU) of the UP College of Medicine was another significant program established by Dr. Domingo. Created in 1982 as part of a global network supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, it has now grown to become a national and regional training center in the Asia-Pacific Region. It will also help establish other CEUs in medical schools throughout the country.
Dr. Domingo is a graduate of Medicine from the UP Manila, Class 1961. He specialized in Internal Medicine at the PGH and in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at the Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
In 1967 he was appointed Assistant Professor of Medicine at the UP College of Medicine and Attending Physician at the PGH. Within nine years, he became a full professor of Medicine. He occupied various academic and administrative positions starting with being the head of the Section of Gastroenterology. He then became vice chairman of the Department of Medicine; chairman of the Department of Medicine; associate dean of the College of Medicine; acting dean of the College of Medicine; and chancellor of UP Manila. He was also former director of the Postgraduate School of Medicine for almost 10 years and was at one time coordinator for Teaching and Research of PGH.
Original article: http://up.edu.ph/upnewsletter.php?i=1088
