History of the Department

 

       On June 22, 1971, the Department of Orthopedics was created by virtue of a resolution passed

by the Board of Regents during its 810th meeting. Before this date, the section of Orthopedics

functioned under the Department of Surgery, with Dr. Ambrosio F. Tangco serving as the section

head. When Dr. Tangco was appointed as a member of the UP Board of Regents, Dr. Manuel T.

Rivera took over as section head. The appointment of Dr. Tangco to the Board of Regents would

prove providential for it was through his efforts that the creation of Department of Orthopedics was 

approved unanimously.

 

       The department started its formal organization as a separate unit of the Philippine General

Hospital and the UP College of Medicine on October 12, 1971. The physical plant consisted of 33

beds in Ward 19, 8 beds in Ward 8 for female orthopedic patients and 2 beds in the Pediatric ward.

There were 2 operating rooms at the OR given for the exclusive use of orthopedic patients. There

was a makeshift outpatient clinic at the Cancer Institute and emergency care were managed in

Wards 7 and 9.

 

        Dr. Jose V. Silao, Jr., was named as the first department chair, with Dr. Manuel T. Rivera, Dr. Rafael S. Recto, Jr. and Dr. Richard Ow-Abayang as members of the staff. In 1972, Dr. Napoleon M. Apolinario joined the staff and became the Executive Officer. The first batch of orthopedic residents included Dr. Ellewellyn G. Pasion, who became the first chief resident, Dr. Antonio M. Montalban, Dr. Arturo Quiazon, and Dr. Emilio B. Cadayona.

 

        With Dr. Silao at the helm, the basic foundation of the department was established and fast-tracked. A 5-year development plan was aimed at 1) developing the physical facilities, 2) forming a teaching and training program, 3) improving patient care and services and 4) faculty development. By the end of the second year, half of these goals were already achieved.

 

        In July 1972, through the benevolence of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, construction began for an orthopedic outpatient services building which was completed in November of the same year. The building housed an outpatient clinic, a 12-bed pediatric orthopedic ward, a cast room, an x-ray and dark room and a record room. Later, a Brace and Prosthetic Shop was incorporated.

 

        Through Dr. Silao’s visionary spirit, faculty development was fast tracked, too. Graduates of

the 4-year residency program were sent for fellowships in the United Kingdom, West Germany,

France, Denmark, Hongkong, Singapore and Japan. This was instrumental in establishing the

different orthopedic subspecialties in the department.

 

        The Spine Unit and Orthopedic Learning Center which was completed in 2003 is a 4-storey

building where a spine ward, a conference room, the department office, a tissue bank, a

biomechanical laboratory, a library, and a microsurgical laboratory is housed. All the offices of the

different sections and services are also located here.

 

        From its modest beginning, the Department of Orthopedics has seen tremendous growth and

development in the last 49 years and has participated actively in the orthopedic education and

training on a national scale. It has produced 196 graduates of the residency training program, with a sizable number of graduates becoming leaders and educators in the provinces. The department has currently 5 sections (Adult Orthopedics, Trauma, Spine, Pediatric Orthopedics and Hand) and 5 services (Musculoskeletal Tumor Service, Ilizarov and Limb Deformity, Microvascular and Replantation Service, Sports Medicine Service and Arthroplasty Service).

 

        The Past Chairmen of the Department includes the following: Dr. Jose V. Silao, Jr. (1971-82); Dr. Rafael S. Recto, Jr. (1983-86); Dr. Napoleon N. Apolinario (1986-90); Dr. Antonio M. Montalban (1991-93); Dr. Norberto R. Agcaoili (1994-96); Dr. Ellewellyn G. Pasion (1997-2003), Dr. Cirilo R. Tacata, Jr. (2004-09) & Dr. Mario B. Geronilla (2010-2013).