Foreign, local experts to grace PCOMS int'l gab

MANILA, Philippines - Oral and maxillofacial surgeons throughout the country will have the opportunity to keep abreast with the latest technology in the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery when the Philippine College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (PCOMS), a specialty affiliate of the Philippine Dental Association, celebrates its 52nd anniversary.

Highlighting the three-day event are its hosting of an international conference conducted by the International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (IAOMS) Foundation, the induction of officers and conferment of new fellows starting today at the Unilab Bayanihan Hall in Mandaluyong.

The theme of the convention is “Unity in Diversity” which aims to bring all specialties committed to one goal — total patient care.

Dr. Ida Balanag, incoming PCOMS president and general chairperson of the anniversary celebration, said four top-notch resource persons, two foreign and two local speakers, are gracing the international conference. 

They are Drs. Rui Fernandes, Julio Acero, Charity Gorospe and Angela Peña.

Fernandes is a board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeon. He holds dual appointments in the Divisions of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Surgical Oncology in the Department of Surgery at the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville. 

Currently, he serves as chief of the Section of Head and Neck Surgery, and director of the Microvascular Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship.

Acero, a visiting professor in various universities around the world, is the section chief of the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the Gregorio Marañón University Hospital in Madrid, Spain; head of the Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, Quiron Hospital, Madrid; and associate professor of Maxillofacial Surgery at the Complutense University of Madrid with national accreditation for full professor.

The local speakers are Dr. Charity Gorospe of Delos Santos STI Medical Center, and Dr. Angela Peña of St. Luke’s Medical Center. 

PCOMS is an affiliate of the IAOMS whose mission is to elevate the quality of health care worldwide through the advancement of the art and science of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

The IAOMS Foundation headed by its chairman, Prof. Nabil Samman, funds educational projects to benefit oral maxillofacial surgeons worldwide.

This year, the educational series continues in the Asian region, specifically in the Philippines.

The education series, as developed by Samman, under the direction of Education Committee chairman Julio Acero and IAOMS councilor Mario Esquillo, will be composed of four modules to be held for a two-year period.

The first module to be given in January 2012 will discuss topics on head and neck oncology and reconstructive surgery. These will be discussed by volunteer oral and maxillofacial surgeons (OMS) of the Foundation Education Committee.

Participants can avail themselves of lower registration fee of P3,000 if they register until Dec. 31 while the on-site registration fee is P4,500.

Interested oral and maxillofacial surgeons can direct their queries to Dr. Ida Balanag at 0917-8292998 or visit the PCOMS website at www.pcoms.wordpress.com.