News and Events
SLCM holds its 9th Commencement Exercises
St. Luke's College of Medicine produced a new set of doctors on its 9th Commencement Exercises last May 20. There were 47 students who graduated with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.
A baccalaureate mass co-celebrated by Rt. Rev. Manuel C. Lumpias, Chairman of the SLCM Board of Trustees and Rev. Fr. Florentino L. Caytap, Chaplain of the Medical Center started the program.
It was followed by the processional of the Graduates, Faculty Members, Administrative Officials, Board of Trustees and the Guest Speaker, Mr. Robert Kuan. The College Secretary, Dr. Joanne De Ramos, acted as Master of Ceremonies.
Mr. Robert Kuan, President of the Board of Trustees of St. Luke's Medical Center and an accomplished businessman was later introduced by Dean Carandang to give an inspirational message to the graduates. Mr. Kuan began his speech by congratulating all the students, their parents and the faculty of SLCM. He also shared some of his vision for the College.
According to Mr. Robert Kuan, SLMC is undergoing a major transformation which is also in line with the vision of the College to be the best college of Medicine in the Philippines by 2010. In order to achieve this, the Administration, under the supervision of Dr. Brigido Carandang, Jr. need to enforce changes in the orientation of the College. He encouraged the SLCM Community to be more vigilant and aggressive towards positive change, even to the extent of moving away from their comfort zone.
He also assured that St. Luke's Medical Center, the premier Hospital in the country will give its full support to the College. The SLMC will work hand and hand with the College to attain its vision. The College by principle would always vie for the quality of students and not focus on quantity. True to this ideal, the Medical Center is willing to finance the tuition of well deserving incoming freshmen just to produce quality doctors in the future.
He also revealed that the secret of success in the field of medicine is not solely on how much students have learned from the school but the ability to develop positive human relations. The doctor's ability to establish rapport and trust with the patient is the key to success of being a doctor.
After his message, Mr. Kuan was awarded with a plaque of recognition for his inspirational talk.
Moving on, it was time for the graduates to receive their diplomas and everyone was very excited to walk on the stage with their proud parents and posed for pictures thereafter.
Dr. Ai Gamboa, the class Valedictorian, delivered an emotional speech where she took the opportunity to thank the faculty members who served as mentors to the students. She gave special emphasis to the parents for all their hardships in sending their children to medical school. She also highlighted that while parents are the ones who are usually proud of their accomplishment during graduation, they as sons and daughters, are even more proud of their parents for the love and support they have shared through the years.
The activity was not about to end without a group picture taking of the graduating class together with the SLCM Officials, Faculty Members and Special Guests.
Congratulatory remarks filled the venue after the ceremony as every graduate had a memory to share with their family, friends, and mentors. As glaring as their smiles was the enthusiasm to face the new challenges in their chosen field of endeavor.
The event was concluded by a cocktail party hosted by the College for the SLCM Community.
