by Er Pilotin (Class 2021)

 

Service to far-flung communities was the highlight of the Timpuyog Talk Series of the Regionalization Students Organization (RSO) Tuesday evening, November 28, at Buenafe Hall.

Physicians Wendel Marcelo and Jacqueline Momvilla shared their experiences of working in their respective communities, and provided insights to RSO members and guests. An open forum followed, with students asking questions either on the spot or via Twitter.

Under the Doctor to the Barrios (DTTB) program of the Department of Health, Dr. Marcelo formerly served the town of Almagro in Samar. As DTTB in Samar, he assisted in the aid efforts for victims of supertyphoon Yolanda.

Dr. Marcelo is currently deployed in Carles, Iloilo. He narrated, among other duties, his fight against malnutrition in the community through a recent TV documentary episode in which he was featured. He also enumerated some perks and challenges that came with practicing medicine on the countryside.

Dr. Momvilla, also a former DTTB, has collaborated with local governments as part of the Zuellig Family Foundation. She emphasized in particular the role of local government units in health care delivery, as well as the importance of intersectoral cooperation.

This year marks the second year of the Timpuyog Talk Series. Taken from the Ilocano term for unity or gathering, Timpuyog is a career talk where rural physicians are invited to give students a glimpse into their clinical practice.