Annette Laurente Salillas, RMT, MD, FPSP, FASCP, MIAC: 2016 Liborio Gomez Memorial Lecture Awardee
MHAM alumna-faculty, Dr. Annette L. Salillas, earned another prestigious recognition as she was chosen to receive the Liborio Gomez Memorial Award for the Year 2016 during the 66th Philippine Society of Pathologists (PSP) Annual Convention at the Novotel Hotel, Araneta Center, Cubao last April 26, 2017.
As the highest award given to a pathologist by the PSP for the Year 2016, the honor was given in recognition of her service and involvement in the promotion and enhancement of the science of Pathology in the fields of medical education, research and professionalism.
2016 Liborio Gomez Memorial Lecture Awardee
An Interventional Cytopathologist and Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist as well, Dr. Salillas received the award upon the recommendation of the Board of Governors on the Committee on Awards. The meritorious award was very timely as she just came back from Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts, USA for a top-rated Continuing Medical Education course together with MHAM VP Academics, Dr. Arlene Diaz.
“Cell-lover” MHAM product-faculty
Well-attended by distinguished members of the Philippine Society of Pathologists and other medical professionals in the country, she expressed her profound gratitude in her privilege speech during the annual event. “I would like to thank the organizing committee for choosing me to receive this great honor which I owed from great mentors who continue to encourage and challenge me to become of who I am today as an educator in the field of Pathology. With my passion for excellence in continuing medical education, I will continue to involve myself in the promotion and enhancement of Pathology and in all the fields of education, research and professionalism”, said Dr. Salillas.
As the award carries a memorial lecture, Dr. Salillas inclined to talk and gave highlight to Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma with its common and uncommon variants. “Empowering the Young Pathologist” is this year’s annual convention theme.
Interventional Cytopathologist and Anatomic and Clinical Pathologist, Dr. Annette L. Salillas during the 66th Annual PSP Convention
Known as a “cell-lover” and who is highly driven and life-long learner MHAM product, this 53-year old Chairperson of the Anatomic and Clinical Pathology Department is honed over the years by attending international and local gatherings as speaker or lecturer that enabled her to make several contributions in Cytology and Pathology in general. Dr. Salillas has been serving in the academe and in the practice of Pathology for more than twenty years now and who represented the country for more than nineteen years in global Cytology gatherings.
With international cytopathology fellows
An international fellow of the American Society for Clinical Pathology, she has been to various places across the country such as Paris, France; Phuket and Pattaya, Thailand; Chile; Tampa, Florida; Yokohama, Japan; Capetown, Africa; and Sydney, Australia for international congress and conventions.
MHAM CM alumna-awardee: Dr. Annette L. Salillas
At present, she is also the current Chairman of the Department of Pathology of Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital in Tagbilaran City, Bohol.
Her sublime contribution as she introduced the Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy (FNAB) in Cebu and Bohol, and for being an advocate of FNAB as a safe, accurate, fast and economical way of diagnosing tumors and non-neoplastic lesions, has paved the way to receive exemplary awards in her chosen field.
Awarded as 2014 PSP Pathologist of the Year, Dr. Salillas is a recipient of various Outstanding Awards in the Field of Medicine and a fellow member of various international and national organizations.
Her local community achievements include the 2004 The Outstanding Cebuano Award (TOCA) in the Field of Medicine, 2004 Southwestern University Outstanding Alumni, 2005 SWU-MHAM College of Medicine Outstanding Alumni, 2006 Cebu City’s Outstanding Individual Award in the Field of Medicine and 2006 Medical Technology Alumni Grand Homecoming’s Exemplary Achievement Award.
This 2016 Liborio Gomez Memorial Lecture Awardee is a candidate for thesis defense for Masters in Professional Health Education, Ateneo de Cagayan–Xavier University. (Ana Liza Abao)