September 4, 2023

The UP-PGH Division of Nuclear Medicine is now officially accepting applications for its 3-year NUCLEAR MEDICINE RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAM!

Please accomplish all the requirements on or before September 15, 2023 and register through this link: https://tinyurl.com/PGHNucMed2024

  1. The following documents are required:
  2. 2″x2″ Photo – not more than 1 year (2 copies)
  3. Certification of Class Rank (Original or Certified True Copy)
  4. General Weighted Average (GWA) from the Office of the Dean/Office of the Registrar (Original or Certified True Copy)
  5. Proof of payment of Department of Medicine examination fee (PHP 1,000.00)
  6. Proof of payment of PGH application fee (PHP 300.00)
  7. Transcript of Records (1 photocopy)
  8. M.D. Diploma (1 photocopy)
  9. PRC Board Rating (1 photocopy, if available)
  10. Certificate of Internship (1 photocopy)
  11. Accomplished PGH Application Form (Downloadable form available at https://www.pgh.gov.ph/ddho/)

Medical graduates who will take the October 2023 Physician Licensure Examination may apply.

For inquiries, please contact Dr. Francis Manuel L. Resma via flresma@up.edu.ph.

 

August 28, 2022

The UP-PGH Division of Nuclear Medicine is now officially accepting applications for its 3-year NUCLEAR MEDICINE RESIDENCY TRAINING PROGRAM!

Please accomplish all the requirements on or before September 15, 2022 and register through this link: https://tinyurl.com/PGHNucMed2023

The following documents are required:

  1. 2″x2″ Photo (2 copies)
  2. Certification of Class Rank (Original or Certified True Copy)
  3. General Weighted Average (GWA) from the Office of the Dean/Office of the Registrar (Original or Certified True Copy)
  4. Transcript of Records (1 photocopy)
  5. MD Diploma (1 photocopy)
  6. Board Rating (1 photocopy, if available)
  7. Certificate of Internship (1 photocopy)
  8. Accomplished PGH Application Form (Downloadable form available at https://www.pgh.gov.ph/ddho/)
  9.  

Medical graduates taking the October 2022 Physician Licensure Examinations may apply.

For inquiries, please contact Dr. John Kenneth Gacula via PGH Trunkline 8554-8400 loc 3150/3152 or via email: jvgacula@up.edu.ph

 

December 10, 2021

The Division of Nuclear Medicine is proud to present our first residency training graduates: Dr. Davidson V. Pastrana and Dr. Jose Carlos T. Chanyungco

 

History of Radioisotope Laboratory and Division of Nuclear Medicine

(written by Dr. Jerry M. Obaldo, Dr. Federico B. Cruz, and Dr. Ruben V. Ogbac, from “1966-2016: A Salute to 50 Years of the Philippine Society of Nuclear Medicine)

The Radioisotope Laboratory (often referred to as the “RI Lab”) of the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital was officially established on July 18, 1956. It was the first nuclear medicine facility in the Philippines, and among the first in Southeast Asia. This fact was recognized by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which conducted the 4th Regional Training Course on Radioisotopes in Medicine in this Laboratory in 1964. The course was attended by nuclear medicine practitioners from most of what is now the ASEAN countries, as well as Chinese and Japanese participants.

The Laboratory was established primarily through the efforts of Dr. Paulo C. Campos, considered the Father of the Nuclear Medicine Specialty in the Philippines. The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office supplied the funds for the purchase of most of the first set of equipment. In the succeeding years, various grants for the laboratory were given through the University of the Philippines by other institutions including the National Research Council, the National Science Development Board (NSDB), the China Medical Board of New York, the USAID, and the IAEA. Because of the involvement of the NSDB, Dr. Jose A. Corpuz, then director of the Philippine Atomic Energy Commission, was appointed as the first head of the unit. Dr. Campos took over in 1957 and headed the laboratory until 1974.

Soon after its inception, the Radioisotope Laboratory acquired a rectilinear scanner. Several new scanners were also installed in the subsequent years. In 1985, RI Lab acquired its first gamma camera and became on of the very few centers at that time with such equipment. A single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) system was installed in 1993, followed by a dual-head SPECT in 1994, thus making the Radioisotope Laboratory among the best-equipped nuclear medicine centers in the country at the time. Early on, the RI Lab has performed numerous groundbreaking researches. These studies were published in local and international journals and have won in national research contests.

The Division of Nuclear Medicine established its 3-year residency training program in 2018, with a plantilla position for one resident a year. Operating under the academic umbrella of the Department of Medicine and anticipating the establishment of the PET/CT facility, the Division aims to make its residency program the premier Nuclear Medicine training program in the country.

Since its establishment, the Radioisotope Laboratory and Division of Nuclear Medicine have provided essential services such as radioactive iodine therapy, imaging (scintigraphy), blood assays (radioactive immunoassays), and other associated services to the patients of the Philippine General Hospital and other institutions. At present, it has the busiest services for in-vitro assays and radioactive iodine therapy in the country.

PGH Radioisotope Laboratory medical staff circa 1980 (from left) Drs. Federico Cruz, Leland Villadolid, Heminio Germar, Flora Pascasio, Leticia Buenaluz, and Ireneo Lawas

PGH Radioisotope Laboratory medical staff circa 2015: (sitting) Dr. Cynthia Liao, Mrs. Erlinda Dacanay, Dr. Jerry Obaldo, Dr. Ruben Ogbac, Mrs. Apolonia Siva, Dr. Arnel Pauco (standing) Mr. Remigio Salvador, Mr. Emiliano Lacerna, Mr. Rommel Nuqui, Ms. Bleselda Bauzon, Mr. Archie Dino, Mrs. Laura Gonzales, Mrs. Germie Morales, Mr. Mark Anthony Garcia, and Mr. Rowel Yepes

Staff during the blessing of the newly-renovated Radioisotope Laboratory and new hybrid (SPECT/CT) camera last October 26, 2018 First row (from left): Ms. Michelle Romanos, Mrs. Germie Morales, Mrs. Apolonia Siva, Mrs. Laura Gonzales, Dr. Cynthia Liao, Mrs. Linda Dacanay Second row (from left): Mr. Remigio Salvador, Mr. Emiliano Lacerna, Mr. Rowel Yepes, Mr. Mervin Ray Tongco, Mr. Rommel Nuqui, Dr. Arnel Pauco, Dr. Jerry Obaldo, Dr. Ruben Ogbac, and Dr. Davidson Pastrana (the Division’s first resident trainee)

 

Imaging Procedures

  • Bone Densitometry – Routine
  • Bone Densitometry – Whole Body
  • Brain Imaging
  • DMSA Renal Scan
  • DTPA/GFR/Renal Scan with Captopril
  • DTPA/GFR/Renal Scan with Lasix
  • Gastrointestinal Bleed/RBC-Tag Imaging Study
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux Study
  • Hepato-biliary (DISIDA) Scan
  • I-131 MIBG Whole Body Scan
  • I-131 Whole Body Scan
  • I-131 Whole Body Post-therapy Scan
  • Infarct Avid Imaging
  • Liver/Spleen Imaging
  • Lung Perfusion Scan
  • Lymphoscintigraphy
  • MAG-3 Renal Scan
  • MAG-3 Renal Scan with Laxis
  • Meckel’s Diverticulum Scan
  • Myocardial Perfusion Imaging – Sestamibi Stress & Pharmacologic
  • Myocardial Perfusion Imaging – Thallium-201 Stress & Pharmacologic
  • Parathyroid Scan – Sestamibi
  • Parathyroid Scan – Thallium-201
  • Sentinel Node Mapping – Filtered Sulfur Colloid
  • Sentinel Node Mapping – Unfiltered Sulfur Colloid
  • Sestamibi Whole Body Scan
  • Testicular Imaging
  • Thallium-201 Whole Body Scan
  • Three Phase Bone Scan
  • Thyroid Scan
  • Venography

Blood Test by Radioimmunoassay

  • 17α-Hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP)
  • 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH)
  • Aldosterone
  • Antithyroglobulin Antibody
  • Anti-thyroid Peroxidase Antibody
  • Cortisol
  • C-Peptide
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEAS)
  • Estradiol
  • Follicle-stimulating Hormone (FSH)
  • Free Triiodothyronine (FT3)
  • Free Thyroxine (FT4)
  • Growth Hormone (hGH)
  • Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG)
  • Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1)
  • Insulin
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Prolactin
  • Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)
  • Renin
  • Testosterone
  • Thyroglobulin
  • TSH Receptor Antibody (TRAB)
  • Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

Therapeutic Procedures

  • Radioiodine Therapy for Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma
  • Radioiodine Therapy for Hyperthyroidism or Toxic Goiter

 

Ruben V. Ogbac, MD
Division Chief and Head of Radioisotope Laboratory 

Arnel E. Pauco, MD
Training Officer

 

CONSULTANTS

Jerry M. Obaldo, MD, MHA
Former Division Chief

LTC Cynthia U. Liao, MD*
Clinical Associate Professor

Jose Carlos T. Chanyungco, MD
Associate Physician

John Kenneth V. Gacula, MD
Affiliate Physician

 

Former Division Chiefs

2011 – 2023 Jerry M. Obaldo, MD, MHA
1990s-2010 Federico B. Cruz, MD, MSc

 

Residents-in-Training

Third Year Francis Manuel L. Resma, MD (Division Chief Resident)
Second Years Aaron Kim T. Cheng, MD
Leo D. Milay, MD
First Year Raniv D. Rojo, MD, PhD

Graduates

  Year Name
1 2021 PASTRANA, Davidson V.
2   CHANYUNGCO, Jose Carlos T.
3 2022 GACULA, John Kenneth V.

Division of Nuclear Medicine & Radioisotope Laboratory

⛨ 1st floor of PGH Central Block (near Ward 3) 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Mondays to Fridays (except holidays)

 (02) 8554 8400 loc 3150 & 3152 +63 9618 991 265

pgh.nuclearmedicine@gmail.com nucmed.uppgh@up.edu.ph