Dr. Antonio Say, Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Philippines president, and senior vice president and chief medical officer of Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC), has been recognized by the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Medical Alumni Association of America (USTMAAA) for his pioneering work as ophthalmologist.

USTMAAA presented Say, who also teaches at the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery and serves as chairman of CSMC’s Department of Graduate Medical Education and executive director of the Chinese General Hospital Colleges, with the award for Most Outstanding Alumnus For Community Service as the pioneer of phacoemulsification cataract surgery in the Philippines, for his 40 years of commendable and meritorious service as master educator and master surgeon, and for his exemplary humanitarian service through the ophthalmology outreach surgical missions in the Philippines and neighboring Asian countries, organized by the Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation.

Dr. Zita Balbin Yorro, president of association, presented Say with the award during the 33rd Annual USTMAAA Convention at the San Francisco Marriott Waterfront on 19 July 2026.

The award comes six months after Say was named the 2026 Thomasian Outstanding Medical Alumni awardee for Medical Education by the UST Medical Alumni Association (USTMAA). He received the accolade during the USTMAA’s 86th Grand Alumni Homecoming held last 17 January 2026, in recognition of his dedication and transformative contribution to medical education.