PAO honors Tzu Chi doctors Say, Sua
Say is well-known for introducing the ‘Phacoemulsification’ technique, revolutionizing cataract surgery in the Philippines.
Two of Tzu Chi Eye Center’s (TCEC) volunteer doctors were honored at the recently concluded Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology (PAO) Congress, an annual national convention of Filipino ophthalmologists.
Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation Philippines Inc. president Dr. Antonio Say received the PAO Outstanding Leadership Award and the PAO Jesus V. Tamesis Distinguished Community Service Award for rendering exceptional service and making significant contributions to the growth and advancement of the PAO and Philippine ophthalmology.
Say was presented the awards, which are conferred every five years, along with a PAO Medallion and Certificate for each distinction, on 1 October at the SMX Convention in Pasay City.
Say is well-known for introducing the “Phacoemulsification” technique, revolutionizing cataract surgery in the Philippines. The procedure creates smaller incisions, allowing for a shorter recovery period and better patient outcomes.
He also currently leads the non-profit organization behind the TCEC, an ambulatory surgical clinic serving underprivileged patients.
Say is also the senior vice president and chief medical officer of the Cardinal Santos Medical Center (CSMC).
Meanwhile, TCEC’s volunteer ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Prof. Alex Sua, was chosen to deliver the Dr. Liborio Mangubat Memorial Lecture this year. Beyond serving as a tribute to Dr. Liborio Mangubat, the Father of Oculoplastics in the Philippines, this lecture is also the highest award the Philippine Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery can bestow to its members.
Sua dedicated the honor to his greatest teachers — his patients. “It is from them that I learned so much, and I am giving these back to them,” he said.
During the lecture, Sua shared his clinical experiences and insights in utilizing computer-assisted navigation system in performing orbital surgeries for tumor, trauma, and decompression for both his private and charity patients.
“Hopefully, with that lecture, I am also able to motivate my colleagues to share some time, collaborate, and expand our outreach program to help more patients in need,” Sua said.
Early this year, Sua led the historic Philippine Orbital Neuronavigation training program at the Philippine Center for Advanced Surgery in CSMC together with medical device company, Medtronic. The program gathered over 30 ophthalmologists from various local hospitals, presented different approaches to orbital operations using image-guided navigation, and provided participants a hands-on experience in using the IGN on body donors.
Sua is currently teaching at the University of Santo Tomas Department of Ophthalmology and serves as director of the Fellowship Program in Ophthalmic Pathology, and Ophthalmic Plastic, and Reconstructive Surgery at the CSMC. He holds clinics at the UST Hospital, Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, CSMC and TCEC.