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Association of Philippine Physicians in Maryland

Description:
In 1976, deep into a cold and wintry night, Diony Faustino was driving back home from Virginia. He just attended a meeting of the Philippine Medical Association of Washington. He was clearly tired, earlier that day, he also ministered to a waiting room full of patients. Then he wondered, Why do I have to drive so far? Why can’t we have our own association of physicians in Maryland?

That week he mentioned the idea to his close friends, Cesar Castillo, Ben Lazaro, Gerry Alonso among others. The seeds of APPM were sowed.

The initial response of the other Filipino physicians in the community to the idea was at best tepid. Diony said, “It took two years before we could get it going. Gus De Leon, Ed Singca, Jimmy Punzalan were among the first set of officers. Organizational meetings were held, but attendance left a lot to be desired. Perhaps, the physicians at that time, enjoying their independence in a golden era of unencumbered medicine, were not ready for the idea. The concept of the organization being touted as a possible chapter of the APPA also did not sit well to some. ( A remark was made that one of the reasons for the low attendance during meetings then was because meals were not part of the agenda. Nowadays the luncheon meetings are sponsored by drug companies. With the gustatory entertainment being free, a member has to make reservations to get into the meeting room.)

In the mid 1980s there was a conscious effort on the part of the organization to get involved in the affairs of the State Medical Society. The APPM members were encouraged to join, and by design, were appointed to the different committees of Med-Chi. The hope was to be able to participate in the policy making of the Med-Chi instead of being mere bystanders.

As a result of this involvement, the APPM helped influence some important legislations at that time. In the 1980s there was a growing sentiment among our American peers to limit the entry of international graduates in Maryland. The BPQA, thru Med-Chi attempted to enact a legislation, in which two sets of requirements, one for IMG and another for AMG would have been the law. The requirements for an IMG obtaining licensure would have included 3 years of residency training within the State of Maryland. That would have severely limited entry of IMG physicians who trained in other states. The APPM, together with other groups, lobbied against this and the attempts by the State Society were finally abandoned.

The early 1990s also ushered a communion with the drug companies. Annual meetings became dinner dances, executive meetings became luncheons, always sponsored by drug companies with a CME thrown in. The affairs were jam-packed. ( but the business meetings always took too long ) CMEs were incorporated with cruises to such exotic places as the Caribbean, Greece and Alaska.

The idea of medical mission became a reality in 1995. Spearheaded by the tireless effort of Mayette Caragay, a medical mission was held in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija. Another mission was held in 1996. The year 1997 is a rest period.

Amendments in the By-laws were introduced in 1995 to include a new category of membership, the interns and residents, who were asked to pay a nominal fee.

URL: http://www.appm-online.org/ (View Site)

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Association of Philippine Physicians in Maryland

Maryland, USA