Hands-On Learning, Hands-Off Hazards: Chemical Safety in the Classroom

On June 11, 2024, the EcoWaste Coalition and Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH) Centre for Research and Innovation (ACRI) held a seminar at Caloocan High School on chemical safety in classrooms, attended by around 100 teachers and school leaders. Dr. Geminn Louis C. Apostol led a plenary on potential chemical hazards and mitigation strategies, followed by interactive breakout sessions where teachers identified hazards and created educational materials promoting chemical safety. Facilitators, including experts from ACRI and SEAOHUN, supported the discussions. EcoWaste's Sir Manny Calonzo emphasized the risks of heavy metals in tarpaulins, crayons, and markers, advocating for toxic-free materials. The event is part of an ongoing partnership to empower educators in creating safer learning environments for Filipino children.

Samantha Eala and University of Melbourne team wins the the Indo-Pacific Global Health Case Competition

The Ateneo Center for Research and Innovation is proud to share that Samantha Eala together with her team won the Indo-Pacific Global Health Case Competition held on September 9. Samantha, an ACRI Junior Research Fellow, Master of Public Health student at the University of Melbourne, and Australia Awards scholar, clinched first place in this formidable challenge, which attracts bright minds from universities across Australia and the Indo-Pacific region. The focus of this year's competition was to develop actionable strategies to address malaria in Papua New Guinea. Participating teams were given two weeks to craft their solutions and had the opportunity to present their ideas in a 20-minute session to a panel comprised of renowned professionals and academics from the public health sector across the region. The event was organised by the Melbourne School of Population and Global Health and supported by the University of Melbourne Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences. It was notably the largest to date, with 28 teams from five countries and more than 150 participants.

ACRI Junior Research Fellow Samantha Eala Selected for the Wattle Fellowship

The Ateneo Center for Research and Innovation is proud to share that Samantha Eala, Junior Research Fellow, University of Melbourne Master of Public Health student, and Australia Awards scholar, has been selected as a Wattle Fellow. This prestigious fellowship is part of a year-long program designed to foster leadership on global sustainability, emphasising multidisciplinary approaches, transformative leadership, and practical skills development.

iPRIME Study team pilots learning modules for primary care providers in remote rural Philippines

The iPrime project extends the impact of its research findings by piloting innovative primary care learning modules in the municipality of Bobon, Northern Samar.

People in Primary Care: Dr. Chy

Dr. Chy is a dedicated primary care physician in Northern Samar. This feature presents the challenges and successes of doing primary care in a rural setting in the Philippines.

Mental Health

Pre-service Education in Mental, Brain and Behavioural Health: Scaling Up Implementation and Dissemination Workshop

In recent years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been working to enhance undergraduate education for healthcare professionals, particularly doctors and nurses, in the domains of mental health, brain health, and substance use conditions. As part of the preliminary activities for the guide's release, stakeholders from around the world convened in Shanghai last March 13-14, 2024 for a strategic planning session aimed at implementation and dissemination. It is a collective aspiration to empower future generations of doctors and nurses with mental health competencies to bridge the gap in mental health provision through enhanced medical education. As a participant and presenter to these meetings, the ASMPH, represented by Dr. Angel Belle Dy, is eager to contribute to this transformative initiative and witness its profound impact on shaping the future of medical education and healthcare delivery in the Philippines and worldwide.

Mental Health

ASMPH Center for Research and Innovation hosts the Rise and Thrive program team during a three-day GEDSI Workshop

From 10-12 July 2024, the ASMPH Center for Research and Innovation (ACRI) hosted the Rise and Thrive Philippine program team during its comprehensive gender equality, disability, and social inclusion (GEDSI) hybrid workshop and stakeholder consultation. Rise and Thrive: Building Resilient Communities through Inclusive Mental Health is a program of CBM Global Disability Inclusion in Fiji and the Philippines, supported by the Australian Government through Partnerships for a Healthy Region. The program aims to develop and document, by 2028, a model that results in the improved wellbeing of people with mental health conditions or psychosocial disability through improved community support, access to services, and systems that reinforce rights, equity, and inclusion.

Mental Health

Mental Health Science Academe and Research Task Force Consensus Statements and Recommendations

This infographic presents a summary of the propositions and recommendations of the Mental Health Science Academe and Research (MHSAR) Task Force to the Philippine Council for Mental Health (PCMH) in order to mainstream mental health in the educational system particularly higher educational institutions (HEIs).

Mental Health

Rise and Thrive Program Team successfully concludes preparatory project design workshop

The Rise and Thrive: Building Resilient Communities through Inclusive Mental Health program in Fiji and the Philippines is a four-year regional program supported by the Australian Government through its Partnerships for a Healthy Region (PHR) initiative. Rise and Thrive aims to develop a model that improves the well-being of people with mental health conditions or psychosocial disability through improved community support, access to services, and systems that reinforce rights, equity, and inclusion. As part of its preparatory phase, the Philippines Project Team composed of lead implementing partner ASMPH Center for Research and Innovation (ACRI), and co-implementing partner Balik Kalipay Center for Psychosocial Response, Inc. (BKC) underwent a three-day project design workshop. The workshop was facilitated by CBM Australia’s Senior Programme Coordinator Kirsten Bate with support from the Rise and Thrive Programme Team, Sucelle Deacosta, and Kyra Ballesteros. Through the workshop process, the team sought to develop the theory of change, its logical framework, and a collaborative action plan to guide the implementation of the multi-year program over the next four years in the country.

Environmental Health

Promoting the safety of reusables to protect human and environmental health

The Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health joins experts from all over the world in supporting Greenpeace’s statement regarding the safety of reusables during COVID-19.

Environmental Health

EcoWaste, ACRI Advocates for Safer Holiday Celebrations with "Iwas Paputoxic" Campaign

The EcoWaste Coalition, in partnership with the Ateneo Center for Research and Innovation's (ACRI) Environmental Health Flagship Program, launched "Iwas Paputoxic," a two-part community initiative aimed at promoting safer holiday celebrations as Christmas and New Year approached.

Environmental Health

Dr. Sary Valenzuela awarded the Fr. Bienvenido Nebres Scholarship, Georgetown University

The Ateneo Center for Research and Innovation is proud to announce that Dr. Sary Valenzuela, Assistant Program Head for Environmental Health, was awarded the prestigious Fr. Bienvenido Nebres Scholarship and will be joining the 2026 Cohort in the Master in Global Human Development in Georgetown University. She will begin her studies in the fall semester of 2024 in Washington, DC.

Environmental Health

EcoWaste, ACRI zooms in on Microplastics

In anticipation of Earth Day, environmental watchdog group EcoWaste Coalition organized a seminar last April 18, 2024 in partnership with Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Center for Research and Innovation (ACRI), University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI), and the International Pollutants Elimination Network-Southeast and East Asia (IPEN-SEA) to talk about the prevalence and impacts of microplastics in the environment, as well as their effects on human health.

Environmental Health

Empowered Assessments: Strengthening the Country’s Toxicology Centers

As toxic exposures continue to pose significant public health challenges in the Philippines' diverse archipelagic setting, strengthening the capacity of toxicology centers becomes increasingly crucial. The Ateneo Center for Research and Innovation (ACRI), in partnership with the Batangas Medical Center Toxicology Specialty Center, organized a comprehensive "Training Workshop on Human Risk Assessment, Management, Communication, and its Applications" last July 15-19, 2024, at Hortz Hotel, Tagaytay City.

Health Systems

iPRIME Study team pilots learning modules for primary care providers in remote rural Philippines

The iPrime project extends the impact of its research findings by piloting innovative primary care learning modules in the municipality of Bobon, Northern Samar.

Health Systems

People in Primary Care: Dr. Chy

Dr. Chy is a dedicated primary care physician in Northern Samar. This feature presents the challenges and successes of doing primary care in a rural setting in the Philippines.

Special Topics

The ASMPH 2nd Asian Functional Medicine Conference 2025

Join us on April 4-5, 2025, at the Ateneo Rockwell Campus Auditorium for an insightful journey into the future of Functional Medicine. Explore cutting-edge topics like Personalized Omics, Mind-Body Medicine, Environmental Toxicity, and Digital Health—all designed to revolutionize holistic healing. Plus, earn 12 PRC and 13 PMA CPD units for Medicine!

Special Topics

Special Group Offer: 5+1 Free at the 2nd Asian Functional Medicine Conference.

Gather your colleagues and maximize your learning experience with our special group rate: register 5 participants and get 1 free! This offer makes it easier for teams and institutions to attend together, fostering collaboration while enjoying significant savings. Happening on April 4-5, 2025, at the Ateneo Rockwell Campus Auditorium, the 2nd Asian Functional Medicine Conference is the perfect opportunity to deepen your understanding of holistic healthcare. This two-day event will bring together leading experts, healthcare professionals, and wellness advocates to discuss how functional medicine is transforming healthcare in Asia. Expect expert-led sessions, engaging discussions, and valuable networking opportunities designed to inspire and inform. Whether you're a medical professional looking to integrate functional medicine into your practice or someone passionate about innovative healthcare approaches, this conference offers a wealth of knowledge. Plus, you get to earn 12 PRC Medicine & 13 PMA CPD points. Don't miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation shaping the future of healthcare. Secure your place today! 🔗 Register now: go.ateneo.edu/ASMPH-FMConference

Special Topics

Detoxification Made Easy: Dr. Rolando Balburias’ Expert Approach at the 2nd Asian Functional Medicine Conference

Unlock the secrets of effective detoxification with Dr. Rolando Balburias at the 2nd ASMPH Functional Medicine Conference! His practical session "Detoxification Made Easy" cuts through the complexity to deliver a clear, systematic approach to supporting your body's natural cleansing processes. Learn to confidently guide patients through the entire detoxification journey with evidence-based tools and techniques that deliver real results.  To know more about the other speakers, please visit: https://go.ateneo.edu/FMConference-program #ASMPH2025

Special Topics

Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health Hosts Inaugural Asian Functional Medicine Conference

Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines - March 22-23, 2024 - The Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH) successfully organized the inaugural Asian Functional Medicine Conference with the theme "Journeys to Wellbeing: Inspiring Healthful Transformation through Functional Medicine in the Asian Landscape.”   This conference was done in a hybrid format. It was able to accommodate over 1,000 participants both online and onsite at the JY Campos Hall, Bayanihan Center of The United Laboratories, Inc. (UNILAB) in Mandaluyong.

Special Topics

Unlocking Personalized Healing: The Role of Functional Medicine in Patient Care

In today’s evolving healthcare landscape, the demand for personalized and holistic approaches to well-being is growing. Functional medicine is leading this transformation, offering innovative strategies that target the root causes of illness rather than just managing symptoms. Whether you’re a healthcare professional, a medical student, or simply someone interested in optimizing health, the 2nd Asian Functional Medicine Conference is an event you won’t want to miss. On April 4-5, 2025, at the Ateneo Rockwell Campus Auditorium in Makati City, esteemed experts in functional medicine will come together for an engaging discussion titled “Different Strokes for Different Folks.” This dynamic session will feature real-world applications of functional medicine, focusing on biotransformation support strategies that improve health outcomes.