UST HOSPITAL has appointed seven new department chairs for fiscal year 2026–2027, while retaining 13 others in their posts.
The hospital announced the appointments in a Facebook post on Sept. 2, naming a total of 20 department chairs.
“Your appointment is a testament to your leadership, dedication, expertise, and commitment to excellence,” the hospital said.
Dr. Jocelyn Caja, who chairs the Department of Pathology of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery (Medicine), will succeed Dr. Rowen Yolo as chair of the Anatomic Pathology department.
Dr. Ma. Tricia Bautista, a member of the Medicine faculty council, will succeed Dr. Ma. Victoria Cruz as chair of the Family and Community Medicine department.
Dr. Ditas Decena will take over the Obstetrics and Gynecology department, while Dr. Catherine Macaraig will lead the Ophthalmology department.
Dr. Jayson Co of Radiation Oncology, Dr. Mirasol Pahutan of Radiological Sciences and Dr. Dakila de los Angeles of Surgery rounded out the seven newly appointed chairs.
Former Rehabilitation Sciences dean Prof. Consuelo Suarez was reappointed as chair of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, a position she has held since 2020.
Dr. Fritzie Paz will retain her chairmanship of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, while Dr. Teresa Sy-Ortin will continue to chair the Benavides Cancer Institute.
Also reappointed were Dr. Rosella Montano as chair of Clinical Pathology and Dr. Eleanor Letran as chair of Dermatology.
Dr. Julie Li-Yu will continue to lead the Internal Medicine department, while Dr. Maria Natividad and Dr. Johnny Lokin will head the Medical Education and Research and Neuroscience and Behavioral Medicine departments, respectively.
The reappointments also include Dr. Arnold Isidro as Nuclear Medicine chair; Dr. Alberto Molano for Orthopedics; Dr. John Silva for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery; Dr. Wilfredo Santos for Pediatrics; and Dr. Vladimir Villasenor for Medico-Legal Services.
Founded in 1946, UST Hospital is a Dominican healthcare institution that provides patient care alongside medical education, multidisciplinary training and research. Paolo Emmanuel D.C. Blanco
