#DrawEpilepsy: A Creative Way of Raising Epilepsy Awareness

A #DrawEpilepsy competition with a theme “People with epilepsy can lead normal lives” was held last September 2015 during the 14th National Epilepsy Awareness Week celebration of the UP-PGH Department of Neurosciences in cooperation with the Philippine League Against Epilepsy and Centre for Developmental Arts Manila, Inc.  A total of 99 entries from students ages 5-17 years were screened and graded by the following board of judges:

Baldwin Kho
Founder, Centre for Developmental Arts Manila, Inc. (CDAM)
International Humanitarian of Peace
2012 Asia and Oceania Outstanding Person with Epilepsy

Lloyd Perillo
Vice President, Centre for Developmental Arts Manila, Inc. (CDAM)
Director, Brent Sia Art Awards
Art Teacher

Ranil Sorongon
Advocate of Children with Disabilities
Philippine Partnership on Children with Disabilities (PPCWD)

Mario Fungo
President, Mandala Peace Art Initiatives, Inc.
Peace Representative, The World Peace Prayer Society

Fitz Sy Ocampo
Visual ArtistDEOVIR Art Supplies
DEOVIR Art Supplies
DEOVIR Art Supplies

Serene Low
Persatuan Epilepsi Malaysia2014 Asia Oceania Outstanding Person with Epilepsy
2014 Asia Oceania Outstanding Person with Epilepsy

Apple Valencia Tatay
2006 PLAE’s Epilepsy Exemplar Awardees
Epilepsy Philippines Advocate Network
Epilepsy Awareness Advocacy Philippines

Joahna Ibot
Epilepsy Awareness Advocacy Philippines

Jocylin Ching
Art Teacher
Graduate of Far Eastern University – College of Fine Arts

Raina Sheena Sy
2005 Brent Sia Art Award for Excellence Awardees
Graphic Artist

Architect Stephen Sha

 

The following are the winners of the #DrawEpilepsy contest:

Group 1: 5-8 Years Old

1st Place
By: Nicholai Reilly Tan

 

2nd Place
By: Timothy Sze

 

3rd Place
By: Theodore Lao

 

Group 2:  9-12 Years Old

1st Place
By: Trisha Danielle Sia

 

2nd Place
By: Kristina Lorin Dela Cruz

 

3rd Place
By: Mark Julius Ang

 

Group 3: 13-17 Years Old

1st Place
By: Chester Aaron Sia

 

2nd Place
By: Justine Sy

 

3rd Place
By: Valiant Gene Sanchez

 

Congratulations to all the winners!  Other drawings that received honorable mentions may be viewed and downloaded from the #DrawEpilepsy facebook page.

 

Let us celebrate the International Epilepsy Day! For more information, log on to epilepsy.org.

Celebrating International Epilepsy Day

Epilepsy is not all about seizures.  We see people from all over the world no matter how old they are, where they are from or what race or religion they may be, suffering from epilepsy but striving to live their lives to the fullest.

On February 8, let’s come together as one and help people with epilepsy grow braver in themselves by educating the world about epilepsy.  Let’s celebrate the International Epilepsy Day and inspire the world with their stories.

We are all inviting everyone to post their selfies and pictures about epilepsy as this would increase awareness about this disease on this day and even throughout the rest of the year. Please visit epilepsy.org and have all your pictures be seen in #EpilepsyDay Website Selfie Wall.

Let us show that we care by being aware.  Click on the videos below to know the truth about epilepsy.

UP-PGH Epilepsy Awareness Campaign – Mga Katotohanan Tungkol Sa Epilepsy
UP-PGH Epilepsy Awareness Campaign – Unang Lunas

The International Epilepsy Day is a joint initiative by the International Bureau for Epilepsy (IBE) and the International League Against Epilepsy (ILAE).  For more information, you can visit the official webpage for  International Epilepsy Day.

Celebrating the 14th National Epilepsy Awareness Week

Neuro Team with PGH Director Dr. Gonzales

PGH Neurology Residents with Department Chair Dr. Leonor Cabral-Lim

Neurology fellow, residents, and clerks with Dr. Jose Gonzales, Dr. Leonor Cabral-Lim, Dr. Rhea Angela Quimpo-Salonga, and Dr. Marc Fernandez during the ribbon cutting for the opening of the 14th National Epilepsy Awareness Week.

Updates and Last Minute Applications to the Sections of Neurosurgery and Adult Neurology

Do not fret. There’s still time to submit your applications.

The final intake for applications for both sections will be September 1, 2015 9AM. Bring your applications directly to the office of the Deputy Director for Health Operations. THEN:

For Neurosurgery applicants, proceed AT ONCE to the office of Neurosurgery at the back of Ward 6 for the first of 2 exams. The exam will start promptly at 9AM exam. The next exam will be at 1PM TOGETHER WITH THE ADULT NEUROLOGY applicants in ERC 215. PLEASE BRING 1000 PHP for the second exam.

For Adult Neurology applicants, proceed AT ONCE to the epilepsy lay forum at the Dietary Function Room (inside Mess Hall). Your only exam together with the neurosurgery applicants will be at 1 PM ERC 215. PLEASE BRING 1000 PHP as examination fee. An orientation will follow AFTER the exam.

Featured here are Adult Neurology residents in the University of South Wales for an EEG teaching course with Dr. Somerville.

Also, for Adult Neurology applicants you need to attend the Epilepsy MD forum September 2, 2015 to be held at the Guazon Hall. The event will start at 8am.

Good luck to all applicants.

Neurosurgery Application Updates

Featuring immediate past chief resident Dr. James Mercado and current 4th year Dr. Andrei Liban

Neurosurgery Exam 1: September 1, 2015 9AM

Will cover Neurosurgery topics

Neurosurgery Exam 2: September 1, 2015 1PM

Will cover General Neurology topics

Both exams will be held in the Neurosurgery Office at the back of Ward 6. Do not be late.

Standby for scheduling of pre-residency period and interviews.

Good luck to all applicants.

Change in Deadline for Applications

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS to all those who passed the Physician Licensure Examination! Special shoutout to UP Medicine for garnering a 100% passing rate!

Congratulations Tristan Uy of UP Medicine for placing 8th!

The deadline for filing of the applications to the Section of Adult Neurology has been moved to September 1, 2015, 9AM. Epilepsy week lay forum will still push through in the morning while exams will still be held on that day (September 1) at 1:30PM. 

You miss 100% of the shots that you don’t take. – Michael Jordan

Pre-Residency Activities

You can certainly try.

September 1: Lay Forum for Epilepsy Week in the morning (Pre-residents to attend) then Pre-residency Exam for Adult Neurology (possibly NSS as well) in the afternoon
September 3 onwards: Pre residency period
September 30: Interview for qualified applicants for Adult Neurology

For questions please call our office.

Good luck to all of you. Study hard.

Applications for the Section of Adult Neurology and the Section of Neurosurgery Training Programs

ARE NOW OPEN.

Please submit the following to the Philippine General Hospital Office of the Deputy Director for Health Operations:

1. 2 pcs 2×2 pictures (NOT more than 1 year old)
2. Certification of class rank and general weighted average grade from the office of the Dean or Office of the registrar (MUST be original or certified true copy)
3. Photocopy of the following (1 copy each)

• Transcript of records
• M.D. Diploma
• Certificate of Internship
• Community Tax Certificate

The application form (available at the office) must be filled in duplicate at the Office of the Deputy Director for Health Operations.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS WILL BE ON AUGUST 31, 2015. 4PM.

If you have any more questions please feel free to talk to the  personnel the Department of Neurosciences Office in Ward 5 or you can call them (our wonderful staff Mabuhay Nanette and Norma) 554-8462. The residents will all be hard at work during the morning but should you wish to talk to any of the Adult Neurology residents, you can try calling at night, 554-8400 Loc 2401. The Neurosurgery residents are probably in the OR. You can comment your questions as well.

Schedule for exams, interviews and pre-residency will be posted in the coming days.

Featured here are the current second years of both sections. This was taken before they started residency. Many things have changed since then. Relationships. Friendships. BMI. Haircuts. But the love for the neurosciences remains. They are all, with the guidance of the attendings, still saving lives, one brain at a time. Come join the team.

Epilepsy Week 2015

The UP-PGH Department of Neurosciences will hold its annual Epilepsy Week this coming September 1-7, 2015.  This aims to improve the knowledge and understanding of laypersons regarding epilepsy.  Moreover, this also aspires to enrich the expertise of medical practitioners on basic epilepsy management.

This is for FREE but slots for the lay forum will be limited to the first 100 participants (patients and their companions) who will pre-register.  Slots for the MD forum will likewise be limited to the first 100 clerks, interns, residents, and consultants who will pre-register.  Free snacks and lunch will be served.  Contact Dr. Rhain De Roxas to register for the Lay Forum and Art Workshop.  Contact Dr. Marj Bagnas (5548400 local 2401) to register for the MD Forum.

Only pre-registered participants will be allowed to attend the said activities.

Lay Forum
“Mga Katotohanan Tungkol sa Epilepsy”
September 1, 2015

8:00am – 8:20am                       Registration
8:20am – 8:25am                       Pambansang Awit
8:25am – 8:30am                       Pambungad na Pananalita
8:30am – 9:00am                       “Ano ang Epilepsy?”
.                                                  Dr. Marjorie Anne C. Bagnas
9:00am – 9:30am                       “Nagagamot ba ang Epilepsy?”
.                                                  Dr. Jesi Ellen Bautista
9:30am – 9:45am                       Epilepsy at Marijuana
.                                                  Dr. Rhea Angela Salonga-Quimpo
9:45am – 10:15am                     “Delikado ba ang Epilepsy?”
.                                                  Dr. Marc Fernandez
10:15am – 1045am                    “Pwede ba mag-aral at magtrabaho ang may Epilepsy?”
.                                                  Dr. Mari Anne Kristin Dale Moll
10:45am – 11:15am                   “Pwede ba magbuntis ang may Epilepsy?”
.                                                  Dr. Leonor I. Cabral-Lim
11:15am – 11:45am                   “Sining at Epilepsy?”
.                                                  Mr. Baldwin Kho
11:45am – 12nn                         Talakayan (Open Forum)
12nn                                           Pangwakas na Pananalita

Epilepsy Art Workshop:  Breaking Barriers
September 1, 2015 1:00PM
Limited to the FIRST 30 participants who will pre-register.

MD Forum
Epilepsy Basics and Beyond
September 2, 2015

8:00am – 8:30am                        Registration
8:30am – 8:35am                        National Anthem
8:35am – 8:45am                        Opening Remarks
8:45am – 9:30am                        Epilepsy or Not?
.                                                   Dr. Katerina Tanya Perez-Gosiengfiao
9:30am – 10:15am                      AED Treatment – Not One Size Fits All
                                                    Dr. Leonor I. Cabral-Lim
10:15am – 10:45am                    Greater Access to Treatment: AED Generics
.                                                   Dr. Marilyn Ortiz
10:45am – 11:00am                    Epilepsy and Marijuana
                                                    Dr. Rhea Angela Salonga-Quimpo
11:00am – 11:30am                    The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Adverse Effects of Treatment
                                                    Dr. Marc Fernandez
11:30am – 12:00nn                     New Kid on the Block: Perampanel
                                                    Dr. Leonor I. Cabral-Lim
12:00nn – 12:15pm                     Open Forum
12:15pm – 12:20pm                    Closing Remarks

Come and SEIZE the day!

Epilepsy Week 2012

 

ACTIVITIES:

Sept 3:  Epilepsy Lay Forum,  Buenafe Hall, UP College of Medicine, 8am-12nn

Sept 5: Epilepsy Scientific Symposium for MDs, Buenafe Hall, UP College of Medicine, 8am-12nn

Sept 3-7: Information Booth at PGH Elevator Lobby

 

Neuro and NSS Residency Applicants

Schedule of Activities:

Sept 3:  Epilepsy Lay Forum,  Buenafe Hall, UP College of Medicine, 8am-12nn

Sept 5: Epilepsy Scientific Symposium for MDs, Buenafe Hall, UP College of Medicine, 8am-12nn

Sept 7: Pre-Residency Exam, Paz Mendoza Bldg UPCM, 1st floor, 9am-12nn

– Adult Neurology and NSS applicants

– NSS aplicants will have an additional exam in the afternoon

Sept 8 onwards:  Start of Pre-Residency duties for Adult Neurology applicants

– 2 weeks per batch

Oct 10: tentative Interview for Adult Neurology applicants

LSB in Inquirer

http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/43769/helping-the-poor-cope-with-brain-injuries

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Needy patients with brain diseases and disorders are no longer up against a brick wall. Neuropsychologist Lourdes Ledesma’s brainchild Let’s Save The Brain Foundation can help.

The nonprofit organization, put up to extend the best care to indigent patients confined at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital’s (UP-PGH) Department of Neurosciences, aims to raise P10 million this year and at least P100 million in five years to fund medicines, laboratory tests and procedures such as brain imaging studies and medical life support systems.

“When somebody has a stroke or any brain-related injury, that person isn’t the only victim,” said Ledesma, speaking before prospective donors during the recent launch of the foundation at Hyatt Hotel and Casino Manila. “Sometimes that person is the head of the household, the breadwinner. When you donate today, you are helping more of our patients enjoy longer, better lives.”

A P1,000 donation would enable one patient at the Neurosciences department to rent a ventilator that would help him breathe and survive for about two days.

A P100,000 donation would enable the department to buy eight aneurysm clips for their patients, effectively treat two fatal infections, allow two stroke victims to receive emergency procedures, help five patients undergo life-saving brain surgeries, and carry out 10 magnetic resonance imaging procedures.

Surviving an ordeal

(MARY Anne Chan, Mariter Macapagal, Marge Tambunting, Arturo Macapagal)

Majority of the patients at the UP-PGH Neurosciences department have suffered a stroke, and were lucky to have survived the ordeal, but have to live with the fact that their lifetime of memories, abilities and comprehension of the world have already been wiped away.

Few patients have been there for some time, suffering from brain diseases that left them disfigured, unable to live independently.

What brought them to this hospital was the fact that their families can no longer afford to pay for treatment and rehabilitation.

Angelica Ponce, 58, considers herself lucky now that she can slowly move around after having suffered a stroke. “But I cannot afford the P7,000 a month fee that I need to be rehabilitated, not with my bedridden daughter who is confined here because of cerebral palsy,” she said.

Ponce may still be fortunate, considering that about one-third or 167,000 of more than half a million Filipinos who suffer a stroke still die despite hospital intervention.

While the rest will be lucky enough to survive, they will endure partial or complete disability. Full recovery depends on the area of the brain involved and the amount of tissue damaged, as well as timely medical or surgical intervention.

“At any given time, there are around 60 patients confined here,” said Dr. Alvin Cenina, the department’s chief resident. “Apart from stroke—the Neurosciences department sees around 30 emergency cases a day—a number of those confined here are survivors of traumatic brain injury, have epilepsy, hydrocephalus and infections involving the central nervous system.”

(DOCTORS Wally Ledesma, founder of Let’s Save The Brain Foundation, and Caloy Chua)

He lamented that majority of these patients don’t have the means to pay for the emergency procedures or shoulder the medicines needed for continuing care and rehabilitation.

“Even if we waive our professional fees, these families will still not be able to pay,” said Cenina. “For example, the family of a patient suffering from a ruptured brain aneurysm must shell out at least P12,000, the cost of the clip that must be placed to seal off the leaking artery in the brain. In the case of a patient suffering from a stroke caused by a blood clot, that patient must be given within three hours a drug that costs around P30,000.”

Had these patients gone to a private hospital, they would have spent more than P400,000 for such emergency procedure and subsequent hospitalization.

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*Published in the Philippine Daily Inquirer, Lifestyle section, April 17, 2012