Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) Medical Center Chief Dr. Ricardo Audan announced on Monday that SPMC inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the University of the Philippines-Mindanao (UP-Mindanao) last month for the school’s planned medical school program.
“In November we have the MOU signing with the UP-Mindanao for their medical schooling. Ang UP-Mindanao mag-open sila ug medical school and SPMC will be the based hospital,” Audan said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao.
Audan said UP-Mindanao will probably open the medical program by August or October next year.
The UP-Mindanao announced through its Facebook page that last November 13, 2024, officials from the University of the Philippines (UP) and the SPMC signed an MOU to affiliate future medical students of the proposed UP Mindanao School of Medicine with SPMC.
The signing of the MOU was led by Audan and UP Mindanao Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao at the SPMC Conference Room in Davao City. The MOU signing was witnessed by UP Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Leo Cubillan and SPMC Chief Training Officer Dr. Maria Elinore Alba-Concha.
Also present at the signing ceremony were UPMin Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Annabelle Novero, UPMin Technical Working Group member Dr. Franklin Guillano, and Research Assistant Christine Orfanel.
Additionally, SPMC Medical Professional Services Division Chief Dr. Fitzgerald Arancel and Finance Division Chief Ms. Cecil Japson attended the ceremony.
The school stated that this memorandum supports the UP proposal currently undergoing approval at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
