Strengthening clinical education and expanding opportunities for future physicians to gain hands-on hospital experience, the University of Northern Philippines forged separate Memoranda of Agreement (MOAs) with Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) and Lorma Medical Center (LMC) on October 30, 2026.
The agreements provide UNP medical students with opportunities to undergo clinical rotations in various hospital wards and specialized departments, allowing them to apply their academic knowledge in actual healthcare settings, develop essential clinical competencies, and gain practical experience under the supervision of medical professionals.
Dr. Pablo Quedado, Dean of the UNP College of Medicine, facilitated the forging of the agreements, which strengthen the University’s collaboration with two medical institutions serving communities in Northern Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region.
UNP President Dr. Erwin Cadorna signed the agreements with Dr. Larry Haya Jr., in his capacity as BGHMC Chief, and Dr. Mario Bautista, Medical Director of LMC. Witnessing the signing were Dr. Domingo Solimen, BGHMC Chief Training Officer; Dr. Raymond Espinosa, LMC Assistant Medical Director for Staff Development and Training; and Dr. Quedado, representing UNP.
Under the agreements, the University is responsible for submitting to the partner hospitals a certified list of medical students scheduled for clinical rotations and ensuring that they complete the required training hours in accordance with their officially approved schedules.
The University is further required to coordinate with the hospital chief or authorized personnel, including department heads and the chief of clinics, on matters concerning clinical training programs, school holidays, academic activities, and other related arrangements. It shall also provide prior orientation for clinical faculty members at the Department of Public Safety to prepare them for supervising student affiliates and submit written notification of any relinquished schedule slots at least one week before the scheduled duty.
For their part, BGHMC and LMC shall provide medical students with opportunities to gain practical experience and training in the hospitals’ various wards and specialized areas. The partner institutions shall also allow students to attend and participate in clinical conferences, symposia, and other designated activities relevant to their professional training programs.
In addition, the hospitals shall enforce their respective rules and regulations governing clinical supervision and student training to ensure that the learning activities are conducted in accordance with institutional policies and established professional standards.
The clinical training arrangements will be supported by medical preceptors assigned to guide and supervise students throughout their hospital rotations. BGHMC has five medical preceptors in each of the following areas: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Surgery, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, and Psychiatry, as well as an overall coordinator. LMC, meanwhile, has two medical preceptors to support its clinical training program.
The availability of medical preceptors and the participation of hospital-based professionals are vital to help students translate classroom learning into clinical practice. Through supervised exposure to different medical specialties, students can strengthen their clinical judgment, improve their patient-care skills, and better understand the responsibilities and demands of medical practice.
The agreements also formalize the respective responsibilities of the University and its hospital partners in implementing clinical rotations, coordinating training schedules, and maintaining appropriate supervision throughout the affiliation period. Such arrangements provide an institutional framework for aligning medical education with the practical requirements of healthcare delivery.
As the third agreements forged between UNP and the two medical institutions, the MOAs reflect the continuation of their collaborative efforts to provide medical students with access to hospital-based training and professional learning opportunities.
Through these partnerships, UNP continues to strengthen the practical component of its Doctor of Medicine program by connecting academic instruction with supervised clinical experience. The collaboration gives aspiring physicians opportunities to learn from practicing medical professionals, gain exposure to diverse clinical environments, and develop the knowledge, skills, and professional discipline needed to serve patients and communities.
By sustaining its partnerships with established medical institutions, the University reinforces its commitment to prepare competent and responsible future physicians through quality medical education, structured clinical training, and collaboration with healthcare providers.
Article and photo by Johnny Allagadan, Jr.
