15/06/2025
𝗜𝗖𝗬𝗠𝗜 | Just Around the Corner: Xanthrons to Venture Into Clinical Internship
Last May 27, 2025, the College of Medical Technology’s third year students gathered at the Mandell Hall Auditorium to attend the pre-internship program, a series of seminars and workshops that is essential in the transition of Batch Xanthrons’ from clinical studies to actual clinical internship.
Assistant Dean Ms. Rona Maye Trinidad started the kick-off event with a motivational speech, encouraging students to take pride in the progress they've made and step into their newfound roles as interns with confidence.
The first guest speaker for the seminar, Mr. Carlo Ace De Belen of Emilio Aguinaldo College, discussed the importance of professionalism and comportment in the workplace. He also stressed the importance of integrity, accountability, respect, competence, effective communication, and empathy. “Professionalism is what you do; comportment is how you do it,” he emphasized.
The next guest speaker was Mr. Roberto Cahilog, Jr., representing Elevate, a nationwide student organization. His talk focused on leadership and effective communication, challenging common myths such as the saying that “leaders are born” or that holding titles make a person a leader. Instead, he defined influence as a metric of successful leadership. He also talked about common communication barriers and how to overcome them and encouraged students to develop empathy, learn to regulate their emotions, and practice active listening. His key message was “To grow in your leadership, grow in your communication.”.
During the open forum segment of the program, Mr. De Belen also addressed ethical dilemmas, advising students to document and report issues through the proper channels: “Do what is best for you and what is right.”.
Afterwards, CMT alums shared their internship experience at Thammasat University in Thailand, heavily emphasizing automation in diagnostic testing. They noted similarities between Thailand's and the Philippines' healthcare systems, particularly in terms of work ethic and patient satisfaction, offering valuable insights into the evolving landscape of clinical internship.
For the afternoon session, Mr. Jeruel Makaz Eusebio of Singapore Diagnostics delivered an interactive session on pre-analytical errors, stating that 50-70% of lab mistakes occur before analysis. He engaged students in a team-based activity identifying errors from case scenarios, reinforcing critical points such as specimen collection, patient identification, site selection, and aseptic technique. On the other hand, Ms. Shaira Dela Cruz of Siemens Healthineers introduced PEPconnect, an online learning tool offering certifications, CPD credits, and self-paced modules. She also guided students through a hands-on activity to sign up and explore the app.
The seminar ended with Ms. Aila Nell Sarmiento, Clinical Training Head, formally accepting the Xanthrons for internship.
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✍︎ Andre Christian B. Ong
◲ Jam P. Pigar
⛶ Carlo Rodrigo R. Yunque
𝗜𝗡 𝗙𝗢𝗖𝗨𝗦 | Facts beyond objectives.
