History

Established in 1975, the West Visayas State University College of Medicine is the
pioneer medical school in Western Visayas and the 2nd state owned medical school in
the country. It has produced 2,468 graduates (as of March 2009), majority of whom are
serving the different areas in the entire archipelago. Today, the graduates are into
community work as primary health care physicians, teachers, researchers and clinicians
in various fields of specialization here and abroad.
The West Visayas State University College of Medicine occupies a two-story Roxas
Hall located inside the 17-hectares University main campus. The College utilizes the
dissection room at Rizal Hall and the University Computer Center for its computer-aided
instruction.
The idea of establishing a medical school in Western Visayas was conceived in 1971. It
was envisioned to provide good medical education and training particularly for the less
privileged but deserving youth of the region and help meet the increasing need for
medical manpower to minister to the health needs of the people.
These concepts were embodied in a feasibility study made by some concerned medical
practitioners in Iloilo City headed by Dr. Angel de Leon and Dr. Arturo Muyco. The study
was presented to President Jose B. Ledesma of the West Visayas State College who
concurred with the idea and requested Dr. Angel de Leon and Dr. Maria Celia Palma to
draft a project study which became the basis for resolution No. 10, series of 1973 dated
May 7, 1973, by the WVSC Board of Trustees. Thus the first medical school in Region VI
and the second state-controlled medical college in the country came into being.
After thorough evaluation and approval by the Board of Medical Education in 1974, the
first entrance examination and screening of would-be medical students were conducted
among 250 applicants. In June of 1975, the WVSU medical school, with Dr. Angel de Leon
as its dean, opened its portals to 25 first-year medical students. Classes were conducted
at the Rizal Hall.
Though its growth and development have been slow, the School of Medicine has
managed to go on, hurdling insurmountable obstacles while aiming for excellence. With
only four full-time faculty members in the Basic Sciences and an integrated curriculum,
great efforts were exerted to teach the freshmen the basic knowledge and skills of
medicine. The ideals and goals of the institution were impressed upon their young minds
to be healers of men, particularly the Filipino people, as primary health care physicians.
On October 14, 1975, the WVSC entered into a contract of affiliation with the Iloilo
Doctors Hospital to provide the students clinical material and exposure and to avail of
the expertise of the medical specialists. A 100-bed annex called the WVSC-IDH Medical

Center was built to serve as base hospital and it was formally inaugurated on July 27,
1976. The succeeding years saw an increase in the population of the school and, in 1977,
the construction of Roxas Hall was deemed necessary. Library and laboratory facilities
were improved. The Community Outreach Program was organized to provide the
students first-hand experience of life and health situations in the rural areas.
On March 26, 1979, the school graduated its first batch of 21 medical students who, in
December of the same year, hurdled the Physicians Licensure Examination with a 100%
passing percentage and Dr. Jerry Alabado as fifth placer.
In early 1982, the need for its own base hospital was felt and plans were laid for the
purchase of the Gov. Benito Lopez Memorial Hospital, which is conveniently located near
the school. A lease contract was made and, on January 1, 1986, it became the base
hospital of the school with Dean Angel de Leon as its Director.
When President Ferdinand E. Marcos converted the West Visayas State College into a
University by virtue of Presidential Decree No. 2019, the medical school became known
as the College of Medicine. The victory of President Corazon C. Aquino led to another
milestone -- the purchase of the hospital on April 5, 1987. The hospital was renamed the
West Visayas State University Hospital in May 1987. These historical events took place
during the term of University President Lilia V. Juele.
The serene atmosphere in the College was disrupted by the change in the administration
of the University. The main issue was the directorship of the University Hospital brought
about by the retirement of Dr. Angel de Leon. On January 4, 1988, the seemingly passive
faculty and students aired their grievances against University President Dr. Venancio
Garagan. Through the intervention of Secretary Lourdes Quisumbing, arrangements were
made so that the College could operate as an autonomous unit of the University. The
designation of Dr. Jaime M. Manila as Dean, Dr. Myrna L. Abello as Associate Dean for
Academics and Dr. Ma. Victoria C. Villareal as Associate Dean for Clinics was made. In
March 1992, Dr. Ramon S. Guerra, Jr. was appointed University Hospital Director while Dr.
Manila continued to serve as Dean of the College. In September 1994, after his term was
over, Dr. Manila was succeeded by Dr Abello with Dr. Villareal as Associate Dean. In
January 2002, Dr. Villareal was designated Dean with Dr. Emiliana G. Carmona as
Associate Dean for Academics and Dr. Leopoldo Gonzalez as Associate Dean for
Administration.
Since its establishment in 1973, the WVSU College of Medicine has made a name in the
field of Medical Education, being among the medical institutions in the country with
consistently commendable performance in the Licensure Examinations. It has produced
more than 1300 licensed physicians, majority of whom are now serving the country from
as far north as Kalinga, Apayao, to as far south as Tawi-tawi. A good number of its
graduates have served the rural areas through the Doctors to the Barrios Program and
many are specialists and sub-specialists in varied fields of medical practice. Many of its
graduates are now members of its faculty of instruction. Despite its successes and

achievements, the WVSU College of Medicine does not placidly sit on its laurels but
ceaselessly pursues the realization of bigger and more meaningful dream.

Vision, Mission and Objectives of the College

VISION
A community of physicians
Socially accountable, enlightened and professionally competent
Committed to deliver primary health care with compassion
Dedicated towards continuing medical education,research and extension and
Devoted to serve the health needs of the Filipino people

MISSION
To provide deserving students an affordable medical education that is in consonance with
the concept of a socially accountable primary health care physician equally prepared for
post graduate studies, research, teaching and specialized training.

OBJECTIVES
Upon the completion of their medical education the students should be able to:
1. Apply requisite knowledge of the basic medical sciences in the performance of
fundamental skills for the practice of medicine.
2. Develop essential habits and proper attitudes in the acquisition of knowledge and
humane treatment of the patients.
3. Apply principles of professional ethics in the practice of medicine.
4. Inculcate social awareness and empathy in the course of serving the medical and
psychological needs of the community.

5. Utilize appropriate knowledge, skills, and experiences in their academic endeavors,

scientific research or service, either directly or indirectly to the community in varying
degrees and depths.

The Curriculum
Responding to the challenges of medical education, the College of Medicine embarked on
a new strategy, the Problem Based Learning approach. This is an innovative approach in
which students tackle problems in small groups under the supervision of a tutor. Once
presented with a problem, the student is expected to undergo the following processes:
hypothesis generation, inquiry, data analysis and decision-making. By observing a
scientific process of reasoning, the student will learn in context and integrate the subject
matter around professionally relevant problems. Being student-centered, this selfdirected learning strategy aims to:
a. enhance the individuals intrinsic motivation to learn
b. enable the student to acquire the following:
-

problem solving skills

interpersonal skills

There will be learning blocks, with the following schedule:

YEAR I
BLOCK I:

MEDICINE: SCIENCE, ART, CAREER

- 2 weeks

BLOCK II: UNDERSTANDING HEALTH AND DISEASES - 2 weeks

BLOCK III: BASIC PRINCIPLES

- 7 weeks

BLOCK IV: MUSCULOSKELETAL / INTEGUMENT

- 4 weeks

BLOCK V: NEUROSCIENCE

- 4 weeks

BLOCK VI: CVS / RESPIRATORY INTEGRATION

- 7 weeks

BLOCK VII:DIGESTIVE / NUTRITION/METABOLISM

- 5 weeks

BLOCK VIII:

- 3 weeks

GENITO-URINARY AND ADRENALS

COMMUNITY WORK

COMMUNITY BASED LEADERSHIP PROGRAM I

RESEARCH I
This is a course on research methodology. Topics include ethical and legal considerations
of research, research problem formulation and variable identification, study designs,
review of literature, sampling and sample size estimation, data collection and
presentation, and research work plan preparation. Hands-onexperience on commonly

used software programs (EPI-Infor and SPSS) are provided. At the end of the academic
year, the students in groups, present for approval one pharmacology-based and one
community-based research protocol.

YEAR II
BLOCK IX: GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT

- 7 weeks

BLOCK X: INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM

- 3 weeks

BLOCK XI:

DIGESTIVE SYSTEM

- 7 weeks

BLOCK XII:

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM

- 5 weeks

BLOCK XIII:

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM

BLOCK XIV:

REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM

- 5 weeks
- 7 weeks

COMMUNITY WORK
COMMUNITY -BASED LEADERSHIP PROGRAM II

RESEARCH II
This is a course on tools for data analysis, evaluation of diagnostic procedures, and
reading and critical evaluation of medical literature. The students conduct the approved
group research protocols and present the research paper in a year-end research forum.

YEAR III
BLOCK XV:THE MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM

- 4 weeks

BLOCK XVI:

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM, GENETICS

BLOCK XVII:

NEURO-PSYCHIATRY

BLOCK XVIII:

HEMATOPOIETIC SYSTEM

BLOCK XIX:

URINARY SYSTEM

BLOCK XX:SPECIAL SENSES

- 5 weeks
- 8 weeks
- 5 weeks
- 6 weeks

- 5 weeks

COMMUNITY WORK

COMMUNITY-BASED LEADERSHIP PROGRAM III

COMMUNITY WORK

LEGAL MEDICINE

RESEARCH III
This is a course on clinical based research. Students in groups present protocols for
approval, conduct community based or hospital based clinical researches, and present
the completed research studies in a year-end forum.

YEAR IV
Rotating Clinical Clerkship

365 days

Admission Policies & Requirements

The Committee on Admissions
The Committee on Admissions has the authority to determine the criteria of selection
and to recommend who from among the applicants are qualified students. The College
selects applicants based on intellectual and personal preparedness irrespective of sex,
religious belief and political affiliation. It reserves the right to deny admission to any
applicant whose admission is deemed inimical to the best of the College and the
University.
General Policies on Admission
An applicant must be of good moral character.
An applicant must have no record of final conviction for a crime.
An applicant must have good academic records, in compliance with the standards set
forth by the Admissions Committee.
An applicant must undergo and pass the interview process on the data scheduled y the
Admissions Committee.
A student may apply only one per school year. He shall ranked based on documents
submitted prior to his interview.
The College has the prerogative to determine the number of
admitted.

students who shall be

Filipino students shall be given priority on admission.

A student who qualified for enrollment but failed to enroll in that particular school year
shall have to reapply and undergo the screening process anew.
As per Board of Regents resolution no. 68, s. 2001, 75% of available slots shall be given
to enrollees permanently residing in Region VI, and the remaining slots shall be filled by
applicants from other regions in the country.
Other relevant University rules on admission which are contradictory to the preceding
rules shall apply.
Requirements
New students and/or qualified transferees are admitted only to the first year class in the
first semester.
He/She must be holder of a Bachelors degree in science or arts (AB/BS) conferred upon
by a duly recognized educational institution.

He/she must have taken the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT). The West Visayas
State University College of Medicine requires an NMAT percentile rank of at least 60%.
He/She must present a Certificate of Good Moral Character from two College professors.
He/She must present a Birth Certificate.
He/She must submit a Transcript of Records showing completion of a degree course.
For graduates of private schools, the Transcript of Records is validated by a Special order
from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). For graduates of public schools, the
diploma and Certificate of Graduation must be presented.
The applicant must have a weighted average equivalent to 2.5 (80) or better in all
his/her College subjects for the degree obtained, or in the first seven semester for the
College degree being pursued if the students is graduation in the second semester of the
current year.
Application for admission may be obtained from the Office of the Registrar, College of
Medicine starting January 2 of the current year. He deadline is March 31 of the same
year (for the first batch of applicants). Deadline of submission of application for the
second batch of applicants shall set by the Admissions Committee.
The official application from must be accompanied by:
Certified Machine Copy of NMAT results
Certified Machine Copy of Transcript of Records
2 pieces 2x2 ID picture
Self-addressed stamped envelope
Certified machine copy of latest income Tax Return of parents
Certified machine copy of live birth certificate
Qualified applicants must submit to a personal interview scheduled by the Committee on
Admissions.
Qualified applicants must pass the Physical Examination to be conducted by the West
Visayas State University Medical Center physicians and the University dentist.
Upon enrolment, the following must be submitted:
Original copy of Honorable dismissal
Original copy of NMAT result
Certificate of Live Birth
Physical and Dental Examination results
Original copy of Transcript of Records
Certificate of Good Moral Character
Certificate of Graduation
Special order for graduates of Private Schools
Foreign students must comply with requirements of the Commission on Higher Education
(CHED).

Students qualified for admission are considered officially registered upon payment of
fees. Old students should present their clearance for the preceding term to the
registrars office and their ID cards for validation. Late registration may be allowed for
valid reasons, but only within one week from the official opening of classes.