95 YEARS OF HARDWORK
Five years short of her centennial, Dr. Fe del Mundo shows that her mission to serve Filipino children just keeps on intensifying
The achievements of Dr. Fe del Mundo-as a pediatrician, scientist, educator, author, public-health advocate, and humanitarian-are well recorded and their effects so evident that it might seem superfluous to keep harping on them. Also, every time these achievements are re-recognized and recalled, she keeps adding something to the list.
These achievements are not only formidable in that many of them were done single-handedly; they are formidable because they significantly affected, unquestionably for the better, the history of medicine and public health in the country and all over the world.
Why does she keep going on? A statement she gave MEDICAL OBSERVER in 2005 is particularly telling: "I knew there was much to be done." Here she was actually talking about her first encounter, as a student, with the plight of children in Marinduque, but seeing that a lot of gaps need to be filled might have served as the driving force for her to keep working-even unto now, as she celebrated her 95th birthday on November 27.
The early years
But what made del Mundo decide to become a doctor in the first place?
She told MEDICAL OBSERVER in 2002: "I really thought of taking up medicine in my early years because of my sister who [had] died. Among her belongings was a small notebook where she wrote that she wanted to take up medicine. When she died, I decided to take her place."
And also, the days she spent in Marin-duque doing research proved to be a turning point: "I surveyed Marinduque during the [American] occupation, and I saw how many children were dying and how many were not receiving medical attention. There was no doctor for children at the time … and the provincial health officer had no background at all [about pediatrics] … but [since] there was no other doctor, all the town people went to him."
So she attended the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, from which she graduated on top of her class of 70 students in 1933. As a scholar under President Manuel Quezon, she moved on to pursue her training in pediatrics at the Harvard Medical School.
At the time the school didn't take in female medical students (the gates were opened to women only in 1949); but because she was a presidential scholar and she came from far away, Harvard opted to take her in.
She recalled that she had to prove she was just as good as the rest of them, even if it meant borrowing all the relevant materials from the library ahead of everyone else; she thus went to class more prepared than the others. She also trained at Columbia University and the Billings Hospital in Chicago.
Eventually, she gained the Americans' respect, enough for them to ask her to practice in the United States instead. But she knew where her obligations were. As she told MEDICAL OBSERVER in 2002: "To be in medicine you mustn't expect to get rich. It is more charity work than amassing wealth."
So she came back, but World War II broke out. Del Mundo found herself taking care of the children of American soldiers in a makeshift hospital converted from a school-the Lincoln Memorial. The US government honored her for "unflagging and selfless dedication and sacrifice."
When war ended, her 400 patients went back to their country. This was the perfect time for her to start fulfilling her dream of serving Filipino children. She put up a children's hospital that soon became the North General Hospital. As the hospital's medical director, del Mundo ensured that the residents got quality training and the hospital offered adequate medical service to its clients. North General Hospital later became the Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center.
Another hospital
But of course, del Mundo felt the need to do more. She was determined to found another hospital, the Children's Medical Center along Banawe, Quezon City-what was eventually, and rightfully, named after her, the Fe del Mundo Medical Center Foundation (FDMMCF).
But her dream to put up a 100-bed children's hospital proved to be a big challenge. In 1952, the cornerstone of the first building of FDMMCF was laid. In 1957 the hospital opened to serve the public. Four years after the hospital opened, she was forced to sell her house so she could buy an elevator for the hospital. Then she was able to build her second building through a loan from the Government Service Insurance System and a private bank.
She recalled in the same 2002 interview: "I had no collateral. I did not have the money. But then a bank [extended] me a character loan. Eventually, I was able to pay all these loans." And just as soon as she acquired a new house, she once had to sell it again so she could build the hospital's adult wing.
Fruits of hard work
While facing-and overcoming-every challenge she faced, she also received recognition for her dedication and hard work.
In 1966 she received the Elizabeth Blackwell Award given by New York's Smith College. The award is named after the first woman in America to receive a medical degree, and is given to women whose lives "[exemplify] outstanding service to humanity." Other recipients of the award are such luminaries as anthropologist Margaret Mead and stateswoman Madeleine Albright.
In 1969 she became the first woman president of the Philippine Medical Association.
In 1976 she became editor in chief of the ground-breaking Textbook of Pediatrics and Child Health, which is now in its fourth edition.
In 1977 she received the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service-Asia's equivalent of the Nobel Prize-for "her lifelong dedication as a physician extraordinary to needy Filipino children."
In the same year, the 15th International Congress of Pediatrics named her as outstanding pediatrician and humanitarian.
In 1980, the National Academy of Science and Technology named her National Scientist, the first Filipino woman to get the distinction. As a scientist del Mundo is recognized for her research into reducing morbidity and mortality in the country. She is also credited for her contribution to the development of the incubator and a jaundice-relieving device.
In 2003, the Orange County of New Jersey, USA gave her a Lifetime Achievement Award in Medicine.
And in between she continued to work. She headed the Philippine Pediatric Society and founded the Philippine Medical Women's Association. She established the Institute of Maternal and Child Care for the training of health-care professionals. The Institute also established rural units in Palawan and Marinduque to teach nutrition and birth control. She also started sending rehydration teams all over Luzon to save thousands of children from diarrhea. She also founded the Center for Tuberculosis in Children. She even wrote a weekly column on child health for the Sunday magazine of the Manila Times.
After more than 70 years as a doctor, del Mundo wants to do more, even if age has significantly slowed her down. And with the FDMMCF celebrating its 49th year, she is still as determined to serve children as when she started.
She told MEDICAL OBSERVER, again in 2002: "I feel that if you give the world the best that you can, the best will always come back to you. It's worth exerting all your efforts to make the best of what you have and apply them in your practice because it's a big help, and somehow [one that is] well rewarded."
In January 2006, in celebration of its 15th year, MEDICAL OBSERVER named del Mundo the first MEDICAL OBSERVER Doctor of Distinction. The citation read: "We honor you for what is inside you that we see in all that you have done-the function of your heart-because you firmly believed that more than a keen eye, a sharp mind, and a skillful hand, a physician needs a heart that is kind." M
Fe del Mundo, MD
Grand Dame of Philippine Pediatrics and Medicine
A Woman of Superior Intellect and Many "Firsts"
o Graduate of Associate in Arts at age 17, University of the Philippines, 1928
o Valedictorian, University of the Philippines College of Medicine, 1933
o Presidential scholar, first Filipina and first woman student at Harvard Medical School, 1935-1940
o Master in Bacteriology, Boston University & Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1940
o First Filipino diplomate of the American Board of Pediatrics, 1947
o Founding member and first woman president, Philippine Pediatric Society, 1952-1955
o Founder and first president, Philippine Medical Women's Association
o First Asian president, Medical Women's International Association, 1962-1966
o First woman president, Philippine Medical Association, 1972
o Emeritus Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics, 1967
o Philippine delegate to the World Academy of Science in Trieste, Italy, 1993
Trailblazer, Pediatrics Pioneer, Public Servant
o Founder, Children's Home, Manila
o Founder and Director, City of Manila Children's Hospital (became North General Government Hospital)
o Founder and first director Jose Reyes Memorial Medical Center, 1945
o Director, La Gota de Leche Children's Hospital, 1950
o Founder, Children's Medical Center, 1950
o Commissioner, Commission on Population, 1973-1980
o Director, Institute of Maternal and Child Health, 1967-1973
o Director, Institute of Community and Family Health, 1973
o Member, Expert Panel on Maternal and Child Health, World Health Organization, Geneva (four terms)
o First director and vice chair, Lungsod ng Kabataan Children's Hospital (1980-1985)
o Founder and past president, Community Pediatrics Society
o Chair, Center for Tuberculosis in Children Philippines
o Chair, Philippine Medical Association Centennial Commission, 1993-2003
o Chair, Institute of Community and Family Health, 1993
o Member for Life, National Research Council of the Philippines, 1972
o Chair, National Academy of Science and Technology, 1980-present
Educator, Author, Scientist/Researcher
o Chair of Pediatrics, Far Eastern University, 1954-1974
o Assistant Professor, University of Santo Tomas, 1943-1974
o Editor in Chief, Textbook of Pediatrics and Child Health
o Author, Baby and You (in English and Filipino)
o Author, Preventing Common Children's Ailments
o Weekly columnist on health, Sunday Times Magazine (for 20 years).
o Editor in chief, Maternal and Neonatal Health, A Global Concern, 1982
o Editor in chief, Manual on Breastfeeding for Medical Schools, 1984
o Author of 150 scientific articles
Humanitarian and Recipient of National and International Awards
o Most Outstanding Scholar in Medicine by the Colegio Medico Farmaceutico Filipinas, 1933
o Award of Merit, UST Interment Camp for establishing the Children's Camp Internees, 1940
o Award of Merit, Founder and First Director, North General Hospital, now the Jose Reyes Medical Center, 1945
o Newscoop Award for pioneering work in the field of medical service, Republic Broadcasting System, 1958
o Service Award, Rotary International, Hayward, California, USA, 1960
o Plaque of Honor, The Most Distinguished Alumnus, UP Medical Alumni Society, 1960
o Presidential Award of Merit, Civic Assembly of Women of the Philippines, 1961
o Distinguished Service Award, Philippine Medical Association, 1964
o Award for establishment of 103 rehydration centers in Philippine provinces, 1965
o Elizabeth Blackwell Award to Women Doctors of World Renown, 1966
o Testimonial Award in recognition of valuable work in organized medicine, Council of Health Agencies of the Philippines, 1966
o Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science as Agency for Human Welfare, 1967
o Most Outstanding Woman in Medicine, Federation Internationale de Abogadas, 1968
o Distinguished Pediatrician and Humanitarian Award, International Pediatric Association, 1970
o Most Outstanding Filipino Today (Medicine) conferred by the Weekly Nation on the occasion of its Fifth Anniversary, 1970
o Honorary Doctorate in Science, Women's Medical College of Philadelphia and the Smith College, 1971
o Most Distinguished Alumna for outstanding achievements in pediatrics and family planning, UP Alumni Association, 1972
o Ayala Science Award in Medicine Science, 1975
o Ramon Magsaysay Award for Public Service by a Private Citizen, 1977
o Outstanding Pediatrician and Humanitarian, XV International Congress of Pediatrics, New Delhi, India, 1977
o Academician, National Academy of Science and Technology, 1979
o National Scientist, 1980
o Outstanding Citizen of Quezon City, 1993
o Degree of Humanities, Honoris Causa, University of the Philippines, 1996
o Philippine Medical Association-UNILAB Dr. Jose Rizal Award, 1996
o Professional Regulation Award, Most Outstanding Professional in Medicine, 1996
o The National Council of Women RP Golden Award for Women Achievers, 50th Anniversary, Woman in Health, 1996
o Golden Centennial Commission-Women Sector (Gawad Sentenyal) Science and Technology Centennial Scientist Award, National Academy of Science and Technology, 1988
o Awardee, Philippine American Foundation Washington, DC
o Award for Exemplary and Selfless Commitment in the Field of Pediatrics, Far Eastern University-Dr. Nicanor Reyes Memorial Foundation, Department of Pediatrics, 2001
o Presidential Award of Appreciation, Manila Medical Society 99th Foundation Day Celebration, 2001
o Plaque of Recognition as a Great Teacher and Healer, Far Eastern University-Dr. Nicanor Reyes School of Medicine Alumni Foundation, 2001
o Certificate of Recognition, Commission on Population, 2001
o Certificate of Recognition as Famous Daughter of Marinduque, National Scientist, International Heroine, Philippine Medical Association-Marinduque Medical Society, 2001
o Certificate of Recognition for long-standing dedication in helping the Boac Women's Club in its family Planning Program and providing the Boac Puericulture Center with free medicines to indigent families, Boac Women's Club, 2001
o For outstanding work and contribution to the National TB Control Program, Department of Health and PHILCAT, 2002
o Plaque of Distinction as Founding Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Fe del Mundo Medical Center Foundation, 2002
o Madame Helen D. Delos Santos Memorial Award, University of Manila, 2003
o Achievement Award, Dr. Fe del Mundo Medical Center Foundation, 2002
o Most Outstanding Physician, for service par excellence to the Community Pediatrics Society of the Philippines, Philippine Medical Association, 2002
o Most Outstanding Physician, Manila Medical Society, 2002
o Public Service Award and Doctor in Science, Honoris Causa, Ateneo de Manila University, 2002
o Most Outstanding Individual Health Provider, Council of Health Agencies of the Philippines, 2002
o Outstanding Citizen Award, Quezon City Government in celebration of the 63rd Quezon City Foundation Anniversary, 2002
o Lifetime Achievement Award in Medicine, Orange County, New Jersey, 2003
o Most Outstanding Physician Service to Humanity Award, Far Eastern University-Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Alumni Foundation, New Jersey Chapter, 2003
o Testimonial of Achievement and Appreciation Award, Philippine Medical Association on its Centennial Foundation Celebration, 2003
o Gusi Peace Prize Award on Philippine Pediatric Health Advocacy, 2003
o Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa, Far Eastern University, 2004
o Patunay ng Pagkilala at Pasasalamat, sa paghahandog ng kanyang galing sa pagtatatag ng ospital ng Gota de Leche, 2005
o Plaque of Honor, Philippine Pediatric Society, 2005
o Centennial Award for Medical and Health Services, Rotary International, 2005
o Lifetime Achievement Award, Philippine Medical Women's Association, 2005
o Lifetime Distinguished Achievement Award, University of the Philippines College of Medicine Centennial Celebration, 2005
o Doctor of Distinction, MEDICAL OBSERVER, 2006 M
A voice that cannot be denied
Dr. Fe del Mundo began her medical career with an endowment of ability, which made it obvious that she could be one of the very famous physicians of her generation.
But before, in this fascinating young Filipino woman who came to Harvard University for her medical training eighteen years ago, there were the seeds of greatness which led her to turn from fame at what might have seemed its highest point, to most specially the children of her people. In thus refusing to be merely a famous physician, she became something infinitely finer. She became a great physician.
Doctor del Mundo does not tell her own story in all humility. We cannot presume to tell it for her with our weak words. We ask that her story may tell itself in the pages before you. These are the words of those who love and admire Fe del Mundo. The role reveals a multiplicity of walks of life, including presidents, generals, professors, laborers, farmers, fisherman-the people who have been helped by her from the time she cared for American and British children during the Japanese occupation of Manila to the present.
In recent years, Dr. del Mundo has poured all her great soul into an undertaking so beset with difficulty its emergence from a vision into a reality seemed impossible. She has set her faith against hardship after hardship and overcame them all for the sake of her "beloved children."
This very gallant woman is still working against incredible handicaps, and succeeding. She does not cry out for help. But, the very nature and scope of her aspiration cry out to us in a voice that should not fall on an uncaring heart nor an unhearing ear. It is a voice that cannot be denied.
C. W. Nimitz
Fleet Admiral, US Navy
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