THREE (3) medical doctors took their oath today as the newest members of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Drs. Celestina Ma. Jude P. De la Serna, Joan Cristine Reina Liban-Lareza and Hildegardes C. Dineros were sworn into office by Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial who also chairs the PhilHealth Board. The oath-taking was held at the PhilHealth Head Office in Pasig City.

De la Serna, who replaces Jane M.N. Sta. Ana as the appointive member representing overseas Filipino migrant workers, obtained her Doctor of Medicine degree from the De la Salle University in Dasmarinas, Cavite in 1989. She worked at the De la Serna Clinic, a private health clinic based in Bohol province from 2002-2003, before becoming the Chief of Hospital of Maribojoc Community Hospital for two (2) years. Up until her appointment as PhilHealth Board Member, she was the Chief of Hospital of Cong. Natalio P. Castillo Sr. Memorial Hospital, also in Bohol. She has practical experience in hospital, emergency, home health and primary care.

Lareza is a Doctor of Medicine graduate of the Far Eastern University – Nicanor Reyes Foundation’s Institute of Medicine. She chaired the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Qualimed in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan. She is also a consultant at Nuvotek, Inc.; consultant and sonologist of Qualimed Trinoma and MyHealth Clinic; and sonologist at Klinika ng Bata at Matanda, all in Quezon City. She is a Diplomate and Member of the Philippine Obstetrics and Gynecological Society (POGS) and a Fellow and Member of the Philippine Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (PSUOG). She assumes her post as appointive member representing health care providers, vice Atty. Ronnie Dadivas.

Dineros is a surgeon who finished his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Sto. Tomas. He performs basic and advanced laparoscopic procedures, surgical endoscopy and general surgical procedures, and is also into bariatric, metabolic, general and cancer surgery. He is an active consultant in surgery at St. Lukes Medical Center - Quezon City, STI-De los Santos Megaclinic and University of Perpetual Help Dalta Medical Center. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons and the Philippine Society of General Surgeons. He replaces Dr. Francisco Vicente Lopez as representative of the Informal Economy in the PhilHealth Board.

All three new members will serve the unexpired Term of Office of their respective predecessors. (END)