By Dr. Beltran Alexis A. Aclan

The story of our fellowship program began in 2019.

The East Avenue Medical Center accepted its first two fellows into its Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Fellowship Program in response to the growing demand for specialists in the field. Despite having no available plantilla positions to support the additional trainees, the department was determined to find innovative ways to sustain the program.

Around the same time, Dr. Claire Barja was working to strengthen the Ophthalmology Section of the National Children’s Hospital (NCH) to meet the increasing demand for pediatric eye care. Coincidentally, NCH had begun lending plantilla positions to other government institutions, including the East Avenue Medical Center. Through the support and collaboration of the hospital administrators this partnership came to fruition.

This marked a significant milestone as NCH welcomed its first Pediatric Ophthalmology fellow rotators—Dr. Cielo Marcelo Roxas and yours truly.

I can personally attest to the tremendous value of this rotation. Our experience at NCH provided invaluable exposure to pediatric ophthalmology cases that are rarely encountered in a general hospital setting– particularly children with hematologic diseases and other complex multisystem conditions. From that point on, NCH became an integral part of the East Avenue Medical Center–DOH Eye Center Pediatric Ophthalmology Fellowship Program, even during the most challenging days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2022, the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center (UERM) partnered with the National Children’s Hospital to address the limited pediatric ophthalmology exposure of its ophthalmology residents. This collaboration significantly enriched the residents’ clinical and surgical training while simultaneously helping NCH manage its steadily increasing patient volume—a partnership that proved mutually beneficial for both institutions.

The following year, NCH expanded its training collaborations.Through the efforts of Dr. Fay Cruz and Dr. Alvina Pauline Santiago, The Medical City began sending its ophthalmology fellows and residents for pediatric ophthalmology rotations at NCH,  strengthening its role as a training institution.

As the section continued to grow, the hospital administration recognized the dedication and achievements of our team. The Pediatric Eye and Vision Center was subsequently included in the hospital’s roadmap for its Performance Governance System (PGS) accreditation. This was both an honor and a tremendous challenge, considering that our section was composed of only four consultants at that time.

It was also during this period that we envisioned establishing an independent Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Fellowship Program as part of my Philippine Academy of Ophthalmology Leadership Development Program project. With the unwavering support of the hospital administration, that vision became a reality as we welcomed our very first fellow, Dr. Kathleen Faye Buyucan-Ballesteros from Baguio City.

Our pursuit of excellence did not stop there.

The increasing number and complexity of pediatric retinal cases being managed at the center, led us to establish a partnership with the Asian Eye Institute. This collaboration has opened new opportunities to strengthen both institutions in the areas of clinical service, fellowship training, and research, ultimately benefiting the children in need.

Looking back over the past six years, what began as a small initiative has grown into a thriving training program. Since opening our doors to trainees, we have had the privilege of mentoring 14 Pediatric Ophthalmology fellows, 2 Retina fellows, and 22 ophthalmology residents through our institution.

Indeed, we have come a long way—from a small corner in the outpatient department to a dedicated Pediatric Eye and Vision Center built on a shared vision of excellence, collaboration, and service.

Today, we celebrate not only a new facility but also the people, partnerships, and purpose that made this journey possible. We hope this marks the beginning of even greater collaborations in fellowship training, research, and, above all, our unwavering commitment to providing the highest quality eye care for every Filipino child.

EDITOR’S NOTE: The article above was the speech delivered by the author during the inauguration of the Pediatric Eye & Vision Center at the National Children’s Hospital.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Dr. Beltran Alexis “Lexie” Aclan is a Manila- and Palawan-based Pediatric Ophthalmologist. He serves as Chairman of Ophthalmology and Assistant Professor III at UERM Medical Center, heads the PAO Committee on Community Ophthalmology, and was part of the 2024 PAO Leadership Development Program batch. A self-described chronic crammer and multitasker, he makes it a point to auto-shutdown and turn on DND by 10:00 PM.