HISTORY
In 1973, at the American Psychiatric Association (APA) meeting in Honolulu, a group of Filipino psychiatrists met informally to discuss forming an organization within the APA, comprised of psychiatrists of Filipino origin or graduates of medical schools in the Philippines.
The following year, at the APA convention in Detroit, Michigan, the organization was formally given the name, the Philippine Psychiatrists in America (PPA). The official seal and by-laws were adopted. The first president elected was Dr. Pablo Mojica, then of Detroit. He was to hold another term of office before being succeeded in 1976 by Dr. Emmanuel Casenas at the APA meeting in Anaheim. At each succeeding APA meeting, the membership grew. Recruitment was largely by building on the “barangay spirit”. The association kept growing each year with the fellowship and common bond enriched by diversity of ethnic, regional and cultural ideas.
In 1977, in Toronto, Canada, Dr. Horacio Verde of Valparaiso, Indiana succeeded Dr. Casenas. In Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Bernardo Pineda of Burlington, Iowa assumed the presidency in 1978. In 1979, in Chicago, Dr. Rena Nora and Dr. Manuel Pardo obtained a tie during the election for the presidency. Dr. Pardo yielded to Dr. Nora that year. Under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Nora, the following came to pass: official affiliation of the PPA as a specialty organization of the Association of Philippine Physicians in America (APPA); representation in the APA Committee on Foreign Medical Graduates; inclusion for the first time of the PPA Announcement of its annual meeting in the APA Convention Syllabus; publication of the first official PPA Membership Directory; publication of the first PPA Quarterly Newsletter. The membership roster listed 178 active members.
In 1980, Dr. Manuel Pardo of Kansas City, Kansas assumed the presidency. One of the important achievements of Dr. Pardo is the writing of the history of the PPA; its inception, growth and progress. During the terms of Drs. Alex Pontaoe and Albert Gaw, the constitution and by-laws of our association were drafted and officially adopted. Dr. Gaw was responsible for the inclusion of our association in the formal invitation list of the APA and the placement of the Philippine flag on the stage at the opening sessions of every APA annual meeting.
We have continued to grow. Our members come from every state, although the majority comes from the East Coast. We are recognized by the APA as a faction of substantial political force in that organization. We continue to be an affiliate of the APPA, where many of our colleagues are active in leadership roles in that organization.
We continue to be involved in APA activities. We support programs in the Philippines. During his presidency, Dr. Leonardo Maguigad formed a committee composed of Drs. Rena Nora, Rene Alcalde, James Campbell, Joe Fermo, Mario Ordonez and himself to establish the “Mandaluyong Project”. This project was set up to provide a modest yearly financial contribution to assist the largest public mental hospital in the Philippines. We also sponsored a scholarship project that encouraged young Filipino medical graduates interested in psychiatry to write essays on mental health topics.
In 1996, Dr. Oscar Lopez of Buffalo, New York assumed the presidency in New York City. Under his leadership, the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association were reviewed and amendments to some of the Articles were proposed at the annual meeting in San Diego, California. Dr. Manuel Valencia stressed on fostering communications and values, establishing a website for the association which will meet this objective and pave the way towards a stronger bond and unity. This paved the way for Dr. Minda Magundayao to expand and tap new opportunities for the association into the new millennium.
The coming years brought about resurgence in interest and the arrival of younger groups of physicians and early career psychiatrists. These individuals who have taken the leadership roles in the PPA include Dr. Jovic Ventura of Buffalo, New York, Dr. Francis Sanchez of Columbia, South Carolina, Dr. Jun Riel of Tracy, California and Dr. Melanie Akalal of Spencer, WV.
The PPA website (www.ppa-online.org) was subsequently maintained by Dr. Pia Reyes-Sia, PPA president 2009-2011. Dr. Jesus S. Ligot led the PPA from 2011-2014, and then Dr. Maria Lapid, and during her time the website was moved to http://ppa-online.weebly.com. This was later renamed to its current domain, https://www.philpsychusa.org/, in 2021.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019 compromised the safety of holding an Annual Meeting that year, and the first-ever virtual meeting of the organization was held in 2021, under the leadership of Dr. Loida Reyes. The Executive Committee celebrated an online holiday party and gift exchange via Zoom to boost morale and discuss organizational goals and plans.
In 2022, the PPA held its first-ever hybrid (online and in-person) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA under the leadership of Dr. Katherine M. Napalinga. It was also formally included in the APA program and venue, enabling Continuing Medical Education (CME) accreditation for its featured educational activity, as well as improving accessibility for members and new recruits.
Each Annual Meeting is an opportunity for Filipino American psychiatrists to strengthen fellowship, camaraderie, and renew friendships. The meetings offer scientific programs for continuing medical education as well.
The following year, at the APA convention in Detroit, Michigan, the organization was formally given the name, the Philippine Psychiatrists in America (PPA). The official seal and by-laws were adopted. The first president elected was Dr. Pablo Mojica, then of Detroit. He was to hold another term of office before being succeeded in 1976 by Dr. Emmanuel Casenas at the APA meeting in Anaheim. At each succeeding APA meeting, the membership grew. Recruitment was largely by building on the “barangay spirit”. The association kept growing each year with the fellowship and common bond enriched by diversity of ethnic, regional and cultural ideas.
In 1977, in Toronto, Canada, Dr. Horacio Verde of Valparaiso, Indiana succeeded Dr. Casenas. In Atlanta, Georgia, Dr. Bernardo Pineda of Burlington, Iowa assumed the presidency in 1978. In 1979, in Chicago, Dr. Rena Nora and Dr. Manuel Pardo obtained a tie during the election for the presidency. Dr. Pardo yielded to Dr. Nora that year. Under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Nora, the following came to pass: official affiliation of the PPA as a specialty organization of the Association of Philippine Physicians in America (APPA); representation in the APA Committee on Foreign Medical Graduates; inclusion for the first time of the PPA Announcement of its annual meeting in the APA Convention Syllabus; publication of the first official PPA Membership Directory; publication of the first PPA Quarterly Newsletter. The membership roster listed 178 active members.
In 1980, Dr. Manuel Pardo of Kansas City, Kansas assumed the presidency. One of the important achievements of Dr. Pardo is the writing of the history of the PPA; its inception, growth and progress. During the terms of Drs. Alex Pontaoe and Albert Gaw, the constitution and by-laws of our association were drafted and officially adopted. Dr. Gaw was responsible for the inclusion of our association in the formal invitation list of the APA and the placement of the Philippine flag on the stage at the opening sessions of every APA annual meeting.
We have continued to grow. Our members come from every state, although the majority comes from the East Coast. We are recognized by the APA as a faction of substantial political force in that organization. We continue to be an affiliate of the APPA, where many of our colleagues are active in leadership roles in that organization.
We continue to be involved in APA activities. We support programs in the Philippines. During his presidency, Dr. Leonardo Maguigad formed a committee composed of Drs. Rena Nora, Rene Alcalde, James Campbell, Joe Fermo, Mario Ordonez and himself to establish the “Mandaluyong Project”. This project was set up to provide a modest yearly financial contribution to assist the largest public mental hospital in the Philippines. We also sponsored a scholarship project that encouraged young Filipino medical graduates interested in psychiatry to write essays on mental health topics.
In 1996, Dr. Oscar Lopez of Buffalo, New York assumed the presidency in New York City. Under his leadership, the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association were reviewed and amendments to some of the Articles were proposed at the annual meeting in San Diego, California. Dr. Manuel Valencia stressed on fostering communications and values, establishing a website for the association which will meet this objective and pave the way towards a stronger bond and unity. This paved the way for Dr. Minda Magundayao to expand and tap new opportunities for the association into the new millennium.
The coming years brought about resurgence in interest and the arrival of younger groups of physicians and early career psychiatrists. These individuals who have taken the leadership roles in the PPA include Dr. Jovic Ventura of Buffalo, New York, Dr. Francis Sanchez of Columbia, South Carolina, Dr. Jun Riel of Tracy, California and Dr. Melanie Akalal of Spencer, WV.
The PPA website (www.ppa-online.org) was subsequently maintained by Dr. Pia Reyes-Sia, PPA president 2009-2011. Dr. Jesus S. Ligot led the PPA from 2011-2014, and then Dr. Maria Lapid, and during her time the website was moved to http://ppa-online.weebly.com. This was later renamed to its current domain, https://www.philpsychusa.org/, in 2021.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in late 2019 compromised the safety of holding an Annual Meeting that year, and the first-ever virtual meeting of the organization was held in 2021, under the leadership of Dr. Loida Reyes. The Executive Committee celebrated an online holiday party and gift exchange via Zoom to boost morale and discuss organizational goals and plans.
In 2022, the PPA held its first-ever hybrid (online and in-person) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA under the leadership of Dr. Katherine M. Napalinga. It was also formally included in the APA program and venue, enabling Continuing Medical Education (CME) accreditation for its featured educational activity, as well as improving accessibility for members and new recruits.
Each Annual Meeting is an opportunity for Filipino American psychiatrists to strengthen fellowship, camaraderie, and renew friendships. The meetings offer scientific programs for continuing medical education as well.