By Tedler D. Depaynos, MD

BEINGS. ”
It was on the 1st week of May this year when the Saint Louis University Hospital of the Sacred Heart celebrated its 40th anniversary. For those who have been working in this institution for quite some time especially those who already retired, it seems that it was just yesterday or just years ago and not decades when this hospital was established. It has expanded and upgraded not only its instruments and equipment but also its personnel and medical staff. Many of the original hospital staff, however, are still around.
Dra. Vecenia Balajo who was one of the speakers during the opening program is one of the originals. She recalled her experience as one of the first OB-GYN resident and eventually became the Chairlady of the department. She is one of those who grew up professionally with the hospital and helped train the incoming new medical graduates who eventually took their places. She has retired like the others as an employee of the institution but are still active in their practice sharing their expertise and valuable experience.
At the entrance of the hospital, one cannot miss the friendly smiles of the Information Staff led by their non-ageing and non-tiring head, Ms. Paula de Guzman. While many of her companions already retired, many of those who came for the 40th Anniversary Celebration were surprised that she never changed just like some of the original nurses and hospital aides who are still actively working.
Special mention was made for Dr. Paul Quitiquit and Dr. John Anthony Domantay who were graduates of SLU Medical College who are presently the Director of the Hospital and Dean of the College of Medicine, respectively. The SLU products would soon completely manage the institution where they graduated. Those who helped in nurturing them professionally during their amateur years were with great smiles and joy just looking at them.
The main speaker was the Baguio congressman, Hon. Mark Go, who praised the workers of the institution from the simple hospital aides, to the hospital nurses and the medical practitioners. At the same time he challenged them and reminded them of their commitments as he gave his advices. With his permission I am quoting parts of his friendly talk.
He started by quoting Patch Adams, an American physician who said: “You treat a disease, you win, you lose. You treat a person, I guarantee you, you’ll win, no matter what the outcome”. He then emphasized “that your profession as a doctor, or as a nurse, or simply as an aide, is a calling far beyond treating a disease; it is rather treating with RESPECT a HUMAN PERSON with a disease and easing a suffering in the most humane way – that is – to make treatment an avenue of love, which is nothing but a conquest of kindness over “professional coldness” or “sheer apathy””.
He then advised his audience to persevere and I quote: “You have persevered for forty years, and I want you to persevere more in the coming years. If you feel discouraged – don’t give up. If you feel hopeless – don’t give up. If you feel misunderstood – don’t give up.”
‘Jesus said: “He that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved”.’ In short, “without perseverance, you will not see the beautiful promises that God has in store for you as you fulfill your sacred duties as doctors, or as nurses, or proudly as hospital aides”.
“You must not be deterred by the ingratitude of those you try to help”. There “is nothing more disheartening than to pour out our time and energy and love and thoughts for another person, only to have our efforts ignored and met with ungratefulness”. But then let us “remind ourselves that more than anything else we are working for the one whose voice will someday say to us “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21)’.
It’s nice to be reminded once again but this has been the dictum of SLUHSH – treating patients with RESPECT and as HUMAN BEINGS.
To end the week long celebration of the 40th anniversary, a second time capsule was buried which marked the intention of the university to expand the hospital by building a twin towers extension.**