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Five University of Southern Mindanao graduates who finished Bachelor of Science in Biology-Major in Microbiology and Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy as their pre-med program passed the October 2023 Physician Licensure Examination.
Among the successful alumni were Dr. Dexter Aquino, Dr. Kenny Rose Ocon, RPh, Dr. Mark Angelo Panelo, Dr. Rino Jesse Pueblo, and Dr. Norodin Tumagantang II, who demonstrated excellence during the PLE, achieving outstanding results. A total of 4,083 (63.42%) takers passed the exam.
In an online interview, Dr. Panelo, one of the passers from USM, shared his thoughts on the challenging journey of becoming a licensed physician.
”I failed my exams many times during my medical journey, but it did not stop me from pursuing it until I graduated. Taking the board exam is a great challenge, but [let us] remember it is a test of dedication and hard work. In times of breakdowns, we remind ourselves of the progress we made. Passing an exam is only a step to getting the license to practice each profession, but the most important thing is we become knowledgeable of our chosen field. Know that discipline is crucial in the process, and one needs to trust it.”
When asked how his alma mater helped him hone his dream, “I pursued my med school bringing the lesson I gained from my alma mater, USM. It does not solely prepare me for my journey in med school, but also [it] molded me holistically to dwell into my future endeavors. I will continue to uphold the insights and upbringings of USM as I practice this profession. Thank you, USM, and continue to shape individuals to serve our community and the rest of the world.”
Another achiever, Dr. Aquino, expressed his gratitude through a Facebook post, saying, “All the kindness, compassion, encouragement, companionship, and support I received from everyone around me have made me into the person capable of going through the arduous medical education culminating in this exam. I am less proud of this achievement than of the person I have become. I am not abundantly compassionate and kind, but I always say that all the generosity, kindness, and compassion I am capable of giving are reflections of those I have received.”
Dr. Aquino graduated in 2016; Dr. Ocon in 2015; Dr. Panelo and Dr. Pueblo in 2017; and Dr. Tumangtang II in 2018.
The success of these alumni underscores the commitment of USM to producing competent and compassionate professionals.
