Dr Lawenko is a graduate of the De La Salle College of Medicine in 2001. He took his residency training in general surgery (2002-2007) at the De La Salle University Medical Center in Dasmarinas, Cavite, and went on to a one year clinical fellowship training (2009-2010) in Minimally Invasive Surgery and Flexible Endoscopy at the National University Hospital in Singapore. He is a:
Fellow of the Philippine College of Surgeons
Fellow Philippine Society of General Surgeons
Fellow of the Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons
Lifetime Member of the Asia Pacific Hernia Society
Active Member of the European Association of Endoscopic Surgeons
Active Member of the Societe Internationale de Chirurgie
Michael M. Lawenko MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES
Editor in Chief
Associate Professor
De La Salle University Medical Center
Department of Surgery
Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery
He is a contributing author in 2 textbooks in Minimally Invasive Surgery and has published 5 articles in international peer reviewed journals with interests in hernia and minimally invasive surgery. He is a member of the IRB of the Asian Hospital and Medical Center. He is a full time faculty and Chairman at the De La Salle College of Medicine - Department of Health Informatics and has an academic rank of Associate Professor. He has academic interests in E-Learning, Simulations Based Education and Digital Media Creation.
Editorial Board
Michael M. Lawenko MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES
Editor in Chief
Associate Professor
De La Salle University Medical Center
Department of Surgery
Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery
Dr Lawenko is a graduate of the De La Salle College of Medicine in 2001. He took his residency training in general surgery (2002-2007) at the De La Salle University Medical Center in Dasmarinas, Cavite, and went on to a one year clinical fellowship training (2009-2010) in Minimally Invasive Surgery and Flexible Endoscopy at the National University Hospital in Singapore. He is a:
Fellow of the Philippine College of Surgeons
Fellow Philippine Society of General Surgeons
Fellow of the Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons
Lifetime Member of the Asia Pacific Hernia Society
Active Member of the European Association of Endoscopic Surgeons
Active Member of the Societe Internationale de Chirurgie
He is a contributing author in 2 textbooks in Minimally Invasive Surgery and has published 5 articles in international peer reviewed journals with interests in hernia and minimally invasive surgery. He is a member of the IRB of the Asian Hospital and Medical Center. He is a full time faculty and Chairman at the De La Salle College of Medicine - Department of Health Informatics and has an academic rank of Associate Professor. He has academic interests in E-Learning, Simulations Based Education and Digital Media Creation.
Dr Lee-Ong received his medical degree from the University of the Philippines Manila – College of Medicine and underwent residency training in general surgery at the Manila Doctors Hospital. He subsequently went for a clinical fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at the National University Hospital, Singapore. He is a
Fellow of Philippine College of Surgeons
Fellow of Philippine Society of General Surgeons
Fellow of Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons
Member of
Philippine Hernia Society
Asia Pacific Hernia Society
Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia
Alembert Lee-Ong MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES
Editorial Board Member
Consultant
Manila Doctors Hospital
Department of Surgery
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Currently, Dr Lee-Ong is a contributing author in 2 textbooks on minimally invasive surgery and co-author of 5 articles published in international peer-reviewed journals. In addition, he is an active consultant at the Manila Doctors Hospital.
Dr. Panganiban is a graduate of the University of the East Memorial Medical Center in 2007. She took her residency training in General and Cancer Surgery (2010-2014) at St. Luke’s Medical Center - Quezon City, and went on to a one- year clinical fellowship training (2016-2017) in Minimally Invasive & Robotic Surgery at the same institution. She had her international fellowship rotations at Kyushu University Advanced Treatment Hospital, Fukuoka, Japan (Upper GI & HPB), Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam (Colorectal & HPB), and Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico - University of Milan, Italy (Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery, Fluorescence-Guided Surgery). She is a:
Fellow of the Philippine College of Surgeons
Fellow of the Philippine Society of General Surgeons
Fellow of the Philippine Association of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgeons
Fellow of the Philippine Association of Laparoscopic & Endoscopic Surgeons
Writing Scholar, Effective Writing for Healthcare, Harvard University
Katherine M. Panganiban MD, FPCS, FSGS, FPAHPBS, FPALES
Editorial Board Member
Consultant
Research Committee Member (QC)
St Lukes Medical Center - QC & BGC
Institute of Surgery
Minimally Invasive Surgery
She is a contributing author of the recently published Consensus Guidelines for the Use of Fluorescence Imaging in Hepatobiliary Surgery in the Annals of Surgery; has published four international articles and one local article - with interests in advanced laparoscopic surgery, hepatopancreatobiliary surgery, fluorescence-guided surgery, simulation workshops, and telemedicine. She also served as a reviewer in an international journal publication. Currently, she is a research committee member of the Institute of Surgery, SLMC-QC; a scientific committee member of the Philippine Association of Hepato- Pancreato-Biliary Surgeons; a committee member on surgical education, research & journal publication; and information, communications & technology of the Philippine Association of Laparoscopic & Endoscopic Surgeons.
Dra. Fuentes graduated from the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center in 2001 and she completed her General Surgery residency at The Medical City Hospital in 2007. She had her Minimally Invasive Surgery Clinical Fellowship training at National University Hospital in Singapore from December 2009-December 2010.She is a :
Fellow, Philippine College of Surgeons
Fellow, Philippine Society of General Surgeons
Fellow, Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons
Member, Philippine Association of Training Officers
Lifetime Member, Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia
Lifetime Member, Asia Pacific Hernia Society
Marilou B. Fuentes, MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES
Editorial Board Member
Consultant
The Medical City Hospital
Department of Surgery
Minimally Invasive Surgery
She co-authored in an international published paper entitled “Single-port Endo-laparoscopic Surgery (SPES) for Totally Extraperitoenal Inguinal Hernia: A Critical Appraisal for the Chopstick Repair. She is also the current training officer in the Department of Surgery at The Medical City Hospital and is a Board Examiner for the Philippine Board of Surgeons.
Dr. Melendres is a graduate of the University of the Philippines – College of Medicine in 2007. He took his General Surgery Training (2009-2013) at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila, serving as Chief Resident during his senior year. He took his subspecialty training in Minimally Invasive Surgery (2014-2015) at the St. Luke’s Medical Center. His has the following affiliations:
Fellow, Philippine College of Surgeons
Fellow, Philippine Society of General Surgeons
Fellow, Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
Mark Francis A. Melendres, MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES,FACS
Editorial Board Member
Medical Specialist I and Training Officer
National Kidney and Transplant Institute
Deptartment of Surgery
He is presently the Training officer of the Department of Surgery of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City. He is also an active consultant in General and Minimally Invasive Surgery at the Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City. He is the Head of the Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery in Diliman Doctors Hospital and Providence Hospital in Quezon City.
Dr. Sta. Clara finished her degree in doctor of medicine at the University of Sto. Tomas and took her residency in general surgery at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center. Afterwhich, she had her training in minimally invasive surgery and advanced laparoscopic surgery at National University Hospital, Singapore. She is a:
Fellow, Philippine College of Surgeons
Fellow, Philippine Society of General Surgeons
Fellow, Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons
Lifetime member, Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia
Eva Lourdes E. Sta. Clara, MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES
Editorial Board Member
Consultant
Asian Hospital and Medical Center
Department of Surgery
Minimally Invasive Surgery
She is a co-author in a chapter in 2 textbooks and 5 internationally published articles with interests on minimally invasive surgery and hernia. She is also a member of the training committee and the intern’s monitor of the department of surgery at Cardinal Santos Medical Center. She is the training officer for the minimally invasive surgery fellowship at Rizal Medical Center and is a consultant at the University of Perpetual Help Dalta Medical Center, Las Pinas.
Dr. Adora is a graduate of St Luke’s College of Medicine. He had is general surgery residency at St Luke’s Medical Center, Quezon City and did his minimally invasive surgery fellowship at the same institution. He also did further training at National University Health System, Singapore for advanced laparoscopic surgery. He then pursued training on advanced laparoscopy in digestive surgery at Cho Ray Hospital, Vietnam and minimal access/ bariatric and metabolic surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital Columbia University, USA. He is a:
Fellow, Philippine Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Fellow, International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity
Fellow, Philippine Society of General Surgeons
Fellow, Philippine College of Surgeons
Fellow, Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
Jonathan Joy D. Adora, MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES, FACS
Editorial Board Member
Assistant Head
St. Luke’s Medical Center, Quezon City
Institute of Surgery
He has been involved in multiple research papers at St Luke’s Medical Center. Currently, he is the assistant head and training officer of the Institute of Surgery at St. Luke’s Medical Center, Quezon City. He is an assistant professor in surgery at St.
Luke’s Medical Center, College of Medicine and is a member of the board of directors of the Philippine Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Dr. Rojas is a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in 2011. She took her residency training in general surgery (2013-2017) at the East Avenue Medical Center, Quezon City and went on to an 18-month clinical fellowship training (2019-2020) in Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery under the Fellowship Consortium on Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery. She is a:
Diplomate, Philippine Board of Surgery
Associate Member, Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons
Mary Grace Balunsat-Rojas, MD, DPBS
Editorial Board Member
Consultant
East Avenue Medical Center
Department of Surgery
Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery
She co-authored an international published paper entitled “Effectiveness of Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery vs Closed Tube Thoracostomy in Parapneumonic Effusion: A Meta-Analysis'' and presented it during an Annual Convention of the American College of Surgeons. She is currently a clinical consultant at FEU-NRMF Medical Foundation and an active consultant at De Los Santos Medical Center.
Dr. Apeles is a graduate of the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health. He has also finished a Masters degree in Business Administration from the said institution. He had his general surgery residency training from The Medical City Hospital. He is a:
Diplomate, Philippine Board of Surgery
Associate Member, Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons
Member, Asia Pacific Hernia Society
Kevin Kiel V. Apeles, MD, MBA, DPBS
Editorial Board Member
Medical Officer
Rizal Medical Center
Department of Surgery
Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery
He is currently a clinical fellow in Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery in Rizal Medical Center and the Unified Minimally Invasive Surgery Training (UMIST) program. His interests in clinical research includes advanced minimally invasive surgery, upper GI surgery, and hernia surgery.
Alembert Lee-Ong MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES
Editorial Board Member
Consultant
Manila Doctors Hospital
Department of Surgery
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Alembert Lee-Ong MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES
Editorial Board Member
Consultant
Manila Doctors Hospital
Department of Surgery
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Dr Lee-Ong received his medical degree from the University of the Philippines Manila – College of Medicine and underwent residency training in general surgery at the Manila Doctors Hospital. He subsequently went for a clinical fellowship in minimally invasive surgery at the National University Hospital, Singapore. He is a
Fellow of Philippine College of Surgeons
Fellow of Philippine Society of General Surgeons
Fellow of Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons
Member of
Philippine Hernia Society
Asia Pacific Hernia Society
Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia
Currently, Dr Lee-Ong is a contributing author in 2 textbooks on minimally invasive surgery and co-author of 5 articles published in international peer-reviewed journals. In addition, he is an active consultant at the Manila Doctors Hospital.
Jonathan Joy D. Adora, MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES, FACS
Editorial Board Member
Assistant Head
St. Luke’s Medical Center, Quezon City
Institute of Surgery
Alembert Lee-Ong MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES
Editorial Board Member
Consultant
Manila Doctors Hospital
Department of Surgery
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Dr. Adora is a graduate of St Luke’s College of Medicine. He had is general surgery residency at St Luke’s Medical Center, Quezon City and did his minimally invasive surgery fellowship at the same institution. He also did further training at National University Health System, Singapore for advanced laparoscopic surgery. He then pursued training on advanced laparoscopy in digestive surgery at Cho Ray Hospital, Vietnam and minimal access/ bariatric and metabolic surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital Columbia University, USA. He is a:
Fellow, Philippine Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
Fellow, International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity
Fellow, Philippine Society of General Surgeons
Fellow, Philippine College of Surgeons
Fellow, Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
He has been involved in multiple research papers at St Luke’s Medical Center. Currently, he is the assistant head and training officer of the Institute of Surgery at St. Luke’s Medical Center, Quezon City. He is an assistant professor in surgery at St.
Luke’s Medical Center, College of Medicine and is a member of the board of directors of the Philippine Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery.
Mark Francis A. Melendres, MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES,FACS
Editorial Board Member
Medical Specialist I and Training Officer
National Kidney and Transplant Institute
Deptartment of Surgery
Mark Francis A. Melendres, MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES,FACS
Editorial Board Member
Medical Specialist I and Training Officer
National Kidney and Transplant Institute
Deptartment of Surgery
Dr. Melendres is a graduate of the University of the Philippines – College of Medicine in 2007. He took his General Surgery Training (2009-2013) at the Philippine General Hospital in Manila, serving as Chief Resident during his senior year. He took his subspecialty training in Minimally Invasive Surgery (2014-2015) at the St. Luke’s Medical Center. His has the following affiliations:
Fellow, Philippine College of Surgeons
Fellow, Philippine Society of General Surgeons
Fellow, Philippine Association of Laparoscopic and Endoscopic Surgeons
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
He is presently the Training officer of the Department of Surgery of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute in Quezon City. He is also an active consultant in General and Minimally Invasive Surgery at the Rizal Medical Center in Pasig City. He is the Head of the Section of Minimally Invasive Surgery in Diliman Doctors Hospital and Providence Hospital in Quezon City.
Marilou B. Fuentes, MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES
Editorial Board Member
Consultant
The Medical City Hospital
Department of Surgery
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Mark Francis A. Melendres, MD, FPCS, FPSGS, FPALES,FACS
Editorial Board Member
Medical Specialist I and Training Officer
National Kidney and Transplant Institute
Deptartment of Surgery
ISSN: 1908-7500
