Breaking Down Barriers, Shaping the Future: A Tribute to Remarkable Women in Healthcare
Women’s Month is coming to a close, but the contributions and dedication of Filipina women everywhere and especially in healthcare will live on. To honor that, we look towards the remarkable women in the field—a tribute to their successes that shape our present and pave the way for the future.
Dr. María Paz Mendoza Guazón, the first Filipina doctor, paved the way for women in medical professions. She distinguished herself through her research in pathology. She brought attention to bangungut, death of healthy men in their sleep, and her research on the endemicity of Schistosomiasis in the islands proved accurate. Her push to include industrial hygiene in the curriculum of her time displayed her foresight in preparing for the incoming industrial age in the country. Dr. Fe del Mundo became the first woman admitted to Harvard Medical School and a pioneer in pediatrics. Her commitment to child healthcare led to the establishment of the first pediatric hospital in the Philippines. Dr. Esperanza Cabral served as the country’s Secretary of Health and advocated for accessible healthcare services. Many remarkable Filipinas have made groundbreaking contributions to healthcare thereafter, not only as doctors but also as nurses, midwives, researchers, and public health advocates.
This Women’s Month, we celebrate the dedication, commitment and passion of four remarkable women who excel in their respective fields, doing their best for the community, one patient at a time.
Dr. Josephine P. Contreras-Tolentino: A Legacy of Excellence in Medicine
Dr. Josephine P. Contreras-Tolentino is Chair of External Affairs at The Medical City Cancer Institute. She actively contributes to international clinical trials, with published works in the field. She is also the Immediate Past President of the Philippine Society of Medical Oncology, a faculty member for clinical interns at the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health, and a National Societies Member of the European Society of Medical Oncology.
“I never had the chance to meet my older brother, who passed away just a month after I was born. Though I never knew him, his loss left a profound impact on my family and, in turn, on me. It instilled in me a deep desire to save lives and make a difference. As I grew up, I saw medicine as more than just treating diseases—it is a noble profession that heals not only the body but also the mind and soul. Choosing to become a doctor was a calling, one that allows me to bring hope and healing to patients during their most vulnerable moments. In oncology, this mission is even more profound, as we do not only fight cancer but also walk alongside our patients, offering them strength, support, and dignity.”
She had her fellowship training at St. Luke’s Medical Center and took her specialized courses in head and neck cancer at National Cancer Center Hospital East, Japan. Dr. Tolentino also honed her expertise as a visiting fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
Medicine is evolving, and with more women in leadership, we are shaping a future that values both expertise and the human connection at the heart of healing.
More and more women are stepping beyond traditional roles, taking on leadership positions in healthcare, public service, and research. We introduce a different touch to medicine, one that prioritizes empathy, collaboration, and holistic care. The future of women in medicine is one of transformation, where we continue to break ceilings, challenge outdated norms, and create a healthcare system that is more inclusive, innovative, and patient-centered.”
Dr. Lilia Pagtakhan-Luna: Inspiring the Next Generation of Medical Professionals
Dr. Lilia Pagtakhan-Luna is a distinguished Filipino obstetrician-gynecologist known for her contributions to medical education, healthcare accessibility, and women’s health. In 2001, she launched a groundbreaking fellowship in reproductive medicine, training specialists now serving communities nationwide. In 2009, she received the FIGO Women’s Award for her contributions to obstetrics and gynecology. Her legacy continues to shape Philippine medicine and women’s healthcare
A passionate teacher as she is a doctor, Dr. Luna has significant influence in shaping the next generation of medical professionals. As a professor and mentor, she has guided young doctors through training programs, exuding both expertise and motherly guidance. Her leadership in various medical societies—including serving as Past President of the Philippine Obstetrical & Gynecological Society and the Philippine Society of Reproductive Medicine— is testament to her passion for service and leadership.
Apart from the 2009 FIGO Women’s Award for her outstanding contributions to obstetrics and gynecology, she was also named Most Outstanding Professional in Medicine by the Professional Regulations Commission in 2009 and recognized as one of the most trusted OB-GYNs in the Philippines by Reader’s Digest in 2010.
“If there is a message I could impart to my younger colleagues, it’s that when you want something, work for it,” Dr. Luna says. “Work for it in whatever ethical way you should do it. Work for it, because the most important thing in one’s success isn’t only the people around you, but what you do to yourself to achieve your goal.”
Dr. Josefina Pamela Carpio: A Champion for Public Health
Dr. Josefina Pamela Carpio serves as the Physician and Project Officer of KliniKalye, Childhope’s Mobile Primary Care Clinic. Through KliniKalye, she leads efforts to provide essential healthcare services—ranging from preventive medical care and consultations to treatments—for hundreds of street children across Metro Manila’s most vulnerable communities.
A graduate of University of the Philippines, Dr. Pamela Carpio’s childhood dream was always to become a medical doctor. It was during her undergraduate years as a UP Task Force Streetchildren volunteer that she developed her passion for working for the vulnerable sector. There, she served children from an urban poor community near their campus. “My passion to work for the underserved was further fueled during my medical education and internship at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine – Philippine General Hospital, where I witnessed firsthand how social factors impact health, and vice versa.” After her graduation, she began working for the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Childhope Philippines Foundation, enabling her to contribute to the improvement of the health and wellbeing of streetchildren and their families. All the while it also allowed her to work within organizations, and with different medical and nonmedical professionals, towards lasting social impact. “At present, I draw inspiration daily from our beneficiaries – my patients. Witnessing their health and their lives improve may seem to others like small steps, but these are small drops that contribute to an ocean of change.”
Dr. Carpio sees every challenge as an opportunity for growth, and as she navigated through her career, she learned to wear different hats – a healer, an educator, a manager, a leader, and a social mobilizer – all the time learning with and learning from the various women she worked and served with.
For young women dreaming of entering healthcare, I say embrace your womanhood in all its complexity. Healthcare is not all intellectual work. Just as the field of medicine is both a science and an art, women are at an advantage because we work with both our minds and our hearts, and both are equally important.”
Ms. Monaliza Balnig-Salian: Pioneering Affordable and Accessible Healthcare
Ms. Monaliza Balnig-Salian is the co-founder of Philippine pharmaceuticals MedEthix and I.E. Medica, companies dedicated to providing Filipinos access to affordable, quality healthcare. In 2021, MedEthix brought Molnupiravir, an oral antiviral pill for mild COVID19 cases to supply what Filipinos needed at the time of pandemic. In 2024, MedEthix was awarded Most Differentiated Service of the Year and Hospital Partnership of the Year by Healthcare Asia Pharma Awards as a testament to its relentless effort to deliver critical treatments efficiently and its focus on patient-centric care.
A native of Capiz, Ms. Salian graduated from the University of San Agustin with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy. She ventured into Manila, where she worked for six years until she and her husband founded I.E. Medica in 2007 and MedEthix in 2009. In the business of global sourcing, registration, importation and distribution of new healthcare products in the Philippines, her team naturally developed global contracting capacity with an extensive global network to remain competitive. This is all to contribute significantly to the national goal of attaining universal healthcare by giving Filipinos better access to medical provisions and more humane solutions – to heal always and in all ways. When the pandemic hit, they had the capacity to bring in Molnupiravir. “It was difficult to address COVID in its initial stage and limit the progression of the virus because we didn’t have anything at that time. There wasn’t a vaccine yet back then either. So when I first heard about this Molnupiravir, we immediately brought it to the Philippines– thanks to our extensive global network of suppliers, one of which got an in-licensing for the drug.”
In 2019, she accepted a partnership offer from AC Health. “They’re building this ecosystem that can give Filipinos access to quality healthcare in the form of medicines and services”
Breaking the Mold
As we celebrate Women’s Month, let us acknowledge and support the women who dedicate their lives to healing, teaching, and advocating for better healthcare. Their stories inspire us to continue pushing for not only equality, respect, and recognition in the medical field, but also significant contributions unencumbered by any imposed limitation. By championing women in healthcare, we ensure a future where talent and dedication, not gender, determine success.
As we celebrate Women’s Month, we honor these trailblazing Filipinas whose courage and dedication have transformed the healthcare industry. Their stories serve as an inspiration for future generations to continue breaking barriers and shaping a healthier, more inclusive society.
