Teaching medical photography

Because of my vast experience in medical photography, after graduation from PGH in 1981, when I was already a consultant, I decided to give lectures on the do’s and don’ts of medical photography.  I had given lectures on the topic to the staff of the Department of Surgery of PGH, Manila Doctors Hospital, and other hospitals which I cannot recall now. (See below for a record of a lecture in 1988 in MDH.  I am sure I had given the first lecture earlier than 1988.)  In 2003, I was invited by the Philippine Dermatology Society to be a panelist on medical photography. I begged off because of conflict of schedule.  In July 2012, I am being invited to conduct a workshop on the medical photography in the Asian Medical Students’ Conference.

I have been actively promoting medical photography in the Department of Surgery of Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center (OMMC) as early as 2002.  Starting June, 2004, all surgical residents have been required to demonstrate skills in medical photography by presenting their pictures during our regular Tuesday and Thursday conferences.

In the Division of Head and Neck, Breast and Surgical Oncology in the Philippine General Hospital of which I am one of the consultants and where I attend conferences every Wednesday, we also require competency on medical photography for our residents.

Twenty-five years (from 1981 to 2006) [written in 2006] have passed since I started promoting awareness on the importance of medical photography.  Its importance has remained despite the changing times and production of electronic photography equipment. The principles of medical photography are still the same (clear and not jampacked and clean) despite the fact that digital cameras, LCD projectors, computers (particularly the powerpoint presentation), and scan have make photography and medical presentation easier and quicker.  Practically, the kodalith and ektachrome films, slide projectors, slide viewers and carousels used in 80’s and 90’s have been phased out.

Before I retire and before I loose all my notes on medical photography, starting 2006 [written in 2006], up to present, 2012 [this year], I intend to retrieve all my files and write a final edition on medical photography. This will be one of the legacies that I like to leave behind for the future Filipino physicians, particularly the surgeons.   

Note the No. 1 item in the list of my medical presentations in 1988 - Medical Photography.  

ROJ@12feb17