PRESS RELEASE
WDC-50-2021
21 OCTOBER 2021
21 OCTOBER 2021, WASHINGTON D.C. – In celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the contributions made by Filipino-American medical frontliners, the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC co-organized the Community of Courage: Medical Milestones of PH-US Strategic Partnership webinar. The webinar featured inspiring stories from the past to the present, and had a special screening of “Nurses Unseen”, a documentary on Filipino Nurses in the United States.
“Through discussions like these, we hope to underscore the enduring partnerships and significant achievements that our two countries have made throughout the years. Our nurses, doctors, and medical frontliners have been pillars of the American healthcare system.” Deputy Chief of Mission Jaime Ramon T. Ascalon, Jr. said in his opening remarks.
Dr. Erwin Tiongson, Georgetown professor of the practice and deputy director of the Global Human Development Program, then led the audience through a brief history of Philippines-US relations, the advances in medicine and healthcare in both countries within this relationship, and stories that chronicle the contributions of individual Filipinos to the US healthcare industry.
Succeeding Dr. Tiongson’s presentation, Dr. Elwyn Cabebe (Medical Director, Stanford Cancer Center South Bay), Dr. Marilou Tablang-Jimenez (Medical Director for Addiction & Mental Health at Medstar), Ms. Melissa Tizon (PR Strategists/ Breast Cancer Survivor), and Nurses Unseen team Director Michele Josue and Mr. Carlo Velayo shared their personal accounts of the healthcare system and the Filipino-Americans that props the whole industry up. Filipino American Cancer Care co-founder Edward Logan moderated the panel discussion.
The Embassy is partnered with the Filipino American Cancer Care, US-Philippines Society, Bulalacao Municipality, and Malaya Saribayan for this program. The Community of Courage webinar is also part of the Embassy’s year-long celebration of the 75th anniversary of PH-US diplomatic relations, as well as the Filipino American History Month.
You can watch the webinar here.###
