PCMP 2025: A Resounding Celebration of Leadership, Collaboration, and Excellence in Medical Physics

SMPRP Admin
Jun 15
5 min read

Updated: Jun 26

Organized by the Society of Medical Physicists in the Republic of the Philippines (SMPRP), the Philippine Conference on Medical Physics 2025 (PCMP 2025) was held last June 5–6, 2025 at the Diamond Hotel Manila, gathering professionals, academics, regulators, and industry leaders under the resonant theme: “Filipino Medical Physicists as Leaders in Enhancing Patient Care.”

The participants and organizers of the Philippine Conference on Medical Physics 2025 at the Diamond Hotel Manila

This year’s conference marked a pivotal moment for the medical physics profession in the country, highlighting Filipino leadership in the advancement of radiological healthcare, research innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

The conference featured the inspiring keynote address by Prof. Chai Hong Yeong, Ph.D., President of the Southeast Asia Federation of Organizations for Medical Physics (SEAFOMP). Prof. Yeong emphasized the growing influence and responsibility of Filipino medical physicists in the global healthcare landscape. She underscored their essential role not only in safeguarding patient safety but also in shaping policy, mentoring future professionals, and contributing to international standards of radiological practice.

Professor Chai Hong Yeong delivers her keynote address at PCMP 2025 with a smile, captivating the audience through her insightful perspectives.

A special highlight of the first day, Prof. Adam M. Cunha, Ph.D., Head of the Advanced RadioTherapies (ART) Laboratory at the University of California San Francisco delivered a lecture on the latest advancements in High Dose Rate (HDR) brachytherapy, focusing on personalized dosimetry, technological innovations, and clinical strategies that maximize therapeutic outcomes in cancer treatment.

Dr. Carlo A. Arcilla, Director of the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI), and Dr. Valeriano V. Timbang, Jr., Officer-in-Charge Director IV of the FDA’s Center for Device Regulation, Radiation Health, and Research (CDRRHR), also graced the conference with their lectures sharing key developments in radiation safety policies and institutional efforts to strengthen compliance, licensing, and public health protection mechanisms. Their talks discussed crucial updates on regulatory frameworks for medical radiological facilities.

In support of academic advancement, Prof. Edgar A. Vallar, Ph.D. from De La Salle University-Manila recounted the development of the MS Applied Physics degree program, a forward-thinking initiative designed to cultivate future medical physicists through research-intensive and clinically relevant education.

In the afternoon, Filipino medical physicists and healthcare leaders participated in a roundtable discussion on the evolving clinical roles of medical physicists and the importance of ethical practice in the healthcare setting. Most importantly, the conference brought together the Presidents and representatives of six major professional societies: SMPRP, the Philippine College of Radiology (PCR), the Philippine Radiation Oncology Society (PROS), the Philippine Society of Nuclear Medicine (PSNM), the Philippine Society of Nuclear Medicine Technologists (PSNMT), and the Philippine Association of Radiologic Technologists (PART) in the landmark roundtable “Enhancing Collaboration among Radiation Healthcare Professionals.” Affirming the shared responsibility of all practitioners in harmonizing clinical practice, scientific research, and safety culture for the benefit of patients and the public, the first day of the conference capped off with the signing of the “Joint Declaration on Patient Safety and Professional Ethics in Medical Radiological Practices” by the said organizations. A pivotal moment in the history of radiation health in the Philippines, the Declaration signified a collective commitment to uphold the highest standards of patient safety, ethical conduct, and interdisciplinary cooperation in radiological healthcare.

Leaders from professional organizations proudly present the signed Joint Declaration on Patient Safety and Professional Ethics in Medical Radiological Practices during a ceremonial signing event in PCMP 2025.

The second day of the conference was equally dynamic, beginning with a full slate of parallel scientific sessions and technical workshops, which featured oral and poster presentations from emerging researchers. The PCMP Scientific Evaluation Committee carefully selected outstanding papers from across the country, reflecting the strength of local innovation in medical physics.

Returning for a second lecture, Prof. Cunha discussed the challenges of translating research from high-resource countries like the U.S. to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). He explored contextual barriers to implementation, such as infrastructure, cost, and workforce limitations, and challenged local professionals to adapt global solutions to local realities with creativity and sustainability in mind.

Throughout the day, industry partners conducted hands-on workshops and lectures. Siemens presented updates on Arc Therapy. Medilines hosted a session on tattoo- and marker-free patient setup using AlignRT and enhanced non-coplanar planning with MapRT. Elekta introduced participants to its new Elekta ONE Planning platform. These technical discussions provided clinicians and physicists with access to the latest technologies that can optimize patient outcomes in radiotherapy.

In another parallel session, Asst. Prof. Jay Erickson C. Tio (University of Santo Tomas), Princess Jara M. Castillo (Makati Medical Center), and Dr. Rizza D. Pua, a DOST Balik Scientist, delivered a comprehensive lecture on the basic principles, safety, and quality assurance of MRI and CT machines, highlighting best practices and common pitfalls in imaging physics.

A special session on nuclear medicine practice and facility management was led by Mr. Royce Rañeses of St. Luke’s Medical Center and Ms. Ednarissa Jenn D. Dultra, MSc of Southern Philippines Medical Center, who shared on-the-ground experiences and evolving standards in nuclear medicine operations.

In the afternoon, the Annual SMPRP General Assembly was convened. The Treasurer’s Report was delivered by Mr. Danilo C. Yambao, while SMPRP President Mr. Ramon Carlo L. Cruzpero provided an overview of SMPRPs accomplishments and future directions.

PBMP welcomes its new member and changes in leadership, while honoring Ms. Bacaling for her service

The Philippine Board of Medical Physics (PBMP), a special body under the SMPRP tasked in certifying medical physicists, celebrated and honored Ms. Monica Bacaling, CMP, for her 15 years of dedicated service as Chair of the PBMP–Section of Radiation Oncology Medical Physics (ROMP). The PBMP welcomed its new leadership with Mr. Jonathan Corpuz as Chair and Ms. Maureen Bojador as the new Board Member.

During the conference, Mr. Martin Gregorio Guevarra, CMP and Ms. Renee Elennor Angeles, CMP also took their oath as newly certified medical physicists, marking a significant milestone in their professional careers.

One of the most awaited segments was the awarding of the Research Presentation Competition Winners, recognizing the best scholarly works presented during the conference:

ORAL PRESENTATION

🥇 1st Place: Michael Angelo Gloria (UP Manila) – "Investigation of the Effects of Thyroidectomy on Iodine-131 S-Values"
🥈 2nd Place: Mariella Ann M. Jocson (UP Manila) – "Comparison of the Dosimetric Performance and Material Suitability of Polycarbonate and Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG) 3D Printing Materials for Customized HDR Brachytherapy Applicators using Co-60"
🥉 3rd Place: France Gabriel Gagui (UP Manila) – "Mitigating Repeat CT Exposure linked to 3D-Printed Bolus Use in Radiotherapy: A Proof of Concept"

POSTER PRESENTATION

🥇 1st Place: Kelzey Nicole L. Ramos (UP Manila) – "Aqueous Extracts of Blumea Balsamifera (Sambong) Leaves and Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) as Radiosensitizers for HL-60 Leukemia Cells"
🥈 2nd Place: Alexandra L. Torio (PUP) – "Electron-hole Pair Evaluation in Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) Derived from Rice Husk Ash as an Insulating Layer in MOSFET Dosimeter using PHITS"
🥉 3rd Place: Zaldy Razon (UP Manila) – "Assessment of Neutron Moderation Properties of Gamma-Irradiated High-Density Polyethylene"

The conference concluded with a major announcement that the Philippines will host the 2026 Southeast Asian Conference on Medical Physics (SEACOMP) in conjunction with PCMP 2026, bringing regional collaboration to the forefront and further positioning Filipino medical physicists as leaders in the region.

With renewed vigor and a deepened sense of purpose, PCMP 2025 closed as a landmark gathering, reaffirming the profession’s commitment to excellence, ethics, innovation, and the enhancement of patient care.