Envisioned as the lead center for infectious and tropical diseases in the country, it was in March of 2011 when the RITM Adult Infectious Diseases Fellowship Training Program materialized under the leadership of Dr. Mari Rose A. de los Reyes, head of the medical department, with Dr. Manolito L. Chua as the over-all training officer. The training program aims to produce subspecialists highly competent in the diagnosis, treatment, prevention and control of infectious and tropical diseases. The strength of the training program includes exposure to case management and preparedness for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, infection control, in- and outpatient management of patients with HIV/AIDS being the largest treatment hub in the country, and exposure to national reference laboratories among others.

The hospital arm of the institute, under the Clinical Research Division (CRD), is the main training ground for the fellowship training program. Classified as a referral hospital for tropical diseases, RITM also caters to patients with dengue fever, malaria, tuberculosis, tetanus, rabies, snakebites and animal bites. It has been designated by the Department of Health as the national referral center for the clinical management of Ebola, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and other Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (EREIDs). The institute is likewise the home of many research study programs like HIV/AIDS, schistosomiasis, polio and other enteroviruses, acute respiratory infections, acute gastroenteritis, etc.

As of 2019, RITM has produced fifteen (15) graduates now distributed throughout the country, each providing significant contributions in their areas of practice. The trainees are supervised by esteemed infectious diseases consultants, all of whom are Fellows of the Philippine Society of the Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) and the Philippine Society for Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (PSMID). The training program is also fully accredited by PSMID. In order to provide more clinical experience for the fellows, affiliation agreements have been put in place with the National Kidney and Transplant Institute, Philippine Heart Center, Philippine General Hospital, Makati Medical Center, and Sendai Medical Center in Tohoku, Japan.

RECRUITMENT

Every year, three (3) fellows-in-training are accepted to the program. Training begins every 1st of June with a duration of two (2) years. Applicants must be a diplomate of PCP and a graduate of a PCP-accredited program in internal medicine. Every applicant must have passed a written examination, interview and screening by the Medical Department under the CRD. The deadline for applications is usually in the end of February of the same year. For further information, kindly contact the Medical Department through e-mail ritm_medical@yahoo.com, telephone nos. (02) 807-2631/32/37 local 801, or telefax no. (632) 8807 9603.

PEOPLE

Head: Dr. Arthur Dessi E. Roman
Training Officer: Dr. Jemelyn U. Garcia

Consultants:

• Dr. Mari Rose A. De Los Reyes
• Dr. Aileen G. Gascon
• Dr. Katherine Z. Cosca

Fellows-in-Training:

• Dr. Annie Abordo-Dioso
• Dr. Jonah Adtoon
• Dr. Jelena Louise Arreza
• Dr. April Keith Balingit
• Dr. Don Michael Bernardino
• Dr. Barbara Cariza Buenafe
• Dr. Elham Jaji
• Dr. Coleen Lanuza
• Dr. Trisha Marisse Montalbo
• Dr. Edward Matthew Ylaya
• Dr. Arianne Mae Cadungon
• Dr. Mark Corpuz
• Dr. Edward Gallardo
• Dr. Justin Christopher Gapusan