PHILIPPINE SOCIETY FOR GYNECOLOGIC ENDOSCOPY
 Prudence V. Aquino-Aquino, M.D.

The prelude of gynecological endoscopy in the Philippines was through the efforts of Dr. Virgilio R. Oblepias. He led in teaching ambulatory laparoscopic tubal sterilization and culdoscopy in 1973 through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Johns Hopkins University Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics (JHPIEGO). In 1991, Dr. Pacita S. Lazaro performed the first laparoscopic salpingectomy for ectopic pregnancy at the Makati Medical Center using modern techniques. That same year, Dr. Delfin A. Tan performed the first total laparoscopic hysterectomy at the United Doctors Medical Center.

In 1994, Dr. Regta L. Pichay  established the first formal training in hysteroscopy at the  Manila Central University. Gynecological laparoscopy was incorporated in the curriculum of the Fellowship training program in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) at the University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital. The faculty trainers were Dr. Blanca C. De Guia, Dr. Gilda G. Martinez, Dr. Virgilio M. Novero and Dr. Eileen M. Manalo. In 1996, hysteroscopy was added to the curriculum and Dr. Maria Antonia E. Habana joined the ranks. Gynecologic endoscopy became part of the curriculum of the succeeding REI Fellowship programs.

The Committee on Gynecologic Endoscopy was established by then POGS President Dr. Corazon T. Lim in 2001.  Dr. Delfin A. Tan was the Chair of the Committee and nationwide workshops were conducted.

Three years later, in 2004, the Philippine Society for Gynecologic Endoscopy (PSGE) was recognized as a subspecialty society of the POGS and was subsequently registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The eleven incorporators also served as its Founding Officers, namely: Dr. Delfin A Tan (President), Dr. Regta L. Pichay (Vice-President); Dr. Ma. Corazon Zaida N. Gamilla (Secretary); Dr. Zoraida R. Umipig (Assistant Secretary); Dr. Blanca C. De Guia (Treasurer); Dr. Pacita S. Lazaro (P.R.O.); The other Board members were Dr. Corazon T. Lim, Dr. Lilia P. Luna, Dr. Florante P. Gonzaga; Dr. Leonardo A. Almeda, and Dr. Noel E. Raymundo. The commitment of these dedicated visionaries led the path taken by the Society to what it is today.
    
The Advanced Pelvic Surgery fellowship training program at the East Avenue Medical Center incorporated gynecologic endoscopy into the curriculum in 2012. This was led by Dr. Zoraida R. Umipig and was joined by the following faculty, Dr. German C. Tan Cardoso II, Dr. Carmencita B. Tongco and Dr. Jennifer A. Aranzamendez.
The program was later renamed in 2016 to the Minimally Invasive and Advanced Gynecologic Surgery Fellowship program. The PSGE Board of Trustees recognized the program’s curriculum in gynecologic endoscopy in 2016.

A milestone was the establishment of the first Fellowship Training program in Gynecologic Endoscopy at the  Quirino Memorial Medical Center (QMMC). This  was spearheaded by Dr. Z. Umipig in 2017 and it was accredited by the Society in 2018. The other faculty members were Dr. G. Tan Cardoso II, Dr. J.  Aranzamendez, Dr. Angelica Anne C. Chua and Dr. Prudence V. Aquino-Aquino. In July 2018, the second Fellowship Training program in gynecologic endoscopy was accredited at the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) with the following faculty members: Dr. Paula Cruz-Limlengco, Dr. Joyce S. Custodio, Dr. Ma. Lourdes Z. Cabling, and Dr. Marie Janice Alcantara-Boquiren.

PRESIDENTIAL MILESTONES

The first President of the Society is Dr. Delfin A. Tan (2004-2006).  Under his leadership, the PSGE was recognized as an affiliate society of the Asia Pacific Association in Gynecologic Endoscopy (APAGE). Seminar training workshops were also conducted in collaboration with the Asia Oceania Federation of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (AOFOG).  The Society was recognized as an affiliate of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL) under the term of Dr. Regta L. Pichay (2007-2008) . She likewise initiated the credentialing of OB-GYNs as Fellows of PSGE for hysteroscopy and gynecologic laparoscopy. Dr. Blanca C. De Guia (2009-2010) enhanced the training and credentialing programs of the Society. She initiated plans for the integration of gynecologic endoscopy to the residency training program and implemented guidelines for the holding of basic and advanced laparoscopy workshops.

Dr. Ma. Corazon Zaida N. Gamilla (2011-2012) established the Post Residency Modular Training Program in Gynecologic Endoscopy (PRMTPGE) for practicing OB-GYNs.  Dr. Angela S. Aguilar, the board secretary, developed the curriculum dividing it into 4 steps. The first Train the Trainers’ Workshop was conducted during this time. Dr. Zoraida R. Umipig (2013-2014)  worked for the incorporation of gynecologic endoscopy into the POGS’ residency training curriculum and this was approved in 2014 by then POGS President, Dr. Ma. Carmen Hernandez-Quevedo. It was during her term that a Specialty Board in Gynecologic Endoscopy was created.

Dr. Angela S. Aguilar (2015-2016) further refined the modular curriculum. The Society held a Step 1 workshop with POGS BOT, CREED members, Chairs and Training Officers of accredited OB-GYN training institutions. The first Philippine Silent Mentor Dissection Workshop in cooperation with MIGS section of the St. Luke`s Medical Center was organized by Dr. P. A. Aquino. Several workshops were held in collaboration with gynecologic oncology and the operating room nurses association. A strategic planning workshop to define the Society’s Mission and Vision was likewise held. In the course of the term of Dr. German C. Tan Cardoso (2017-2018), QMMC was accredited as a fellowship training center in gynecologic endoscopy.  Dr. A. S. Aguilar , Chair of the PSGE training committee and  Dr. Ma. CZ N. Gamilla, Chair of the Specialty Board in Gynecologic Endoscopy,  created the accreditation and credentialing manual. Dr. Tan- Cardoso likewise established the Committee on Nationwide Statistics and Research.

Under the presidency of Dr Prudence V. Aquino-Aquino (2019-2020) , the Society hosted the first Regional Meeting of European Society for Gynecologic Endoscopy (ESGE) and APAGE , “MIGS: East Meets West”, in August 2019. Dr. Maria Antonia E. Habana was the Overall Organizing Chair with Co-Chair Dr. Rudy Leon de Wilde from ESGE. The first Gynecological Endoscopic Surgical Education and Assessment (GESEA) workshops in Laparoscopy and Hysteroscopy were held prior to the congress. A Pre-congress workshop was held on November 2019 before the POGS’ organized Asia & Oceania Federation of Obstetrics & Gynecology (AOFOG) Congress held in Manila.   The year 2020 saw the Society’s plans change dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Webinars were organized in place of face to face workshops. The Society released statements on MIGS Practice during the COVID-19 Pandemic to guide its members. A nationwide survey on the Impact of Covid-19 infections on MIGS practices was also conducted. In October 2020, our society held its’ first online election and first virtual business meeting.  PSGE was recognized as an affiliate society of ESGE on October 10, 2020.

Dr. Maria Antonia E. Habana (2021-2022) initiated the hosting of educational webinars from the different regional clusters, with the first hosted by PSGE Fellows from Luzon. This was followed by the  NCR, Visayas, and Mindanao regions. The MIGS Grand Rounds started also in 2021 aimed to encourage exchange and sharing of ideas, experiences and practices among gynecologic endoscopy training Centers. The Grand Rounds was participated by the Quirino Memorial Medical Center, East Avenue Medical Center, Southern Philippines Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital and St. Luke’s Medical Center. Due to the pandemic, the Society held its Annual Congress virtually last July 2021 and July 2022 with Dr. Regina Tan-Espiritu as the Overall Chair of the Organizing committee. The 2022 program included a YAG session with presentation of surgical videos. Several workshops were held: Step 1.1 (November 2021, hybrid format) and Training of Trainors (November 2022, virtual platform) organized by Dr. Prudence A. Aquino, and the Step 1 workshop (November 2022, in person), the first since the pandemic, organized by Dr. Angela S. Aguilar.

Credentialing of Fellows and Hospital Accreditation were held in a hybrid format through the efforts of Dr. Ma. Corazon Zaida N. Gamilla and Dr. Marlyn T. Dee respectively.  

Also in 2021, the  Society together with CREED enhanced the minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (MIGS) curriculum in residency training with the resumption of its integration (CREED-PBOG resolution 2021-001).  SCOPE: Surgical Competency on Pelvic Endoscopy, was developed to supplement the residents’ learning experience. SCOPE is an online self-paced program available at the PSGE website for free. The course was launched last July 2022 and will be available until December 31, 2024. It is based on the approved residency curriculum. Experts in the field serve as faculty in SCOPE which can be accessed thru this site: https://www.psge-migs.org/scope-overview.php

This 2023, Dr Regina Tan-Espiritu (President, 2023-2024) is planning the Annual Congress to be held in person, the last was in 2019. Activities such as the Regional webinars, MIGS Grand Rounds and the Training Summit are being organized. Preparations are also being made for the Society's 20th Anniversary celebration.

The Society now boasts of 175 Fellows across the nation and hopes to see more in the near future. PSGE strives to provide avenues for sustainable education, training and research in gynecologic endoscopy and by doing so patients may be provided with the highest level of care in minimally invasive gynecological surgery.