While the country continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) produced its first breed of doctors who are willing to join the roster of dignified medical practitioners. 

Seven pioneer graduates of the MMSU College of Medicine (COM) posted a whopping 100 percent passing rate in the 2020 Physician Licensure Examination (PLE) administered by the Professional Regulation Commission on November 10-11 and 15-16.

Tagged as the MMSU’s ‘Magic 7’ who will soon take their oath of service are Allysa Mae B. Agustin, Everlyn Joy B. Caluya, Miguel Patrick I. Cerezo, Knedrick Kevin C. Macalma, Jun Carlos R. Mariquin, Gene Paolo Janzi C. Sapla, and Niki Angeli I. Tabaniag.

The successful examinees were among the 3,538 who passed the examination taken by 4,704 examinees throughout the country. The national passing rate stood at 75.21%. 

The PRC conducted the board exam in the cities of Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Legazpi, Lucena, Tacloban, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga.

“This feat is a feather in the cap of the university,” expressed Dr. Ricardo S. Guanzon, COM dean, thanking the MMSU leadership and university community for the overwhelming support to the college and its graduates. 

“Since they are the pioneering class, we really wanted to show our wholehearted support so that they can hurdle the board exam, and they did it,” Guanzon added.

With this sterling performance, Guanzon said the COM plans to increase its number of medical students for next academic year, explaining that it is also in response to the urgent need of medical doctors in the country, especially in this time of health crisis. 

He said that next academic year, the college will admit 40 to 50 first year students, depending on their qualifications which will be determined by the result of their National Medical Admission Test (NMAT), general weighted average, and interview. 

For him, maintaining the same performance in future Physician Licensure Examinations is a great task, considering the challenges of the new normal mode of learning and training, along with the changing line of technology. 

Meanwhile, MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis extended her commendation to the Magic 7, exclaiming, “the whole University is very proud of this feat, and we wish you the best blessings as you enter the field of health service. 

“I hope that you will continue to uphold the values of excellence, compassion and devoted service for our fellow Ilokanos,” she said.

Established in 2015, the COM is the youngest college in the University and medical school in northern Luzon. It produced its first batch of graduates in 2019. – Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. (StratCom)