COSMETICODENTAL

Dr. MA. LOURDES “ MALU “ J. DE LEON graduated from the University of the Philippines College of Dentistry in 1986 and immediately took the Board examination and passed it with an average of 83.89 %.

She is a past president of the Philippine Dental Association (PDA) Pasig Pateros Taguig chapter and the incumbent President of the PDA- Philippine Academy of Esthetic Dentistry (PAED) from 2006 to 2008. She is also the current course director of the Post graduate course of the Academy (PAED) ‘PAED ESTHETIC 101’. She has been practicing Esthetic Dentistry since 1989. A member of the speaker’s bureau (a pool of resource speakers) of the Philippine Dental Association for Esthetic Dentistry topics, she has been invited nationwide as resource speaker.

DEAN ARTURO P. DE LEON
Our Lady of Fatima University

YOUNGEST FOUNDING DEAN
Professing the Good Name of Dentistry as a Service Profession

Dr. ARTURO P. DE LEON assumed the deanship of the College of Dentistry of the Our Lady of Fatima University on January of 1996. He was then 34 years old making him the youngest dentist to be appointed as college dean at that time.

Even before his appointment as dean of the college, Dr. de Leon has been intently involved in moving men and women towards a meaningful journey along the path of the dental academe, organized dentistry and even dental industry. He has devoted much of his time and talent in making others truly feel that dentists are and will always be there to help alleviate the sufferings and eventually to enhance the total well-being of their fellowmen.

At present, Dean De Leon, the founding dean of the 23rd dental college in the country, is the Immediate President of the Council of Deans of the Philippine Association of Dental Colleges (PADC) and carved his name as the youngest dean to take the reign of the Council a collegial body which significantly contributes in defining the direction of Dental Education in the country.

As the PADC president, Dr de Leon also actively participated in the endeavors of the government and that of organized dentistry in the field of dental education and continuing professional education. He is the Chairman of the Committee on Dental Education of the Philippine Dental Association and a member of the Committee on Continuing Professional Education of the Professional Regulation Commission.

At present, Dean De Leon holds chairmanship of two of the major standing committees of the Philippine Dental Association. Concurrently he is the chairman of the Committee on Dental Education and the Committee on Ethics and Economics.

As the incumbent Chairman of the Committee on Dental Education he led the PDA delegation to the International Workshop on Dental Education as hosted by the Asia Pacific Dental Federation at GRT Convention Center, Chennai, India last November 24-26, 2006. In the said workshop, the dental practitioners and academicians from the region developed the policy statement on dental education, identified factors which significantly influence the dental education and mapped up viable strategies for the development of a competent, biologically aware and socially sensitive dental surgeon. The final document will be presented during the April 2007 APDF Conference in Jakarta, Indonesia.

On the other hand, as the Chairman of the Committee on Ethics and Economics, Dean De Leon spearheaded a national advocacy which is designed to infuse further the essence of high ethical values and professionalism in the practice of dentistry in the country. Dubbed as P.D.A. : Pagkat Dentista Ako, the advocacy compels the dental professional to declare his professional commitment in the delivery of relevant quality dental care within the realm of the ethical and professional standards as prescribed by today’s practice of the profession.

The advocacy underscores the importance of perceiving dentistry not as a source of livelihood but rather as a ‘calling’ which moves the professional to embrace the tenets of service rather than that of material gains.

Through the said advocacy, the chairman hopes that it will further paved the way for a better and renewed perception of the image of the dental profession.

The said advocacy was launched in the first ever FAQ Forum on Dental Ethics and Jurisprudence which was held at the Manila InterContinental Hotel last February 21, 2007. As chaired by Dean De Leon, the Organizing Committee was able to provide a forum where the dentists can reminded of their ethical and legal responsibilities as a citizen of the Republic competent in their chosen field and involved in the promotion of progress in the community. In the forum, the committee was also able to formulate action plans which can put more value to the membership of individual dentists in the mother dental organization

With a level of acceptance of a forum of such nature, the Committee is gearing for a series of DEJ Forum in the different regions of the country.

Dr. de Leon also spearheaded the Dentist-Parent Privilege Program which was initially started in his own university. The Program glorifies every dentist-parent’s desire to assure the continuity of the growth of dentistry as a service profession. The University is extending outright privilege discounts to the children of PDA members enrolled in the dental program. The dentist-parents just need to present duplicate certificates of good standing as members of the Philippine Dental Association, Dental Chapter and Professional Regulation Commission. This is one of the many ways of taking care of those who opted to contribute in assuring a continuous lineage of the disciples of the dental profession.

Dean De Leon was also recently elected as Councilor of the South East Asia Association for Dental Education, the foremost organization of the region in the field of dental programs. No less than the incumbent SEAADE President, Prof. Keng Siong Beng, of the National University of Singapore cited Dean de Leon’s contribution in the organizational aspiration of SEAADE.

A MAN OF VISION

When Dr de Leon applied for the deanship position he brought with him a seven-point proposal as to how he envisions managing the said new and budding dental institution. The said proposal became the specific operational objectives of the College up to this point of time became the pillars upon which the College developmental plan is fortified.

The document also made a heavy influence in the formulation of the operational objectives of the other colleges in the Fatima Institution. A fact which was strongly felt during the various accreditation programs the institution has underwent, particularly during the quest for the coveted university status which was eventually given to Fatima University by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) on December 18, 2002.

The document also proves that the Dental Dean possesses that keen foresight to envision the path that his institution will be pursuing and that strong will and determination to embark to such journey towards truth and compassion.

The journey towards academic excellence started with the formulation of the program of instruction. Through the leadership of Dean de Leon, the college is implementing one of the more innovative competency-based dental curriculum. The college has included curricular enrichment such as Pedagogy and Perspective in Dentistry. The college is also the first to offer Infection Control, Conscious Sedation and Forensic Dentistry as separate curricular offerings.

One of the jewels of the program is the inclusion of veni-puncture exercises to allow the students to acquire the competency to do intra-venous infusion of medication and sedatives.

TRAILBLAZING ENDEAVORS

With the said dental program in hand, Dr de Leon spearheaded the efforts of the College to provide relevant dental education through highly individualized, innovative and caring teaching strategies and within a viable laboratory and clinical facilities. And such desire to excel was duly rewarded when the CHED gave the government recognition to the College which was then barely two years in operation, a first in the history of dental education.

The recognition was capped with the College first batches of graduates registering 100% school passing averages placing Fatima College of Dentistry alongside the University of the Philippines, an established seat of excellence. This is in spite of the fact that the College is implementing an open admission policy in its efforts to make the services available to those whoever, regardless of their learning and economic capacity, desire to be future disciples of the dental profession.

Through his leadership, the College will now be offering a multiple-degree ladderized dental program.

PRODUCING A BOARD TOPNOTCHER AFTER SIX YEARS OF EXISTENCE
Fulfilling Ardently a Truly Inspiring and Meaningful Aspiration

In 2002, first book of the College was completed and was laid upon a pedestal when Dr. Sharon Isidro, who belonged to the original batch of the Fatima Pre-dental and Dental Program, topped the dental licensure examination. Considering this achievement garnered during its sixth year operation, it can now be said that Fatima College of Dentistry has achieved its goals within the determined timetable and with flying colors. While on the other hand, the opening of the second book was ushered by another sterling performance in the dental board with Dr. Jennifer Tobias capturing 7th place.

The aforementioned performances testify to the viability of the institution’s review program which can further help individuals fulfill their dreams. The college also offers such help to those deserving students who wish to avail scholarship of grants. In its existence, the College had trained successful grantees of international and local scholarship programs to include the first scholar of the Filipino Dental Society of Southern California and three out of the four grants of the National Association of Filipino Dentists in America.

Such deep concern for the studentry motivates the College to continuously improve their offering. Come this school year 2005-2006, the college will be implementing a new curriculum which will further empower the dental graduates to render a relevant and wider range of service. Undoubtedly, this will another innovative trailblazing endeavor of the college under the watchful eyes and focused vision of the dean and the University administration.

A COVENANT BUILT UPON A BRIDGE

The college also facilitates the availment of faculty scholarship grants in order to enhance the teachers’ clinical, pedagogical and managerial competence. Braving the land of the rising sun, Dean de Leon went to the Kanagawa Dental College to convince the men and women of the well-established Japanese school to accept a sisterhood agreement with the Fatima College of Dentistry. Recognizing the firm commitment of the college as reflected in the burning desire of its leaders, the Kanagawa people signed the agreement with the Fatima University administration. The agreement includes a bilateral consultation program and student and faculty exchange program. This coming school year arrangements are being finalized for Dr. Isidro to undergo a all expense-paid four-year degree granting post-graduate training on Orthodontics and Pediatrics under the tutorship of an authority in the field of Growth and Development, Prof. Sadao Sato.

The sisterhood agreement transcends beyond the great seas and it surely built a strong bridge between and established dental school and a budding dental institution.

DEFINING THE DIRECTION OF PHILIPPINE DENTAL EDUCATION

With all of these programs successfully being implemented, Dean de Leon chose not to be confined in the perimeters of the College. In fact, believing in the said programs, he opened them up to the different dental schools to consider. During his incumbency as the PADC president, Dean de Leon led the Association in a series of seminar workshops in order to address the different operational concerns of the dental colleges. He spearheaded the assessment of the traditional dental curriculum and the formulation of the operational matrix for a competency-based dental curriculum. In the process, the PADC was able also to make the initial step in standardization of the various instructional guides and teaching protocols the first of which was done last year during the PADC workshop on the Evaluative Process of Simulated Laboratory Exercises.

The input in the said seminar was the basis for coming up with a universally-accepted Protocol on teaching and evaluating a simulated exercise on complete denture service. Dean de Leon together with two other prosthodontists also labourly designed a dental mannequin which can be used in the implementation of the protocol for simulated laboratory exercises

Part of the plan is to treat the other simulated exercises as given during the dental licensure examination with the same keen attention.

In addressing the said concerns, the PADC under Dean De Leon’s stewardship does not lose sight of its obligation to continuously monitor the effectiveness and efficiency of the conduct of the dental licensure examination. The Association has become more involved in the formulation of guidelines for the better assessment of the board candidates.

SOWING THE SEED OF COLLEGIALITY

The involvement of the deans may be pictured as more up-scaled. Maybe perhaps the deans find more meaning to participate in the discussions and deliberations. Within the PADC, the walls of competition have eroded. The deans are moving in unison in addressing the various concern affecting the Philippine dental education. All dean-members are focused in contributing to the enhancement of the image and performance of dentistry as a noble profession. In his inaugural meeting, Dean de Leon launched the “Deans’ Hour” which gives a more liberal forum where the deans can share and learn from each others experiences within the context of collegiality and responsible leadership. Each of the dean has found his or her voice readily heard during every Council of Deans.

Dean De Leon was also instrumental in providing opportunities for members of the dental industry to nurture a sense of collegiality through responsible trading and collaborative endeavors. He was the Chairman of the Scientific Session of the First Convention of the National Association of Dental Traders ( NADTI ). He looked upon the work as a rare chance to extend that sense of gratitude to those people who have been sincerely supporting the P.D.A. in its undertakings.

LINKING THE COUNTRY WITH THE INTERNATIONAL DENTAL ACADEME

The overwhelming response of the different deans and college leaders further fuels Dean de Leon aspiration to connect Philippine dental education in other sectors which can increase the former’s capacity to deliver quality and relevant trainings. He worked closely with the National Teachers’ Training Center of the University of the Philippines in preparing programs for dental faculty members. His fervor in the planning and deliberation was duly recognized when other health profession educators elected him as one of the Board Members of the Philippine Association for Health Profession Education.

Another opportunity came during the “DentEd Global Consultative Forum on Dental Education” held at Singapore. The forum was attended by close to 350 academicians and administrators from several regions and continents to include, the United States of America, Europe, Australia and Asia. As expected, the plenary discussions were dominated by authorities and academicians from the developed countries.

However, during the second day of the meeting, Dean de Leon captivated all those who are present in the forum when he delivered an inspiring yet factual introspection on the affective component of the dental curriculum. The response was very collegial and positive. Some even ask the dean’s permission to use it in their lectures and speeches. While the dean agreed, he requested for those who will want to use it to mention that they heard it from a ‘Filipino Dentist.’

Such introspection landed in July 2002 issue of the “Women & Dentistry” an international dental magazine circulated to over 8,000 dentists all over the world.

The said feat may also have further convinced the academicians in the South East Asia region of the dedication and commitment of Dean de Leon to dental education. During the election for the officers of South East Asia Association for Dental Education (SEAADE) Dean de Leon was nominated by a Malaysian dean and was accepted by the council as one of the youngest councilors of the SEAADE.

NURTURING AN EDUCATOR’S PERSONA

Dean de Leon’s dedication to dental education may have been conceived when he was appointed as a member of the faculty of the University of the Philippines College of Dentistry. He has served his alma mater for almost four years rising from a senior lecturer up to assistant professor. As a member of the faculty, he was also tasked to handle topics in Human Structural Biology in the U.P. College of Medicine making him as one of the few dentists who was appointed as faculty teaching Human Anatomy and Histology in a medical class of the premiere medical school. When he left the College, he was the vice-president of the Faculty Club. He would then assume an academic position in another dental school before he finally will devote his time as the founding dean of the Fatima College of Dentistry

During his incumbency as member of the faculty of U.P. Dentistry, Dean de Leon was also serving his mother dental society, the Pasig-Pateros-Taguig Chapter (P.P.T.C.) of the Philippine Dental Association. He contributed significantly in the formulation and implementation of the chapter’s plans and programs particularly those on the continuing professional education of the general membership. After barely a year of membership, he was elected as one of the directors and assumed the chairmanship of the chapter’s committee on continuing education, a position he held for five years. Even before his chairmanship, Dean de Leon introduced the concept of having more than one lecture per session. He included the modular concept to include medical and non-dental topics in the monthly CDE programs of the chapter. He also introduced the “clinical forum” where the dentist-members may ask questions to a panel on a wide range of concerns regarding the practice of dentistry. The result of the consultative forum became basis for the chapter’s future plan of activities. His contributions and dedication to the dental chapter convinced other members who in returned gave the dean the privilege of leading one of the most active dental societies in the National Capital Region. His achievements as a dental chapter president, earned for Dr de Leon a runner-up citations from the PDA and the P.P.T.C. a citation for being one of the dental chapters with a balanced program.

Dean de Leon also became involved in the development of the field of Prosthodontics to which the dean assumes a warm inclination. He was elected president of Philippine Prosthodontic Society. He introduced another innovative type of symposium which is similar to a horizontal type of a competency-based dental curriculum. In the symposium, the three disciplines of prosthodontics were discussed in depth following five determined parameters which include; Assessment & Treatment Planning, Pre-Prosthetic Procedures, Prosthetic Procedures, Delivery of Dentures and Recall.

With his exposures on the various fields of the dental profession, Dean de Leon does not hesitate to share his knowledge and expertise with his colleagues. As a member of the Speakers’ Bureau of the PDA, he has been giving lectures all over the country on Prosthodontics, Dental Ethics and Jurisprudence and more recently on Dental Ergonomics. His lecture on ergonomics is an offshoot of his training on Ergonomics as provided by a study grant given by the Japan International Center for Occupational Safety and Health. He has also finalized the inclusion of Dental Ergonomics in the Fatima dental curriculum, again a first in the history of Philippine dental education.

A LEADER AMONGST A UNIVERSITY OF DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN

With all his responsibilities as a dentist and a dean of a dental college, Dean de Leon finds time to fulfill his obligation to his University. He was appointed as the chairman of the Fatima Employees Management Council (FEMAC). The council is composed of representatives from the ten established units of the different colleges. The council addresses employment concerns of the 1,200 FEMAC members with regards to their welfare, benefits and skills training. Out of the 1,200 members, 800 are faculty members. With this as the membership profile, the FEMAC is very much involved in the faculty development programs of the university making Dean de Leon as the Chairman of the University Committee on Faculty Development a position which further nurture the educator in the Dean’s persona.

A WARM TOKEN FROM THE ALMA MATER

The achievement of Dean de Leon as an educator and as a leader-advocate of continuing professional education was also recognized by his alma mater when the University of the Philippines Dental Alumni Association bestowed upon him an Oblation award for his contribution as UPDAA President and as member of the academe and organized dentistry.

In retrospect, it can be said that Dean De Leon exerted efforts to fulfill his obligation to the dental profession by contributing his time, talent and treasure in providing relevant and quality dental training to the future disciples of the dental profession. He is also very much involved in providing developing programs on patient care and in creating opportunities for his colleagues to indulge into a life-long learning through programs on continuing professional education.