2022 International Healthcare Professional Excellence Award

DR. GERARDO DIZON LEGASPI, M.D.

For his exceptional leadership in navigating UP-PGH through the throes of national anxiety due to the looming dread of COVID 19 Pandemic.

By unanimous recommendation of the committee and vote of approval by the Board of Directors, The UPINHF 2022 International Healthcare Professional Excellence Award recipient is Dr. Gerardo Dizon Legaspi, Director, University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital (UP‐PGH) for leading his team of hospital staff and frontlines through the perils of the COVID 19 Pandemic, a distinction and honor truly deserved.

Prior to assuming the helm of UP‐PGH, Dr. Gerardo Legaspi is already a world‐renowned neurosurgeon. He deemed the best in the field of Neurology. His area of expertise are Aneurysms, brain tumors, congenital malfunction of the brain, spinal cord and skull base surgeries and other organic disorders of the nerves and nervous system. Through his international lectures, speeches, research publication, and a very successful practice, Dr. Legaspi attained fame and prominence.

When Dr. Gerardo Legaspi became the Director of UP‐PGH, his position was perhaps providential as it was essential in the coming days. In no time was he faced by many challenges of a country in fear and extreme anxiety. There appeared to be so much uncertainty about the deadly pathogen marching inexorably to the populace. While grateful and appreciative of his talents and skills as a neurosurgeon, the country required something more. It is the part of Dr. Legaspi’s persona that was most needed‐‐‐his courage, his decisiveness and conviction and strength of character that at the critical moment came to the fore.

When the Department of Health came down with a mandate designating UP‐PGH as the country’s referral center for COVID 19, there was a near unanimous objection from many sectors. Doctors, nurses, students, the hospital and academic community and for good reasons, the hospital was ill prepared for such a gigantic task. The hospital has the perennial problem of overcrowding. Its facilities are overwhelmed that some patients are left sitting at the lobby or lying on gurneys at the hallway. Hospital beds are inadequate; to avoid the spread of virus, frontliners and volunteers have to be isolated from their families, therefore required a place to stay; the team has to be fed, food has to be requisitioned and services to be organized, and more importantly, there was a critical need of funding and other logistical necessities. These are among the headaches confronting the Director. From whatever vantage point one looks at it, the problems appear insurmountable. Undeterred, Dr. Gerardo Legaspi wrote a letter addressed to the “People Giving Hope, (PGH)”. His appeal was touching and indeed inspirational. The responses were immediate and profuse. The early opposition turned into a united front in support of the mandate; donations of Hillrom beds were received from St. Luke’s Hospital; a nearby hotel offered 200 beds for the frontliners and volunteers to shelter; the UP food service was mobilized to cater to the needs of the team; donations of sanitary materials and equipment were pouring in, and the letter of the director generated approximately P2 Billion to fund the endeavor. Laudably, all the generosity came from the “people giving hope.” For all these, with gratitude and appreciation, Dr. Legaspi promised:

“UP‐PGH received a bounty of resources. We will match that with our dedicated service to the patients.”   Despite the precautions, ‐‐‐masks face shields, PPE’s‐‐‐and strict protocol, hundreds of frontliners succumbed to infection. Others paid the ultimate sacrifice with their lives for duty and humanity. Like the good soldiers they braved the battlefields, manned the trenches and fought. To them surrender is not an option‐‐‐very much like the “undefeated” in William Ernest Henley’s “Invictus.” For their manifest commitment, Dr. Legaspi thanked the UP‐PGH personnel, doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, field care and janitorial services and the security services for their dedication to hold their posts and served the people no matter the circumstances.

In admiration, UP President Danilo L. Concepcion profoundly expressed his confidence and encouragement, he said:

As of now, the threat has dissipated, the battle appeared to have been won¸ but the war is not over. The UP‐PGH team continues to be vigilant and diligent with its precautions. Someday should and when another similar catastrophe crosses the country’s path (God forbid), the words of Dr. Gerardo Dizon Legaspi shall ring true:

 “Let us do this, because deep in our hearts, devoid of fear and anger, It is the right thing to do.”

By Nelson C. Borrero