Fate of future Cebu doctors ‘in limbo’ over school factions

CEBU CITY, Philippines – Almost 600 medical students of the Southwestern University (SWU) are worried about their fate because of the continuing dispute between factions of the school’s college of medicine.

At least 23 of the recent post-graduate medical interns, or those who have  finished their studies, may not be able to take the Physician Licensure Examinations since the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) recognizes just one faction of the medical school.

“The students are indeed caught in a crossfire that victimizes us without cause,” said 3rd year medical student Jake Vicera, reading a prepared statement on behalf of his fellow students.

Vicera added: “Although the cause of the fight is generally money amongst the Aznars, the complexity of the core issues still remains a mystery to many students. Furthermore, the students are less interested to get involved in this matter, again to protect any interruptions that may delay MD degrees on time.”

Factions

The SWU College Of Medicine, established in 1970, was originally called the Southwestern University-Matias H. Aznar Memorial College of Medicine (SWU-MHAM).

In 2013, conflict among the 9 members of the board of directors, who are also members of the Aznar family, divided the College of Medicine into two factions both claiming government recognition to operate the college.

One faction is the SWU College of Medicine (CM) Foundation which still operates at the SWU campus in Urgello Street under 6 of the Aznar heirs. The other faction, also claiming to be the “true” SWU medical school, is the MHAM College of Medicine (MHAM CM) Foundation under the management of 3 of the Aznar heirs.

The two school factions temporarily operated at the SWU campus until March 2014, when the SWU Board of Trustees booted MHAM-CM out of the Urgello campus. The MHAM-CM is still operating as a medical school near Mango Avenue. The factions have pending cases against each other.

The school underwent further changes in April 2015 when Phinma Corporation acquired 57% of SWU. The P1.9-billion takeover allowed the election of 6 Phinma executives into the Board of Trustees which had been controlled by the Aznar heirs for 64 years.

CHED order

On June 2, CHED issued a cease and desist order on the students’ faction of the medical school. This puts at risk their years spent in school because their diploma will not be recognized.

On July 28, 573 students of the SWU-CM faction went out of their classrooms and called for a press conference to air their concerns on the CHED order.

Vicera, the representative of medical students at SWU-CM, asked the CHED for a swift resolution to the conflict as their studies, and their future, are in limbo.

Just like his fellow students, Vicera said all they want is to finish their medical course and be shielded from the conflict between the school factions. (READ: 18 things they never told you about Med School)

Phinma Corporation and the SWU have promised the students that they are working on a solution to the conflict. – Rappler.com