OUR VISION

To be the premier and dynamic society promoting the science of Digestive Endoscopy through relevant Research and Training, in response to the needs of its members and the global community, governed by high moral, ethical standards and compassionate care.

OUR MISSION

  1. To promote Digestive Health by providing information and making Endoscopic services accessible to the Community.
  2. To set the standard for quality training programs which aims to produce competent, compassionate, socially responsive and ethical members.
  3. To uphold the rights and provide the professional needs of our members while creating an empowering environment to optimize participation and involvement in the programs and activities of the organization.
  4. To improve standards of digestive endoscopy by adhering to Clinical Practice Guidelines and pursuing research initiatives.
  5. To work hand in hand with the medical community in the promotion of digestive health.


Philippine Society of Digestive Endoscopy
25 Glorious Years

       The Philippine Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy was organized at a time our country was in turmoil. The uncertain political situation then under martial rule sparked massive “brain drain” of professionals including doctors. Those who studied and trained abroad were hesitant to come back for security reasons. Undaunted by fears and uncertainties, some enterprising and patriotic gastroenterologists banded together to organize a local society with special interest in endoscopy.
 
         Twenty one doctors led by Dr. Florencio Pineda drafted the objectives and the constitution and by-laws of the new society, culminating in the induction of the founding members and the first set of officers with Dr. Pineda as its first president on April 27, 1976 at the historic Club Filipino with the former UP-PGH Director, Dr. Gabriel Carreon as inducting officer.
 
         Since the time of its conception, the society has substantially grown during the past two decades in terms of membership and activities. It has already installed eleven (11) two-year term presidents and has renamed the society to the Philippine Society of Digestive Endoscopy in keeping with its international counterparts. The society is an active member of the APSDE (Asian Pacific Society of Digestive Endoscopy) and OMGE with strong accreditation and specialty boards that produced a total of 15 accredited training center, 41 fellowship positions, 219 locally trained gastroenterologists, bringing the total membership from 21 in 1976 to 143 to date.
 
          Activities instituted included the monthly meetings of the fellows in training from the various training institutions ranging from case presentations to more comprehensive endoscopic radiologic pathologic correlative conferences. Also started was the pre annual convention endoscopy workshop for fellows in training, endoscopy nurses and endoscopy assistants. The society also helped in the creation of the Philippine Society of Endoscopic Nurses and Assistants.
 
          Enriching “hands-on” experience or first hand exposure in endoscopy for members and fellows in training was provided through seminars workshops conducted by foreign and local experts. The society has hosted the First ASEAN Therapeutic Endoscopy Workshop at the UST Hospital in July 1997 with 2 world reknown endoscopists from Europe, Drs. Nib Soehendra and Kees Huibregtse, demonstrating their endoscopic skills via closed circuit TV.
 
          Community involvement was also participated through its civic action program exemplified by the endoscopy wet clinics conducted in the remote areas of the country, deworming projects and a “walk for a cause”
 
          Through the last two decades, we have witnessed tremendous technological breakthroughs in the field of gastrointestinal endoscopy, from the area of fiberoptic endoscopy and ultrasound up to the present decade where diagnosis becomes easy with the more sophisticated modalities like videoendoscopes, endoscopic ultrasound, CT Scan, MRI and MRCP, Technological advances have also paved the way for better researches as well as development of therapeutic non-surgical endoscopic procedures for GIT and biliary disorders which led to a more cost-effective management approach to most patients with such disorders.
 
          The society is now embarking on a national endoscopy database recording system which will generate and store standard endoscopy report that will increase the quality of research and ultimately to better patient care. The presence of accredited training centers that provides a well - balanced exposure to clinical and technological advances have lured many young internists to go into this subspecialty.
 
          The society has also kept pace with the age of cyberspace and information technology with its development of the PSDE website (http//:www.gastrophil.org) to which the members as well as other interested individuals can update themselves on matters involving both the society and the practice of endoscopy.
 
          Finally, all these accomplishments in the past 25 years have earned for PSDE its place among world-class Endoscopy Societies. Let us not be complacent with these past achievements, rather we as members, should be more zealous in our concerted and collective efforts in pursuit of a future that we could all be proud of.