Department of Surgery - Western Visayas Medical Center

31/07/2026

🏅 Excellence Earned. Excellence Sustained.

The Western Visayas Medical Center – Department of Surgery proudly celebrates our residents for their outstanding performance in the PSGS National Comprehensive External Residents Evaluation System (CERES) Examination.

Their remarkable achievements reflect countless hours of study, unwavering perseverance, and an enduring commitment to excellence in surgical training. These milestones are a testament not only to their dedication but also to the steadfast mentorship of our consultants and the collaborative spirit of our entire department.

Congratulations to our outstanding residents! May this success inspire you to continue striving for excellence in patient care, lifelong learning, and service.

Your Department of Surgery family is immensely proud of you!

24/07/2026

🏆 Another Proud Milestone for the WVMC Department of Surgery!
We are honored to receive Level II Full 5-Year Accreditation from the Philippine Society of General Surgeons with an outstanding 97.5% rubrics rating.

This achievement reflects the unwavering commitment of our consultants, residents, nurses, allied health professionals, hospital administration, and staff to providing exceptional surgical education and patient care.

To our patients—thank you for your trust. This success is dedicated to you.

Trained to Cure. Committed to Care. ❤️

15/07/2026

Department of Surgery, WVMC: Advancing Complex Airway Care

The Department of Surgery at Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) marked another significant advancement in specialized chest and neck surgery. A multidisciplinary team successfully performed a combined Median Sternotomy, Tracheal Sleeve Resection, and Montgomery Suprahyoid Release on a patient diagnosed with Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the trachea.

While the surgical team has successfully performed tracheal sleeve resections in the past, this marks the first time in WVMC history that this highly complex procedure was utilized to treat a rare disease of primary squamous cell cancer of the trachea (windpipe). The landmark operation was made possible through the seamless collaboration of WVMC’s Thoracic, Cardiac, and Vascular Surgery (TCVS) Consultant, General Surgery (GS) Head and Neck Consultant, and the General Surgery Residents. The procedure was also made possible with the assistance of the Institution’s Anesthesia Department, Internal Medicine and Pathology Department.

26/06/2026

WE DID IT!💯 Institutional Pride at its Finest!

A perfect 100% passing rate at the Philippine Board of Surgery Written Diplomate Examination!

Huge congratulations to our exceptional surgeons. Your hard work, perseverance, and relentless pursuit of excellence have brought immense honor to the Western Visayas Medical Center Department of Surgery.

We are incredibly proud of each one of you. Cheers to this major win, and onward to the next milestone-Board Certification!

14/04/2026

Congratulations to our very own Chief, Dr. Ray Patrick Salarda, for winning the title of Champion in the Interchapter Research Contest! 🏆
This remarkable achievement reflects not only his dedication and excellence, but also highlights that our residents truly shine—not just in skills, but in academics as well.
We are incredibly proud of you! Keep inspiring and leading the way. 👏🎉

14/04/2026

Congratulations to our very own champions for their outstanding performance in the recently held Visayan Tripartite last April 12, 2026! 🏆
Your hard work, dedication, and teamwork truly paid off. You’ve made us all proud and inspired many with your achievement. Keep striving for excellence and reaching greater heights!
Once again, congratulations and well done! 👏🎉

Dr. Thea Carmelle Nadala - CHAMPION: Laparoscopic Skills
Dr. Christian Angelo Cabangbang - CHAMPION: Bowel Anastomosis
Dr. Charmaine Santillana - CHAMPION: Basic Skills

11/04/2026

Step into the world of precision, purpose, and passion. 🩺✨ WVMC Surgery Residency is now accepting new set of applicants—take the next step in your medical journey today.

📅 Deadline: April 27, 2026 📲 Scan the QR code to apply click this link for forms: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc20xGMNKUsPLKYuWBCE9UYU77IQlp0fq1OuVvl-0VB5vacOQ/viewform

16/03/2026

🔪 Ready to take the next step in your surgical career?
WVMC Surgery Residency is now accepting the third batch of applicants for midyear residency.
📅 Deadline: March 27, 2026
📲 Scan the QR code to apply

click this link for forms:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc20xGMNKUsPLKYuWBCE9UYU77IQlp0fq1OuVvl-0VB5vacOQ/viewform

01/03/2026

Congratulations to our very own Dr. Ryan Ed Comuelo, Dr. Juliene Latriz-Certeza, Dr. Edrik Luke Pialago, Dr. Ray Patrick Salarda, and Dr. Dorothy Joi Pimentel 👏

Trained to cure. Committed to care

𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗮𝘆𝗮𝘀 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 is out here making medical history — and 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲’𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗱.

A 𝟮𝟰-𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿-𝗼𝗹𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 recently underwent a 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝗱𝗶𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗹𝗮𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗺𝘆 at WVMC for a condition called a 𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗻 — and before you ask, yes, that’s exactly what it sounds like.

Here’s the thing: a 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝘀𝗻𝘂𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗵 with a 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝟭𝟬𝟬𝗰𝗰. This patient’s spleen? It had migrated all the way down to the 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗹𝘃𝗶𝗰 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗼𝗻, had a 𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝟭 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗿 (yes, one whole liter), and came with 𝗮𝗯𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗰 𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗹𝘀 to boot. To put it in perspective, only about 𝟬.𝟬𝟮% 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝗽𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 — making this one of the 𝗿𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂’𝗹𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧:

𝗦𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗼𝗻𝘀

Dr. Ryan Ed Comuelo, Dr. Juliene Latriz-Certeza, Dr. Edrik Luke Pialago, Dr. Ray Patrick Salarda, and Dr. Dorothy Joi Pimentel

𝗔𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁 – 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝘂𝘁𝘆

Dr. Mary Angelie Cabañez

𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁:

Dr. Ruden Panela and Dr. Jennifer Rose Cambas-Trabado

𝗥𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁:

Dr. Douglas Budok
Dr. Adrian Valdez III
Dr. Japheth Jude Golocino

𝗡𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲

Mark Emmanuelle Parce

𝘏𝘢𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘞𝘝𝘔𝘊 𝘵𝘦𝘢𝘮 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦. 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 — 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵. 👏

01/03/2026

Congratulations to TEAM WVMC Surgery who was hailed as OVERALL CHAMPION in the recently concluded Kamay Surhano 2026 of the Philippine Society of General Surgeons - Panay Chapter! Especially to our participants:

🏆 Dr. Thea Carmelle Nadala – CHAMPION, Laparoscopic Skills
🏆 Dr. Christian Angelo Cabangbang – CHAMPION, Bowel Anastomosis
🏆 Dr. Charmaine Santillana – CHAMPION, Basic Skills (Knot Tying, Suturing, and Fascial Closure)

Your dedication, skill, and commitment to excellence truly embody the highest standards of surgical training and teamwork. This remarkable achievement brings pride and honor to our institution.
Well done, champions! 👏