Message from the Outgoing President
Four years ago, I began my term as president of APPM. We had a well-attended and successful 43rd Anniversary and Induction of Officers Ball at the Hilton BWI Airport Hotel. Our souvenir program had an essay written by the late Dr. Ray S. Magno who recalled the early years of the APPM. As expected, that souvenir program had a number of congratulatory ads from members, businesses, and partner organizations. An additional feature of that program was the Legacy Page. The educational background, summary of their post-graduate training, academic appointments, professional career, and impact in the community of these physicians were summarized in that Legacy Page. A current photo or their medical school portrait topped their page of achievements. Each physician left their homeland, ventured to the other side of the world, and achieved the American Dream. I hope we continue the Legacy Page in order to remember their journey and serve as an inspiration for their children and grandchildren. One week after the Induction Ball, we sent a $1000 grant to FAPI in collaboration with Rotary International to support Operation Braveheart. Operation Braveheart is a charitable program that benefits indigent children with certain congenital heart diseases (i.e., patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect, and ventricular septal defect) in the Philippines. This pediatric interventional cardiology procedure has resulted in changing the dismal prognosis from their congenital heart disease to one of hope to achieve their full life potential. The world stopped on March 13, 2020 due to COVID-19 pandemic. Our plans for a joint APPM-UPMASA Scientific Symposium with a focus on Operation Braveheart featuring Dr. Jonas del Rosario and Dr. Stacy Fisher on March 21, 2020 was cancelled. APPM and UPMASA organized a Scientific Webinar on October 16, 2021. Dr. Jonas del Rosario gave his talk to introduce us to Operation Braveheart and the impact that this has on indigent children with congenital heart disease. Our attendees that were not only from Maryland, but from across the US, and extended to the Philippines. That talk was part of a fundraising effort. APPM sent a $4000 grant to support Operation Braveheart. With Dr. Jess Socrates’ efforts, the value of this grant was tripled through a grant matching program by Rotary International. APPM hosted a Scientific Symposium 1 year later and had Dr. Stacy Fisher give her presentation on the natural history of adults with congenital heart diseases (PFO, ASD, and VSD) corrected by these percutaneous interventions. APPM has also held a yearly general meeting at Joey Chiu’s Greenspring Inn. In 2022, Dr. Anuj Gupta gave a presentation on use of TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacement) to treat severe aortic stenosis. In 2023, Dr. Rebecca Magno gave a presentation on use of ultrasound for abdominal emergencies. To cap the year, Dr. Lynn Veneracion hosted the APPM Christmas Party in 2019 and 2022. We had a potluck lunch, conducted business of the organization, reacquainted with friends, and had a white elephant gift exchange. APPM is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes. Throughout the last four years, we have consistently fulfilled our mission. I look forward to Dr. Lynn Veneracion’s term as president. I will continue to take on the administrative duties to maintain APPM as a 501c3 organization. And I shall return in 2025.
Sincerely,
Jay Penafiel, M.D., F.A.C.C President (2019-2023) APPM
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