THE SOUTHERN Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) announced a collaboration with the University of the Philippines-Mindanao (UPMin) for a proposed medical school.
Dr. Ricardo Audan, SPMC Medical Center chief, announced on Monday during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM City Davao, that they signed the memorandum of understanding last month.
“This November we have the MOU signing with the UP-Mindanao for their medical schooling,” Audan said.
He added with the MOU signing the SPMC will be the base hospital for the planned medical school of UPMin.
UPMin is the first state university to offer a Doctor of Medicine program in the city and in Mindanao.
With the MOU signed, the future medical students of the proposed UPMin will be affiliated with SPMC. The program is set to open in August or October 2025.
The chief led the signing with UPMin Chancellor Lyre Anni Murao at the SPMC conference room on Nov. 13, which was witnessed by UP vice president for academic affairs Dr. Leo Cubillan and SPMC chief training officer Dr. Maria Elinore Alba-Concha.
The UP proposal is currently undergoing approval at the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
To note, UP President Angelo Jimenez announced in 2023 that the med school will complement the hospital inside the UP Mindanao campus in Mintal, which started its construction in 2022.
