The DOST - Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD) and Zamboanga Consortium for Health Research and Development (ZCHRD), in collaboration with Philippine Association of Medical Journal Editors (PAMJE) and Asia Pacific Association of Medical Journal Editors (APAME) organized the 15th National Medical Writing Workshop and 8th Writeshop for Young Researchers on 29-30 January 2019 in Palacio del Sur, Marcian Garden Hotel, Zamboanga City. The workshop aims to help young investigators in health and health social sciences acquire practical knowledge and skills in preparing a scientific article for publication in a scholarly peer-reviewed journal.
Out of the applicants from all over the Philippines, 32 young researchers in health and health social sciences with a completed research project, drafted a manuscript for submission to a scholarly journal, passed PCHRD and PAMJE’s screening process, and granted free workshop registration, accommodation, and meals during the workshop.
The speakers for the event, Dr. Jose Florencio Fabella Lapeña, Jr., professor of Otorhinolaryngology at the University of Philippines Manila and President of PAMJE; and Dr. Cecilia Maramba – Lazarte, Professor of Pharmacology and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at University of the Philippines Manila and Vice President-Internal of PAMJE; taught the participants about the structure and the individual components of a scientific paper. Moreover, the participants also learned how a manuscript is prepared and processed, the significant role of editors and peer reviewers and what to look for in a manuscript.
Based on the lectures and exercises, participants had the opportunity to review and revise their manuscripts under the guidance of the guest speakers. The 32 participants were divided into seven groups and each group was assigned a mentor-facilitator.
All the participants presented a 7-minute power point summary of their revised manuscripts on the 2nd day of the workshop. 7 of the 32 participants were awarded the “Readiest to Publish Paper”. The award is given to participants whose papers were organized, well-written, and with greater potential to get published in peer reviewed journals. Winners for this batch were from CAR, National Capital Region, Region 5, Region 7, Region 9, as follows: Ms. Vera Cruz of Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, Ms. Ma. Joanna Carla Z. Garcia of University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center, Mr. Manuel Yoro of the University of the Philippines Manila, Mr. John Paul A. Tada of the Bicol University, Mr. Johnny J. Yao Jr. of the Velez College, Ms. Dorothy Faye Tan of the Zamboanga City Medical Center, and Mr. Norman Jake C. Mabalot of the Universidad de Zamboanga.
The participants of the writeshop are bound to submit the revised and improved article to an appropriate scholarly peer-reviewed journal within three (3) months after the workshop. For more information, interested parties may visit www.pchrd.dost.gov.ph or contact Mr. Halid M. Tamano through contact numbers 062 955 3654 (Halid M. Tamano/ DOST-IX Press Release)
