Explore Our Program
The Doctor of Medicine (MD) program at MMC CAST aims to develop competent, compassionate, and ethical physicians with a strong foundation in public health. The curriculum is designed to meet the evolving demands of healthcare systems by equipping students with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to deliver quality, patient-centered care in the 21st century.
The MD program stands out due to its strong emphasis on public and community health, which is seamlessly integrated into the curriculum. Unlike many programs that focus solely on hospital-based training, MMC CAST provides two summer immersion programs in underserved communities during the first three years and again during the clinical clerkship. This continuity fosters deeper engagement with the same population, allowing students to witness the long-term impact of healthcare interventions.
Additionally, the program prioritizes hands-on clinical experience through its community medicine rotation, where students provide direct patient care and conduct ongoing health assessments. This practical, real-world exposure enhances their clinical skills and fosters a sense of social responsibility.
MMC CAST also offers a student-centered learning environment with personalized mentorship and small group discussions, ensuring that students receive the support and guidance needed to excel in both academics and clinical practice.
The program integrates a community medicine rotation during the clinical clerkship, held in the same communities as the summer immersion programs. This continuity allows students to provide hands-on clinical care and conduct ongoing assessments of the community’s health environment. The comprehensive clinical clerkship experience ensures that graduates are prepared for further training in various medical specialties.
Offering Unit
The Doctor of Medicine (MD) program is offered by MMC CAST's College of Medicine.
Accreditation
This program is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and gearing towards PACUCOA accreditation.
Key Strengths and Specializations
Public and Community Health Integration
The program’s unique dual summer immersion and continuous community medicine rotation equip students with the skills to assess and address the healthcare needs of local populations, preparing them for both clinical practice and public health leadership roles.
Clinical Excellence and Clerkship Training
The program ensures students gain extensive clinical exposure, not only in hospital settings but also in community-based care. This well-rounded experience makes them adaptable and ready for further specialization.
Ethical and Professional Formation
A strong emphasis on professionalism, medical ethics, and compassionate care is embedded throughout the curriculum, fostering graduates with integrity and empathy.
Research and Evidence-Based Practice
Students are encouraged to engage in research, allowing them to contribute to the advancement of medical knowledge and develop critical thinking skills essential for modern healthcare practice.
Global Competence
The program’s curriculum aligns with international standards, preparing graduates to meet the qualifications required for residency programs both locally and abroad.
A Distinctive Approach to Medical Education
The Doctor of Medicine program at MMC CAST offers a distinct curriculum that blends clinical excellence with public health specialization. While the program provides a comprehensive foundation in core medical subjects, it stands out through the following unique courses and specializations:
- Community Medicine and Public Health: A signature feature of the program is its integrated community health curriculum, which includes two summer immersion programs. Students actively engage in health assessments, preventive care, and public health interventions, gaining practical skills in population-based healthcare.
- Clinical Clerkship with Community Integration: Unlike traditional programs that focus only on hospital-based clerkships, MMC CAST integrates a community medicine rotation during the clinical clerkship year. This allows students to continue providing care and conducting health assessments in the same communities they served during their summer immersion, fostering continuity of care.
- Medical Humanities and Professional Development: The program includes courses that emphasize medical ethics, professionalism, and patient-centered communication, ensuring graduates are compassionate and ethically driven physicians.
- Research and Evidence-Based Medicine: The program incorporates research-based courses, equipping students with the skills to critically appraise scientific literature and apply evidence-based practice in their clinical decision-making.
Core Components
Research
Students are actively involved in research projects, gaining hands-on experience in data collection, analysis, and scientific writing. This promotes analytical thinking and fosters a culture of evidence-based practice.
Community Service
Through two summer immersion programs and the community medicine rotation, students participate in service-learning initiatives. These programs allow them to address real-world health challenges, such as conducting health assessments, delivering preventive care, and collaborating with local stakeholders to promote health education and advocacy.
Experiential Learning
The program adopts a problem-based learning (PBL) approach, providing students with clinical cases and scenarios to solve collaboratively. This method enhances their critical thinking, diagnostic reasoning, and decision-making skills. Additionally, the clinical clerkship offers intensive, hands-on patient care experience, preparing students for real-world medical practice.
Technology-Enhanced Medical Training
MMC CAST incorporates modern technology into the Doctor of Medicine program to enhance the learning experience and prepare students for the evolving healthcare landscape:
- Simulation-Based Training: The program utilizes clinical skills laboratories with simulation models and mannequins, allowing students to practice procedures and clinical scenarios in a controlled environment before transitioning to real patient care.
- Digital Learning Platforms: The program leverages learning management systems (LMS) to deliver online lectures, interactive modules, and assessments, providing students with flexible access to learning materials.
- Telemedicine and Digital Health Exposure: Recognizing the growing role of telehealth, the program introduces students to telemedicine practices and digital health technologies, ensuring they are familiar with virtual consultations and remote patient monitoring.
- Use of Medical Software and EHRs: Students are trained on electronic health record (EHR) systems, preparing them for seamless integration into technology-driven healthcare settings.
- Access to Online Medical Resources: The program provides access to online medical libraries, journals, and databases, enabling students to stay updated with the latest clinical guidelines and research findings.
Program Graduate Outcomes
Demonstrate Clinical Competence
Apply evidence-based medical knowledge and clinical skills in the prevention, diagnosis, management, and treatment of diseases across various healthcare settings.
Exhibit Professionalism and Ethical Practice
Uphold the highest standards of medical ethics, professionalism, and integrity in their practice.
Communicate Effectively
Engage in clear, compassionate, and culturally sensitive communication with patients, families, and healthcare teams.
Promote Public and Community Health
Address the health needs of diverse populations through community-based programs, including two summer immersion programs in the first three years and during medical clerkship.
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Engage in Lifelong Learning and Research
Commit to continuous professional development, evidence-based practice, and participation in research to advance medical knowledge.
Collaborate in Interdisciplinary Teams
Work effectively with healthcare professionals in providing patient-centered care and contributing to team-based approaches.
Demonstrate Leadership and Advocacy
Act as advocates for public health policies and engage in leadership roles to promote equitable access to healthcare services.
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Licensure Examination Performance
In the October 2025 Physician Licensure Examination, MMC CAST-College of Medicine achieved an overall passing rate of 86.11%, surpassing the national passing rate of 55.50%. This accomplishment underscores the institution’s unwavering dedication to excellence in medical education.
Bridging Education and Industry
The program is responsive to the evolving landscape of healthcare, ensuring graduates are equipped to meet contemporary demands.
Focus on Preventive and Primary Care
With the global shift toward preventive medicine and population health, MMC CAST’s public health-oriented curriculum ensures graduates are prepared to address social determinants of health and provide community-based care.
Competency in Evidence-Based Practice
The program emphasizes evidence-based clinical decision-making, ensuring that graduates are skilled in applying the latest medical research and guidelines to patient care.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Recognizing the importance of collaborative practice, the program encourages students to work alongside healthcare professionals from other fields, preparing them for team-based healthcare delivery models.
Technological Integration
The program incorporates modern teaching methods and digital tools to enhance learning, keeping students current with industry trends and technological advancements in healthcare.
Meet Our Faculty
Discover the expertise of our faculty who shape the future healthcare professionals.
Rozaida Anna N. Maglaya, MD, DPPS
Dean of the College of Medicine
Department of Surgery
Ronald F. Licup, MD
Chair, Associate Professor III
Rifaat B. Dagani, MD
Associate Professor II
Rommel K. Chua, MD
Assistant Professor II
Emmanuel M. Esteban, MD
Assistant Professor II
Department of Internal Medicine
Raymond A. Dela Cruz, MD
Chair, Associate Professor III
Maria Rafdora Conde, MD
Associate Professor II
Maria Krishja T. Dela Torre, MD
Assistant Professor II
Jan Kristoper P. De Guzman, MD
Assistant Professor II
Diana M. De Castro, MD
Associate Professor III
Marie Benjielynne M. Belarmino, MD
Associate Professor I
Department of
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Benjamin D. Cuenca, MD
Chair, Professor I
Jennifer Rose C. Francisco, MD
Associate Professor I
Elizabeth K. Supelana, MD
Assistant Professor II
Kristen Cruz-Canlas, MD
Assistant Professor I
Caroline L. Ty, MD
Assistant Professor II
Department of Pediatrics
Marianne Joyce G. Qui, MD
Chair, Assistant Professor II
Yvonne S. Repollo, MD
Assistant Professor I
Ophthalmology
.Algerich A. Chua, MD
Chair, Assistant Professor III
Research
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Jose Maria C. Angbengco, MD
Associate Professor I
Otorhinolaryngology
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Mary Jane S. Mallillin, MD
Associate Professor II
Legal Medicine
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Maritess A. Ombao, MD
Professor I
Medical Jurisprudence
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Alexis Angelo L. Sulit, MD
Assistant Professor I
Medical Ethics
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Bianca Nympha S.P. Mundin, MD
Associate Professor III
Medical Informatics and
Health Economics
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Adeline L. Cruz, MD
Associate Professor I
Department of Anatomy
Victorino T. Mangila, MD
Chair, Associate Professor III
Joshua B. Desiderio, MD
Associate Professor II
Christopher Joseph S. Orozco, MD
Associate Professor I
Kristine O. Cervales, MD
Assistant Professor I
Department of Biochemistry
Niño Rey I. Flores, MD
Chair, Assistant Professor III
Zharlah A. Gulmatico-Flores, MD
Professor I
Ricardo Rojo Santos, MD
Professor II
Icene Rose C. Sy, MD
Assistant Professor II
Department of Physiology
Maria Mikaela P. Del Rosario – Pajo, MD
Chair, Assistant Professor I
Carina C. Gomez, MD
Professor I
Reylan B. David, MD
Assistant Professor III
Ronel Mark B. Bautista, MD
Assistant Professor I
Department of Pharmacology
Rozaida Anna N. Maglaya, MD
Chair, Associate Professor II
Merlina L. Cabrera, MD
Professor I
Elizabeth R. Telado, MD
Professor I
Zenaida N. Maglaya, MD
Professor II
Department of
Microbiology and Parasitology
Marvin Ellis U. Wee, MD
Chair, Assistant Professor II
Camilo B. Santos, MD
Associate Professor I
Meliton V. Bato, MD
Assistant Professor II
Catherine Gironella, MD
Professor I
Department of
Community Family Medicine
Carol V. Narra
Chair, Assistant Professor II
Madonna R. Bacorro, MD
Assistant Professor II
Li-Ching B. Liu, MD
Assistant Professor II
Girelle Anne D. Camarillo, MD
Assistant Professor I
