By Rusieljs G. Lunasco
Dr. Corazon Porras has been working for CPU since 1988.
Dr. Ma. Corazon Perucho-Porras has been the Dean of the College of Medical Laboratory Science since 2018. Her career in the academe spans 33 years.
Porras graduated her Bachelor of Science in Medical Technology degree from Central Philippine University in October 1985. She completed her Master of Arts in Teaching major in Biological Sciences in March 1999 and her Doctor of Education major in Curriculum, Instructions, and Evaluation in March 2008 from West Visayas State University.
She worked in the public health sector as medical technologist of Pototan Provincial Hospital from 1986 to 1988. She started teaching in 1988 for the Department of Medical Technology when it was still under the College of Arts and Sciences. She was Chairperson of the same department from 2000 to 2004 and from 2013-2017 before being appointed as Dean of the newly established College of Medical Laboratory Science.
Dr. Porras says even before the pandemic, the college has already been doing a lot of adjustments to meet the demands of its increasing student population. She credits the administration for its immediate response to the college’s needs. The request for a simulated laboratory has also been approved. Simulation laboratories are a critical component of a medical technology education allowing the students to become confident in dealing with high pressure situations.
In 2020, CMLS was one of the colleges in the university with a subject offering in their curriculum. Dr. Porras as well as the faculty were put in a difficult situation because of the pressing need to shift to online learning. Thankfully, they were given trainings on how to conduct online classes.
“With God’s guidance and strength almost all our concerns were addressed before online classes commenced in the summer of 2020,” Porras said.
Since the pandemic, laboratory instructors are coming to the CMLS simulated laboratory to shoot videos of their laboratory activities which include the presentation of all the glassware, apparatus, and other equipment being used in a particular procedure.
“I take time to observe virtual classes of the college faculty to see their classroom management and delivery of classes. Online meetings are also being held to discuss urgent matters,” Porras said.
Dr. Porras has an important message to all CMLS students of the new normal:
“My message to all of you, our medical laboratory science students especially to the MedTech interns, the college has identified our pressing need in the present situation in order to fulfill the gap that detached the practical component of our courses to its congruent practical component. To bring off this concern, the college had introduced a new teaching strategy which focuses on group discussions to augment the learning method of the students. Though the immediate implementation of this strategy is quite difficult, but with the collaborative efforts of our faculty in this kind of endeavor will truly give us clarity in achieving our program educational outcome. In line with this, I urge all of you medical laboratory science students to impose discipline to yourselves and attentively work diligently with commitment and dedication in realizing your dreams because you have chosen this path maybe because you wanted to be a part of the paramedical team or a frontliner someday to augment the delivery of the healthcare system in the Philippines. So, good luck to all of us as we face all the challenges ahead for this academic year 2021-2022. God will truly manifest in us His spiritual love and care as we continue to work hand in hand for the betterment of the college and Central Philippine University as a whole. God bless everyone!”