UIC-CMBS starts limited face-to-face internship program
Janrey Dela Merced
Student interns of the College of Medical and Biological Sciences (CMBS) returned to the premises of the university to conduct their limited face-to-face internship.
Last September 6, 2021, the first batch of interns consisting of almost 82 senior students of the program, under the supervision of their faculty and clinical instructors were welcomed to experience the rigors of the laboratory work at the Bonifacio Campus.
There are 251 interns who are qualified to participate in the internship training. However, interns are divided into three batches to guarantee that they are not congested in the borders of the university premises and are properly accommodated.
In line with the health protocols and guidelines advised by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Department of Health (DOH), a series of learning engagement and asynchronous classes were thought out and collimated. To ensure the safety of the people involved in the endeavor, the administration provided that all the students and teachers were vaccinated against the COVID-19 and installed proper engineering controls around the campus. Moreover, each intern was required to submit their negative Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test results before entering the campus.
This academic pursuit aimed to prepare the fourth-year students with the skills needed in the laboratory setting and be acquainted with the laboratory tools, equipment, and protocol while ensuring that everyone is safe and healthy, thus preventing any further delay in this scholarly layout.
In compliance with the requirements set by CHED and DoH, the plans for limited face-to-face classes have come to light and will be employed in congruence with the Joint Memorandum Circular №2021–001.
Spearheaded by the CMBS Dean, Rvin John T. Servillon, RMT, MSMT, SMRIEdr along with Mr. Gabriel Ponce de Leon, RMT, MSMT, ASCP, and the Clinical Internship Coordinator, Ms. Sheila Mae Secretaria, RMT, all activities, and plans were established that will include the use of apparatuses, reagents, consumables, floor plan, and guidelines that oversees all phenomenon that may occur during the internship phases.
This has been the first limited face-to-face classes conducted in Davao City, which served as a monumental feat for the school to continue offering quality education and services. This is a manifestation of the school’s grit despite the pandemic, the learning process should not falter, and a continuous learning process must be held.
“Before, we only had to imagine what is written in our books and understand medical laboratory science by its theories. Now we are able to put our knowledge to the test and experience it first-hand,” said Fjord Villanueva, one of the senior students.
It has been evident that there is a concurrent need for competent health workers. The school, therefore, has taken a stride in preparing its students for future endeavors. As they live and direct learning commences within the walls of UIC, students immerse themselves in embodying the school mantra “faith, quality, and service” to absorb all viable knowledge before they take on the world.
Marking this first step for academic pursuance, along with the CMBS, the UIC-College of Nursing will also engage their interns for limited face-to-face classes to revivify their skills and knowledge in patient care before external engagement. On their way to live synchronous courses, the school opens its facilities for the students to hone needed skills effectively.
