Pioneering precision: Dr. Jessore Isidro on leading one of the Philippines’ most advanced cardiac cath labs
for Manila Doctors Hospital
MANILA, Philippines — Heart disease remains the leading cause of death among Filipinos, with numbers still rising over the last decade. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority, recorded deaths specifically from ischemic heart diseases rose from 74,134 in 2016 to 122,339 in 2025.
An ischemic heart disease, also called coronary heart disease or coronary artery disease, is a condition wherein coronary arteries narrow or become blocked, restricting the critical supply of blood to the heart muscle. When the blood flow is completely cut off, heart muscle cells die, causing a heart attack.
Dr. Jessore Isidro, a cardiologist of 18 years, understands this alarming mortality rate from ischemic heart diseases in the country. Nonetheless, he firmly believes in the power of prevention and clinical precision to help address cardiovascular care challenges.
For him, the future of cardiovascular care lies in innovation, excellence, and compassionate, evidence-based care—core values he has championed and practiced at Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH) since joining in 2009.
Understanding precision and cardiac catheterization
Dr. Isidro first joined Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH) in in 2009 shortly after completing my training in Interventional Cardiology at the UP Philippine General Hospital. Then, his goal was simple: ". . . to provide the best care I could to every patient, use the skills I had been given responsibly, and, make a meaningful difference in their lives,” he told Philstar.com in an interview.
Little did he know that the very same year would turn pivotal not just for his career, but for the hospital as a whole, with the establishment of its Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.
“One of our greatest achievements has been building a cardiovascular center that consistently delivers safe, timely and high-quality care through teamwork, innovation and continuous improvement,” Dr. Isidro said.
Cardiac catheterization itself is a minimally invasive procedure used to identify blockages within the coronary arteries. It allows cardiologists to deliver a highly accurate diagnosis and, ultimately, provide targeted options for treatment.
A process, in which precision is a requirement. Dr. Isidro shared, “To me, precision is more than a technical accuracy; it is making the right clinical decision for the right patient at the right time, with every detail focused on achieving the best possible outcome.”
Today, the interventional cardiologist chairs what has become one of the country’s busiest cath labs, capable of imaging high-volume complex and challenging interventions with excellent outcomes.
He elaborated, “The MDH Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory has steadily evolved from a growing interventional facility into one of the country’s leading cardiovascular centers. We have expanded our services, embraced advanced technologies, managed increasingly complex cases and built a highly skilled multidisciplinary team.”
Such growth is crucial for a country with only 33 cardiac catheterization laboratory facilities issued with a Certificate of Compliance, according to data from the Freedom of Information website.
Aligned with this, MDH remains committed to advancing interventional cardiovascular care for all Filipinos. This year marked another milestone for the cath lab, with the installment of the Philips 3.0 Azurion Biplane—a first in the Philippines.
“This fluoroscopy system enhances the way we perform complex cardiovascular interventions by providing simultaneous visualization of complex anatomy and device positioning, allowing us to perform procedures with greater precision and confidence.,” Dr. Isidro said, pointing to two major benefits.
“Clinically, it enhances the ability to perform complex coronary, structural heart, congenital and electrophysiology procedures while helping reduce radiation exposure, contrast use and procedure time,” he continued.
Operations wise, he cited a more streamlined workflow, improved team coordination, and higher quality, patient-centered care.
Bridging the gap in quality cardiovascular care
Looking at the broader picture of the Philippine healthcare system, we asked Dr. Isidro what he sees as the biggest systemic challenges in addressing the high burden of cardiovascular diseases?
He points to a gap in how patients access treatment, noting that far too many Filipinos are diagnosed too late or lack access to specialized services entirely.
“The biggest challenge is ensuring equitable access to timely, high quality cardiovascular care. Many Filipinos are still diagnosed late or have limited access to specialized services. Strengthening prevention, early detection and access to advanced treatment while making care more affordable will have the greatest impact on reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease,” he explained.
This stark reality makes investments in cardiovascular care—from the establishment of the cath lab 16 years ago, to the installment of advanced technologies in recent years—become a necessity.
Moreover, as a medical leader in a private institution, Dr. Isidro believes the path forward relies on collaboration rather than competition with the public sector.
“Improving heart care requires partnership, not competition. Private institutions and the public sector can work together by sharing expertise, strengthening training programs, expanding access to advanced care, and promoting prevention and early detection,” he said.
“By working toward the same goal, we can provide more Filipinos with timely, high quality cardiovascular care regardless of where they seek treatment,” Dr. Isidro added.
Further supporting this cause, Dr. Isidro also spearheads the education of the next generation of cardiac specialists at MDH.
“Beyond technical skills, we emphasize clinical judgment, evidence-based practice, patient safety and quality outcomes that prepares the next generation of interventional cardiologists to deliver the highest standard of care,” said Dr. Isidro who also serves as Training Officer of the Interventional Cardiology Department.
Having direct access to one of the country’s most advanced catheterization laboratories allows fellows to train with state-of-the-art technology and gain vital, real-world experience in highly complex interventions.
A vision for every Filipino heart
As both Chairman of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and Training Officer of the Interventional Cardiology Department at MDH, Dr. Isidro is dedicated to cultivating a medical environment where excellence serves as the absolute standard.
“My philosophy has always been to place patient safety and clinical outcomes at the center of every decision while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning and innovation at par with global standards.”
On how we envisions the future of cardiovascular care in the Philippines, he shared, “My vision is for every Filipino to have access to timely, high quality cardiovascular care, regardless of where they live.”
But at the end of the day, patient education is also paramount. He reminded, “My advice is simple: don’t wait for symptoms. Take care of your heart every day through healthy lifestyle, regular check-ups and control of risk factors. Small, consistent choices today can prevent life changing heart disease tomorrow.”
“At Manila Doctors Hospital, we will continue to lead through innovation, excellence, and compassionate, evidence-based care while training future specialists and advancing cardiovascular medicine. Ultimately, our greatest measure of success is improving and saving more lives,” he concluded.
Editor’s Note: This #BrandSpace story is created with Manila Doctors Hospital. It is produced by the Advertising Content Team that is independent from our Editorial Newsroom.
