Makati Medical Center College at 38: holistic & globally competitive

MANILA, Philippines - Known for its intensive, highly-specialized education on B.S. Nursing, the newly-renamed Makati Medical Center College is now looking to offer topnotch education in B.S. Psychology and B.S. Radiologic Technology. This reflects the new direction that the school is taking after the appointment of new president and chief executive officer Ofelia Odilao-Bisnar, MBM.

Formerly with the Asian Institute of Management, Odilao-Bisnar has earned more than 25 years of extensive management experience, mainly in the areas of academe, marketing, business development, relationship management, organizational development, human resources, career development, training, research and statistics. 

During a briefing with the media recently, Odilao-Bisnar highlighted the performance of Makati Medical Center College students in the Nursing Licensure Examinations (NLE), which has been consistently in the high passing rate of over 90% average in the last seven years; and even 100% in its earlier years. It has produced board top placers and many of its alumni are well-placed in the various hospitals, communities, and organizations where they are employed here and overseas.

Odilao-Bisnar likewise introduced new and updated certificate courses being offered by the institution: Healthcare Services (TESDA Certified), Emergency Medical Services, Complementary and Integrative Medicine, and Palliative and Hospice Care.  Nurse Managers Enhancement Program and other nursing specialized courses are also in the pipeline. The ICSEC-Kaplan review courses available year-round are NCLEX-RN, CGFNS, USMLE (Medicine) 1, 2 and 3, NBDE (Dental) 1 and 2, TOEFL, IELTS, GMAT, GRE, LSAT (Law) and SAT.

Ofelia Odilao-Bisnar (MBM), President & CEO of Makati Medical Center College

The objective of these new offerings, according to Odilao-Bisnar, is for the students to have a holistic and globally competitive healthcare education and training—responsive to the times and attuned to the latest medical systems & procedure. Students are helped, from learning methods, career development and scholarship grants so they can sharpen their skills and further their studies—all intended to improve their career placement opportunities and ensure their quality performance on the job.

“With these expansion and transformations, we continue to serve our country and the world by educating and providing compassionate, qualified, and world-class health professionals and maintain a strong commitment to social responsibility through our community health services and medical missions,” Odilao-Bisnar said.

MakatiMed College is the lone base school of Makati Medical Center, a premier hospital in the country and one of Asia’s top medical research and training facilities. The College is a member of Metro Pacific Investment Corp.’s hospital group and education network. It adheres to MMC’s three-fold objective, which is to teach, serve, and research. It began to realize fully this mission when it opened the Makati Medical Center School Division in 1975. Back then, a one-year Health Aides Program was offered for the vocational training of high school graduates. This course was designed for those who did not have the opportunity and economic means to pursue the Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing.

It was in 1978 when the institution was formally inaugurated and given the name Remedios T. Romualdez Memorial Schools. It offered the BSN Supplemental Program that trained those who finished the Graduate Nursing program to continue their BSN degree.

Several years later, a new curriculum was implemented, the Associate in Health Science Education. This was a two-year program designed to prepare students to higher studies in Health Science professions, such as Nursing, Physical Therapy, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Respiratory Therapy, Radiologic Technology, and other related courses.

Since 2003, MakatiMed College has been accredited by the Philippine Accreditation Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU), which confirms it as an institution that provides first-rate education.

On its 38th year, MakatiMed College aims to bring the school in the forefront of healthcare education by enhancing its academic course offerings, connecting with various agencies and institutions, and opening itself up to the public to share its expertise and make it accessible.