We present this special issue of the Journal of Medicine, University of Santo Tomas (JMUST)—a clear testament to the dynamic and growing research culture at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. We are proud of our students for transforming local questions into noteworthy scholarly contributions. This achievement was made possible by the unwavering support, guidance, and expertise of the faculty mentors, peer reviewers, and Editorial Board.

It is with great pride and gratitude that we present this Special Issue of the Journal of Medicine UST (JMUST), highlighting the scholarly work of our medical students—work made possible by a community that believes deeply in inquiry, mentorship, and academic excellence. This issue reflects our collective commitment to strengthening the research culture of our medical school.

This SI illuminates the rigor, curiosity, and growing research competence of our medical students. Their work reflects the integration of epidemiologic principles into clinically relevant questions. Such contributions underscore the importance of cultivating evidence-based thinking early in medical training and affirm the vital role of student-led research in advancing medical knowledge and improving patient care.

Research plays a critical role in advancing medical practice and patient care, yet its integration into undergraduate medical education remains challenging. Early exposure to research enhances critical thinking and provides valuable experience in scientific inquiry, communication, and publication. However, medical students face barriers such as limited time, topic selection difficulties, and inadequate mentorship and funding. The establishment of the Department of Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Santo Tomas has strengthened student research capacity, culminating in this JMUST Special Issue, which showcases high-quality, ethics-approved student-led scholarly work.

Stroke is a significant public health burden in the Philippines, ranking among the leading causes of death and disability, yet a specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) assessment tool tailored for Filipino stroke survivors is lacking. This study aimed to address this gap by translating the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life (SS-QOL) questionnaire into Filipino and subsequently validating this new version to provide a culturally relevant and reliable outcome measure for stroke patients in the country.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of the hearWHO application in rapid screening of hearing loss among Philippine Air Force military personnel and verifies its results with Pure Tone Audiometry. It aimed to establish baseline data for future research on technological advancements in otolaryngology.

Patients undergoing modified radical mastectomy (MRM) often experience significant preoperative anxiety. Effective preoperative education could alleviate anxiety and improve patient outcomes. This research aimed to evaluate whether audiovisual aids during preoperative education correlated with decreased anxiety levels among female MRM patients, and it also aimed to investigate if enhanced preoperative education could lead to reduced anxiety and improved postoperative outcomes.

This study aims to determine the prevalence of CF and compassion satisfaction (CS) among OBGYN resident physicians in selected hospitals in Manila and identify the associated contributory factors.

Practice-based learning is the key objective of postgraduate education. COVID-19 has revealed that medical institutions may need to adopt adaptive strategies to guide their students. The aim of this study is to describe the perception of Philippine medical clerks towards their surgical preparedness with an Enriched Virtual Mode (EVM)-Hybrid Learning during the pandemic. 

Neurological emergencies can be life-threatening, requiring immediate care to prevent adverse outcomes. In the Philippines, where conditions like stroke are prevalent, timely access to healthcare is critical. This study assessed how adults in Manila perceive the accessibility, availability and affordability (AAA) of private and public healthcare services for neurological emergencies.

With the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines, schools around the world have slowly started to reimplement on-site classes with guidelines to prevent outbreaks. The University of Santo Tomas has devised their own set of guidelines, including safety protocols, vaccinations and daily health declarations. These were monitored using the Thomasian Online Medical Services and Support (ThOMedSS).

Adolescents are particularly vulnerable to major life disruptions. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted key aspects of adolescent development, yet few studies have focused on the experiences of Filipino youth who underwent isolation due to infection. The objective of this study was to explore the lasting lived experiences of Filipino adults who were isolated due to COVID-19 as late adolescents and examine how these experiences shaped their health consciousness.

This is an ethically reviewed and approved protocol for a cross-sectional descriptive design to estimate the prevalence of psychosocial effects of post-COVID-19 lockdowns on children aged 12 to 17, utilizing the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). 

This study aims to establish the potential association between ABO blood type among pregnant women (25-34 years old) at the University of Santo Tomas Hospital - Clinical Division Outpatient Department in the development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

About one-third of the world's population relies on traditional solid biomass for cooking, heating and lighting. The use of biomass fuels is a practice in the Philippines, especially the use of dry firewood. One community familiar with this practice is Our Lady of Banneux ANCOP Community (OLBAC). Despite this, specific data on these effects in Filipino communities remains limited. The objective of this study is to determine if there is a difference in the prevalence of abnormal spirometry in female adult residents of OLBAC who have significant and nonsignificant exposure to biomass fuel smoke. 

Hypertension is a major contributor to cognitive decline, and dementia is an increasing public health concern in the Philippines. Despite evidence linking these conditions, the awareness of dementia risk remains limited. Broader modifiable factors—such as nutrition, physical activity, smoking, alcohol use and sleep—also influence dementia risk but are not consistently emphasized in health education for hypertensive adults. The objective of this study is to comprehensively assess the dementia risk awareness of hypertensive Filipino adults residing in the Philippines. 

Dean Maglinao's commencement address reflected on the evolving themes of resilience, growth, and purpose in medical education, culminating in a call to embrace mindfulness, self-care, and the preservation of mental health in medical practice. As new physicians enter a demanding profession shaped by sacrifice and service, the Dean emphasized that caring for oneself is not selfish but essential. She underscored mindfulness as a grounding practice, self-care as survival, and mental health as a continuous process. Ultimately, she urged graduates to become healers who are whole, resilient, and compassionate—toward patients and themselves.

This valedictory address reflects on the formative role of service, sacrifice, and resilience in shaping the professional identity of the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Class of 2025. Drawing from personal and shared narratives, the speech emphasizes that the journey to becoming a physician is sustained less by innate brilliance than by grit, perseverance, and collective support. It honors families, mentors, patients, and often-unseen contributors whose labor and compassion made medical training possible. The address concludes by affirming humility, empathy, and people-centered service as enduring principles that should guide graduates as they enter the practice of medicine and begin building their professional legacy.