Dr. Marina Magnolia Gallardo Nimobla Takes the Helm as Dean of JPMC College of Health Sciences

 The appointment of Dr. Marina Magnolia Gallardo Nimobla as Dean of the JPMC College of Health Sciences (JCHS) marks another important milestone in Filipino nursing and health professions leadership. Her appointment reflects the continuing advancement of nurses into influential academic positions where they can help shape not only the future of nursing education but also the development of the broader health workforce.

As Dean, Dr. Nimobla assumes responsibility for providing academic and strategic leadership to a community preparing the next generation of health professionals. The role provides an important platform for strengthening teaching and learning, promoting faculty development, cultivating research and innovation, and ensuring that graduates are equipped to respond to increasingly complex healthcare environments.

For nursing, appointments such as this are particularly significant. Nurses bring to academic leadership a perspective grounded in patient care, teamwork, communication, advocacy, and an understanding of healthcare systems. When nurse educators progress into senior institutional leadership, they have opportunities to influence educational priorities beyond their own profession and contribute to multidisciplinary approaches to health professions education.

Dr. Nimobla's appointment also underscores the importance of experienced educators taking on leadership roles at a time of rapid transformation in healthcare. Advances in technology and artificial intelligence, changing population health needs, workforce shortages, and growing expectations around person-centred and culturally responsive care require educational institutions to continually reconsider how future health professionals are prepared.

Photo courtesy of JCHS

The Beta Nu Delta Nursing Society (BND) celebrates Dr. Nimobla's appointment as an important achievement for one of its members.

“Dr. Marina Nimobla's appointment as Dean is a wonderful recognition of nursing leadership extending beyond the boundaries of the profession. When nurses take their place in senior academic leadership, they bring with them the values of caring, scholarship, collaboration, and service. We congratulate Dr. Nimobla and look forward to seeing how her leadership will help develop future nurses and other health professionals who are competent, compassionate, innovative, and responsive to the communities they serve.”
— Beta Nu Delta Nursing Society

Leadership in health professions education ultimately carries a responsibility that extends far beyond administrative management. A dean helps create the environment in which students learn, educators flourish, research develops, partnerships emerge, and new ideas become possible. The influence of such leadership can therefore be felt through generations of graduates and, eventually, through the patients and communities they serve.

Dr. Nimobla's new role also provides opportunities to strengthen connections between education and practice. Partnerships with healthcare organizations, professional societies, researchers, communities, and international collaborators can expose students and faculty to new perspectives while encouraging research and innovation that respond to real healthcare priorities.

For fellow nurses, educators, and emerging academic leaders, her appointment offers another compelling example of where a career in nursing can lead. Nursing can provide a foundation not only for clinical practice but also for scholarship, education, research, policy, administration, and executive academic leadership.

As Dr. Marina Magnolia Gallardo Nimobla begins this new chapter as Dean of the JPMC College of Health Sciences, we celebrate both the appointment and the possibilities it represents.

Congratulations, Dr. Nimobla. May your leadership inspire learners, empower educators, advance scholarship, and contribute to the preparation of health professionals who will make a lasting difference in the lives of the people and communities they serve.

Dr. Janet Alexis A. Delos Santos Honoured as Outstanding Eastern Visayan for Education and Research

 As the Outstanding Eastern Visayans Awards (OEVA) draws to a close, this year's celebration leaves behind more than a list of distinguished awardees—it highlights inspiring stories of leadership, scholarship, and unwavering service to society. Among those recognized is Dr. Janet Alexis A. Delos Santos, recipient of the Outstanding Eastern Visayan Award for Education and Research, an accolade that reflects her remarkable contributions to nursing education, research, and academic leadership.

Currently a faculty member of the University of the Philippines School of Health Sciences, Dr. Delos Santos has built an outstanding academic career dedicated to advancing nursing science and improving healthcare through research. Prior to joining the University of the Philippines, she served as a Full Professor and Dean of the College of Nursing at Visayas State University, where she mentored countless nursing students, strengthened research capacity, and championed academic excellence.

Widely regarded as one of the Philippines' leading nurse researchers, Dr. Delos Santos has earned international recognition for her scholarly contributions. Her inclusion among the world's Top 2% Scientists is a testament to the quality, impact, and global reach of her research. Through her extensive body of work, she has helped expand nursing knowledge while contributing evidence that informs education, clinical practice, and health policy.

Receiving the inaugural OEVA for Education and Research carries profound significance. The award recognizes not only individual excellence but also the transformative role that educators and researchers play in shaping healthier communities and stronger institutions. Throughout her career, Dr. Delos Santos has demonstrated that education and research are powerful instruments for creating lasting societal change.

Reflecting on the recognition, Dr. Delos Santos dedicated the award to the broader academic community.

"This award I share with all the educators and researchers diligently burning their midnight candles all for the love of learning, and knowledge development not only for the people of Eastern Visayas but across borders. This is your inaugural winner of the Outstanding Eastern Visayan Award for Education and Research. Taus-pusong nagpapasalamat. To God be all the glory."

Her heartfelt message resonates deeply with educators and researchers who quietly dedicate countless hours to teaching, mentoring, discovering new knowledge, and advancing their respective disciplines. It serves as a reminder that meaningful achievements are rarely accomplished alone—they are built upon collaboration, perseverance, and a shared commitment to excellence.

Beyond her impressive academic accomplishments, Dr. Delos Santos has become an inspiration to aspiring nurse scholars across the Philippines and internationally. Her career demonstrates that Filipino nurses are not only compassionate clinicians but also influential educators, scientists, and thought leaders capable of shaping global conversations in healthcare and nursing research.

As a member of the Beta Nu Delta Nursing Society, Dr. Delos Santos exemplifies the Society's enduring commitment to scholarship, leadership, innovation, and professional excellence. Her achievements continue to inspire fellow members to pursue research that creates meaningful impact while nurturing future generations of healthcare professionals.

The recognition bestowed upon Dr. Delos Santos also reflects the growing strength of Eastern Visayas as a region that produces exceptional educators, researchers, and leaders whose contributions extend well beyond geographical boundaries. Her work serves as a source of pride for Eastern Visayas, the nursing profession, and the entire Filipino academic community.

Congratulations, Dr. Janet Alexis A. Delos Santos, on being named the Outstanding Eastern Visayan for Education and Research. Your remarkable achievements and steadfast dedication to advancing knowledge continue to illuminate the path for future educators, researchers, and nurse leaders. Truly, your success is a celebration of scholarship in service of humanity.