Chapter 1: A Brief History of the Profession I page 1
Chapter1
Profession
A Brief History of the
my cager desire and determination to trace back the beginning
of this profession, I did a lengthy
nIrom I two important opinions
several sources available on this topic. Among my readingS noted
rescarch These opinions are of Vivian Herrick
which I considered significant as to the beginning of the profession.
and Anna Fagelson.
be traced back in 1550 B.C. when
VIVian Herrick strongly believes that medical technology may
She also noted that the Ebers
intestinal parasites such as taenia and ascaris were mentioned in writings.
Papyrus (an carly wTiting) have descriptions of the three stages
of hookworm intection.
been practiced in the early days
the opinion of Herrick, that the profession may have
o Support in her book, "An Introduction
to the
been
before it had noticed, Professor M. Ruth Williams have stated Period (1096-1438). So
was a fad during
the Medieval
Profession of Medical Technology", that Urinalysis diseases by the appearance of
that QuacCkS calling themselves doctors reaped fortunes from diagnosing
the scientific observation that the urnne of
unne. Yet carlier than the Quacks, Hindu doctors have
made
taste.
certain individuals attracted ants, and that such urine had a sweetish
the 14h century when a
Nevertheless, Anna Fagelson prefers date medical technology from
to Alessandra
of Bologna employed one
prominent ltalian physician, Mondino de' Liuzzi at the University It is of
those of the medical technologist.
Giliani to perform certain tasks which would now be considered
interest that Giliani died from a laboratory acquired infection.
when Anton van Leuwenhoek (1632-
The profession had progressed-rapidly in the 17th century
was the first to describe
the red blood cells, to see
1723) had invented the first functional microscope. He
protozoa, and to classify bacteria according shape.
to
possible to
With the production of Aniline dyes about the middle
of the 19h century, it became
stain bacteria and to study them better under the microscope.
searched and found the answer to the diagnosis
Somewhere in the year 1800, Dr. William Occam in the
this process of collecting evidence was investigation
of his patients by several means and part of
of the complete picture consisted of laboratory findings.
laboratory, and a large part
some of the systems in the science of
medicine. This
These discoveries lead to the idea to change the
with the requirement for qualification of a doctor by
idea was interfered partially by the government Humboldt,
the leadership of Baron Karl Wilhelm von
Apothecaries Act of 1815. However, through the findings before and
medicine brought in itself a complete revolution by
the development of physical
and later in adding bacteriology to the elucidation of the
after death in establishing an anatomical pathology
examinations.
causes of discase and the laboratory
the influence of Germany this new science was then known to Greece, Japan, Turkey,
Through
America.
England and the United States of
that this science was highly developed to a very great extent
It was in the United Sates of America
interest more emphasized to cope up with the modern world.
due to its financial capabilities, manpower and
The first laboratory (which happens to be a chemical laboratory related to medicine) was opened
in the United States at the University of Michigan. Dr. Silas Douglas started the first laboratory instruction
in 1884. This laboratory was said to be well equipped during those times and grew year by year until it
became the largest and the best equipped chemical laboratory open to students in the United States.
Similar laboratories were established in 1854. One of the first was the Medical College of St
Bartholomew. Four years later in 1858, all part-time practicing clinicians were reinforced as teachers by
page 2 Chapter 1: A Brief History of the Profession
new laboratory
methods to medical practice and medical
whole time professional units applying the
teaching at the University College at Cambridge.
In 1878, Dr. William H. Welch (a graduate of the College of Physicians& Surgeons in New York)
in Germany retumed to the United States and was connected
who had studicd pathology and bacteriology
with his Alma Mater. But disappointed with his ambition to get a place to establish a laboratory, he wentto
Bellevue Hospital Medical College. Here he finally obtained a laboratory which he used in teaching and
three rooms funished with kitchen tables and six
giving microscopical courses. The laboratory consisted ofDr. Simon Flexner (the 1t pathologist of the John
antique microscopes which cost him twenty-five dollars.
said this was the first laboratory course in pathology ever
Hopkins Hospital Department of Pathology)
given in an American Medical School.
la 1885, Welch became the first professor of pathology at Joha Hopkins University. In this
hospital he established a laboratory for bacteriological studies and for autopsies.
It was in 1885 when a man of a very high caliber by the name of Sir John Scott Burdon-Sanderson
obtaincd significant results in his works in medicine by applving laboratory methods tohis practice of
medicine. He also initiated the use of laboratory animals for experimentation as part of his laboratory
examinations to help him in his diagnosis. Later in 1887, he had concluded that the use of laboratory
methods in Clinical Medicine elucidates pathological problems.
However, several references in the literature indicated that the first Clinical Laboratory was
opened in 1896. One of these was at the John Hopkins Hospital, which occupied a 12 x 12 size room and
was equipped at a cost of fifty dollars.
Nevcrtheless, Comac's article which is probably the source of all the references indicated that a
clinical laboratory had been opened at the University of Pennsylvania in 1896 (William Pepper Laboratory)
and that others were to be found in Boston, Baltimore, New York, and in many other cities.
One of the very clear evidences that clinical laboratories had been established in 1896 was the
1900 census of the United States which listed 100 technicians, all of them males employed in the diñcrent
laboratories throughout the country.
Another was the publication of a laboratory guide by Dr. James C. Todd in 1908 entitled "Manual
of Clinical Diagnosis" which was later published by Dr. Todd and Dr. Arthur Sanford as a book entitled
"Clinical Diagnosis by Laboratory Methods" and presently published under the editorship of Davidson and
Henry when the authors died. This showed that the authors have proven and improved laboratory
techniques and procedures as a result of an actual laboratory experimentations & exposures.
Yet, it was not until 1911 when an Insurance Act was approved and a complete revolution in the
development of the laboratory science as the basis of diagnosis of disease was formally accepted
It was in 1915 that the State legislature of Pennsylvania enacted a law requiring all hospitals and
institutions to have an adequate laboratory & to employ a full-time laboratory technician.
In 1940 the United States required a two-year collegiate education and a twelve-month actual
training in the laboratory for the preparation of its practice. A standard curriculum was formalized in 1950
in preparation for a Bachelor of Science Degree.
In the Philippines, the science was introduced by the 26h Medical Laboratory of the 6th United
States Army at the end of World War II. The laboratory was established at 208 Quiricada St, Sta. Cruz
Manila where the Public Health Laboratory (a division of the Manila Health Department) is presently
located.
The training of high school graduates to work as laboratory technicians was started in February
1944 by the 26th Medical Laboratory. However, in June 1945, the 26th Medical Laboratory of the 6th United
Chapter 1:A Brief History of theProfession | page 3
States Army left the laboratory. Although the said Medical ILaboratory was cndorsed by the United States
Army to the National Department of Health before they Icf. But the National Departmcnt of Hicalth did not
take intcrest on it, nnaybe because the scicnce was not very well known and popular during those days
doctors, Dr. Alfredo Pio de Roda,a
One of the Filipinowho was among the dislocated staff of
well known Bacteriologist
to preserve and save the
the 26th Mcdical Laboratory took the pain
was becausc of a very noble idca
remnants of the laboratory. This
the residents of Manila. He
that came into his mind for thc good of
could be bctter served by
thought that the residents of Manila in rclation to their
laboratory mcthods to solve thcir problcms
sce Dr. Mariano C
hcalth. Hencc, Dr. Alfredo Pio de Roda went to
hcalth officer of Manila and presented his
Icasiano, the first city the
in the prescrvation of the remnants of
ideas and good intentionsand
26th Mcdica Laboratory organizing a ncw medical laboratory
in order to give better hcalth services to the Manilans by laboratory
methods. Dr. Icasiano, secing the noblc idcas, sincerity, purityof
D Alfredo Pio de Roda
intention and conceru about the health of the Manilans,
was
touched and convinced. Hc accepted the proposal of Dr. Alfredo Pio de Roda to establish a medical
laboratory under the city health department.
the Public Health
1, 1945 when the medical laboratory now known
as
It was on October
Roda.
Laboratory was formally organized under the leadership of Dr. Aldredo Pio de
1947 under
The uraining of medical technicians started in February
The trainces were
Dr. Alfredo Pio de Roda and Dr. Prudencia C. Sta. Ana.
The course was free to all
mostly high school and paramedical graduates.
interested people, but the course has no specific or
dcfinite period of
raining nor a certificate of completion issued
for such training. So that,
for two weeks and others
some of the trainees trained only for a week,
some
for several wecks.
It in 1954 when Dr. Alfredo Pio de Roda instructed Dr.
was
that the
Sta.Ana to prepare a syllabus of training for the medical technicians
and certificate of
formal six-month training period was required a
Dr. Prudencia Sta. Ana completion was given to successful trainees. Later Dr. Tirso Briones joined
the two doctors in the training program at the Public Health Laboratory.
did not last long since the Manila
The training program at the Public Health Laboratory
Adventist Medical Center) at Pasay City and its sister
Sanitarium and Hospital (now the Manila
the Adventist University of the Philippines) at Baesa,
establishment, the Philippine Union College (now
the Medical Technology Course through the
Caloocan City (now at Silang Cavite) started to offer
Willa Hilgert Hedrick, an American Medical practitioner and a missionary of the
pioneering efforts of Mrs.
Seventh-Day Adventist Church to the Philippines, who was assigned to work at the Manila Sanitarium and
with her Medical Internist husband, Dr. Elvin Hedrick in 1953.
Hospital
Mrs. Willa Hilgert-Hedrick, Dr. Reuben G. Manalaysay, then President of the Philippines Union
College. Rev. Merritt C. Warren, then President of the North Philippine Union Mission of the Seventh-Day
Adventist Church in the Philippines and Dr. Manuel L. Carreon of the Bureau of Private Schools from the
Bureau of Education of the Philippines, met and decided that Mrs. Willa Hilgert-Hedrick do the preparation
of the Course curriculum and put up the first Medical Technology School in the Philippines. Mrs. Hedrick
had to do her very best in complying with her task. However, she had some diffculties in working for a
complete laboratory in the division of Microbiology, Parasitology and Histopathology. Fortunately, Mrs.
Antoinette McKelvey who just came from New York and trained under Dr. Papanicoloau, joined Mrs.
Hedrick in putting up the first complete laboratory in the Philippines at the Manila Sanitarium &
Hospital
page 4| Chapter 1: A Brief History of the Profession
Dr. Reuben G. Manalaysa Dr. Manuel L. Carreon Rev. Mernitt C. Warren
Mrs. Willa Hilgert-Hedrick
Founder of Medical
Technology Education in the Philippines
Mrs. Willa
Hilgert-Hedrick was the
founder of the Medical
Technology Education/course in the
Philippines. She American Seventh Day Adventist
was an
Elvin Hedrick, the first Medical missionary
intenist of the Manila Sanitarium and
to the Philippines and
married to Dr.
Medical Center). Hospital (now Manila Adventist
The course started at the Manila
Sanitarium and Hospital in 1953 (now Manila
Center) under the charge of Philippine Union Adventist Medical
College (now Adventist University of the Philippines).
The Medical Technology course was opened due to the following reasons:
1. The hospital doctors' need for a
2. The search for laboratory.
competent laboratory workers, but laboratory workers then got no formal
laboratory training and no official standard program or training for
offered, except at thc Public Health Laboratory but trainees laboratory workers was
were only allowed to observe in
the laboratory but not to
perform laboratory works. Likewise there was no time limit of
training required they could train two wecks or as long as they would like to.
3. The Lord's
response to their needs so that one day Rev. Merritt C. Warren,
Seventh Day Adventist North president of the
Philippine Union Mission, Dr. Reuben G. Manalaysay,
President of the Philippine Union College and Director Dr. Manuel L.
Carreon of the Bureau
of Private Schools came to see Mrs. Hedrick to
Medical Technology for the Philippine Islands.
formally request her to start a school of
The application of the Manila Sanitarium and
the
Hospital and the Philippine Union College to open
Medical Technology School with a
five-year curriculum leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in
Medical Technology was approved by the Bureau of Education (now the Department of Education, Culture
& Sports) in 1954.
The Philippine Union College (now the Adventist University of the Philippines) graduated its first
Mcdical technology graduate in March 1955 in the person of Mr. Jesse Umali. And in Sumner 1955
Chapter 1: A Brief History of the Profession | page 5
graduation, two Mcdical Technologists also graduated, Mr. Avelino Oliva and Miss Adoracion Yutuc Mr
Jesse Umali, however, took up his Mcdical studies at the Far Eastern University and became a very
successful OB-Gyne practitioner and was an owner of the well known Omega Laboratories at Vito Cru
before he finally left for the Unitcd States. It is sad to say that Dr. Jesse Umali, a classmate and a good
friend had passed away.
'
Adoracion Yutuc
Jesse Umali Avelino Oliva
of Medical
In 2006 the Adventist University of the Plhilippines changed their BSMT (Bachclor
to BMLS (Bachelor of Mcdical Laboratory Sciencc) course
in line with the upgradin8
Technology) course
modernization and widening the field of Laboratory Science. Laboratory works are now classificd amiong
the highly respcctable professionals as Clinical Laboratory Scicntists.
In 1957, Dr. Antonio Gabriel and Dr. Gustavo U. Reyes of the University of Sto. Tomas, Faculty
medical technology course. But it
of Pharmacy offered an elective to pharmacy graduates leading to the
was not until June 30, 1960 when their 1 third ycar
medical technology course was officially approved by
the fourth ycar (internship) program was
the Bureau of Education under the Faculty of Pharmacy, and
approved on June12, 1961.
1960 through the pioncering efforts of Mrs.
This was followed by the Centro Escolar University in
President Carmen de Luna, to work on the
Purificacion Sunico-Suaco, who was granted by the University
in the university. Upon the approval of their
feasibility of offering the medical technology
course
formed
Mrs. Suaco automatically became the dean of the newly
application by the Bureau of Education,
were in 1962.
school from 1960 to 1963. Their first graduates
School of Medical Technology in 1961 through the
The Far Eastern University started its
Horacio A. Ylagan and Dr. Serafin J. Juliano through the authority
combined ideas and efforts of Dr. the
H. Panganiban and Dr. Jesus B. Nolasco, Dean and Secretary of
granted them by the late Dr. LauroThe school was formally opened when its application was approved by
Institute of Medicine respectively. Director of the
1962. Dr. Ylagan automatically became the Technical
the Bureau of Education on July 5,
in 163.
School. Their first graduates were
This wasfollowed by several colleges and universities throughout the country. Today according to
Culture & Sports, there are now more than 91 colleges and
the record of the Deparunent of Education,
universities throughout the Philippines offering the BSMT (now BMLS - Bachelor of Medical Laboratory
Science) course.
Post graduate studies in Medical Technology are now being offered by three universities in Metro
Manila: University of the Philippines which is offering a one-year non-thesis degree in Master in Public
Health: The University of Sto. Tomas started to offer Master of Science in Medical Technology in 1975
and Philippine Women's University in 1987.
