The Ateneo de Zamboanga University School of Medicine (AdZU SOM), in collaboration with the Social Development Office (SDO), successfully concluded the third and final phase of its leadership workshop titled “Bridging Leadership: Empowering Medical Practitioners for Social Transformation” on March 13-14, 2025, at the Carlos Dominguez Conference Hall, Salvador Campus, La Purisima.
The culminating phase aimed to equip SOM students with the necessary tools to analyze health inequities through a systems-thinking approach, highlighting the impact of social determinants on overall health outcomes. The training emphasized strategies for navigating social complexities and fostering intersectoral collaboration through effective multi-stakeholder engagement. Participants also learned principles of effective dialogue, enabling them to build collaborative partnerships that drive sustainable health improvements.
The workshop culminated in a session titled “The Heart of a Leader”, led by Fr Alberto “Tex” Paurom SJ. During his talk, Fr Paurom deepened participants’ understanding of the Bridging Leadership Framework, focusing on the processes of ownership, co-ownership, and co-creation, while integrating Ignatian values and leadership tools. Following this, Ms Judith Joy Tugade facilitated a moment of prayer and integration, providing participants with a space for spiritual reflection before formally concluding Phase 3.
Inspired by AdZU’s Ignatian Spirituality, the workshop encouraged future doctors to embrace their vocation as “men and women for others”—medical professionals committed not only to patient care but also to the community.
