About Us
The Philippine Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons, Incorporated (PATACSI) is the specialty organization of all certified thoracic and cardiovascular surgeons in the Philippines. It is an official affiliate association of the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and the Philippine College of Surgeons (PCS). It is a recognized non-stock corporation under Philippine Laws with principal office currently at the Room 514, 5th Floor, Medical Arts Building, Philippine Heart Center, Quezon City.
On 08 April 1959, the organization held its Inauguration as the Philippine Association of Thoracic Surgeons (PATS). The first Induction of Officers was held at the historic Club Filipino with Dr. Denton A. Cooley as the Inducting Officer and first Honorary Fellow. The first officers included Dr. Angel I. Reyes as President, Dr. Cristino Lazatin as Vice-President, Dr. Adolfo Baviera as Secretary-Treasurer, and Drs. Oscar Jacinto, Clemente Calma and Benjamin Belmonte as Council Members.
Dr.-Enrique-M.-Garcia
Dr. Enrique M. Garcia, in whose honor the annual PATACSI Memorial Lecture is presented, and who became Secretary of Health, was elected as the second president of PATS. During his term, majority of practicing thoracic surgeons in the Philippines became members of the association.
Highlights in the association’s history include the hosting of the First Congress of the Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons of Asia which was held at the Manila Hilton on 22-26 November 1972. Incorporation of PATS with the Securities and Exchange Commission was formalized on 26 December 1973. The Philippine Board of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, created as an independent certifying body for all Filipino thoracic and cardiovascular surgeons, was incorporated on 13 January 1976.
In 1981, in an effort to involve more members, the organization changed its name from PATS into the present Philippine Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons, Incorporated (PATACSI). This name change for one and the same organization was formally recognized by the SEC on 30 April 1998.
Thirty-three (33) long years after the inaugural congress was held in Manila in 1972, PATACSI successfully hosted again the 17th Biennial Congress of the Association of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeons of Asia (ATCSA) that was held at Makati Shangri-la on 20-23 November 2005. 50 out of 52 invited international speakers gave their final commitment and nearly 700 participants coming from 38 nations joins and make it truly an international meeting.
The primary purpose of PATACSI is to promote and maintain the highest standards of practice of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. It encourages the sharing of knowledge and experience in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery through its regular Quarterly Scientific Inter-Hospital Meetings, Regional and Annual Postgraduate Courses, and other continuing surgical education activities. It promotes research in the specialty, highlighting research outputs via the Annual Research Forum and the Philippine Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. It is actively committed to safeguard the professional interests of the specialty and its members.
The PATACSI today has a professional membership of 134 active fellows in a roster which includes all senior and regular members and 9 honorary fellows. There are also 8 diplomates and 7 candidate-members who have graduated from the various accredited training programs and 19 resident-trainees who are still currently in training.
Meet Our Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular Surgeons
The PATACSI today has a professional membership of 162 active fellows in a roster which includes all senior and regular members and 10 honorary fellows. There are also 7 diplomates and 13 candidate-members who have graduated from the various accredited training programs and 36 resident-trainees who are still currently in training.
Nathaniel John C. Castro, M.D.
Dr. Nathaniel John U. Castro is a thoracic surgeon in Saint Cloud, Minnesota and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area. He has been in practice for more than 20 years…..
Bernard-Julius A. Rocha, M.D.
Dr. Bernard-Julius A. Rocha is the newest member of the PATACSI Board of Directors for 2021. He is also the Section Chief of the Heart, Lung and Kidney Institute, Section of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery of the Northern Mindanao Medical Center. He is also the current Assistant Director of Polymedic Medical Plaza – Center for Cardiovascular Medicine, Misamis Oriental.
Karl Michael G. Reyes, M.D.
Dr. Karl Reyes, is the new chief of pediatric cardiac surgery at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, home to Tampa Bay’s only comprehensive congenital heart disease program.
Dr. Karl Reyes will work closely with hospital physicians, leadership and staff to ensure that the pediatric cardiac team continues to achieve the highest standards of safety and quality. The team’s surgical outcomes already exceed national benchmarks as reported by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons….
Our Mission
We are an organization of competent, ethical and socially responsive surgeons working to ensure quality of thoracic, cardiac and vascular surgery practice in the Philippines.
Our Vision
Our vision is to provide world class thoracic, cardiac and vascular surgical care responsive to the needs of the Filipino people.
Our Objective
1. To ensure the highest standards of Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular surgery training programs.
2. To promote surgical research in Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular surgery.
3. To provide relevant continuing surgical education in Thoracic, Cardiac and Vascular surgery.
4. To maintain the highest standards of ethical surgical practice.
