Dr. Paulo Campos: "The Father of Nuclear Medicine" in the Philippines

All around the world, we have seen many scientists contribute to their country and have made science, medicine and inventions useful to our daily human lives. In our country, that is agricultural in nature, we have also evolved from organic to Nuclear Medicine.

Among the most prestigious and award winning researches include The Genetic Factor in Endemic Goiter, the Cr-51 Tagged Red Cell Studies and the Observation on some Parameter of Insulin Actions. All of these came from one man alone. He graduated in the same university we are in, The University of the Philippines. He finished his doctor of medicine degree here then he attended postgraduate studies at the John Hopkins School of Medicine and Harvard School Medicine in the years 1953 to 1958. Then at the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Medicine in 1958. He is the “Father of Nuclear Medicine” here in the Philippines. He is Paulo Campos. (Sabater, 2006).

Born on the date of July 27, 1921 in Dasmariñas Cavite, was also known for establishing the first Radioisotope Laboratory in the Philippines, Also the first Research Laboratory in the UP’s (University of the Philippines) Department of Medicine, and the Thyroid Clinic of the UP Philippines General Hospital Medical Center. He then established the UP Comprehensive Community Health Program and Facilities located in Bay, Laguna. (Sabater, 2006).

               Dr. Campos was the president for 10 years in the National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) and was conferred a National Scientist in 1989 by the late president of the Republic of the Philippines, President Corazon Aquino. Not only did he contribute much to his alma mater, but also to his hometown where he was the founder of the Medical Center Manila and the De La Salle University-Dasmariñas in Cavite and the Emilio Aguinaldo College in Manila.

               He passes away at the age of 85 on the 2^nd of June in 2006, due to heart complications and diabetes mellitus, this resulted to multi-organ failure. (Sabater, 2006).

“Dr. Paulo Campos, a visionary and an eminent physician, was interested in the study of thyroid diseases and their treatment using nuclear medicine. Through his efforts, the first radioisotope lab with a scintillation scanner, a gamma well counter, a scaler, and several monitors were established and made available at the John F. Cotton Hospital. As a result, they were able to do thyroid studies, treat hyperthyroidism, polycythemia vera and leukemia with P-32.” (Barrenechea, 2013)

Reference List:

Sabater, Madel. 2006 .National Scientist Dr. Paulo Campos passes away at 85. The Manila Bulletin Online. http://web.archive.org/web/20070914101126/http://www.mb.com.ph/issues/2007/ 06/05/MAIN2007060595261.html. March 6, 2014.

Barrenechea, Emerita. 2013. History of Nuclear Medicine in the Philippines. World Journal of Nuclear Medicine. http://www.wjnm.org/article.asp?issn=14501147;year=2013;volume=12;issue=4;spa ge=182;epage=182;aulast=Barrenechea. March 5, 2014.