by Nikki D. Dela Cruz
The Newborn Screening Center – Central Luzon (NSC-CL), in collaboration with the Department of Pediatrics at the Angeles University Foundation Medical Centers (AUFMC), hosted two expanded newborn screening (ENBS) orientations and laboratory tours for AUFMC’s pediatric residents, post-graduate interns, and clinical clerks. Held on February 18 and November 28, 2025, the sessions drew 32 participants and supplemented a key part of their pediatric training to deepen their understanding of newborn screening’s importance, protocols, and laboratory operations.
Mariel Franceska Magat, Program Development Officer I, covered the ENBS basic facts. Dr. Bernadette Halili Mendoza, NSC-CL unit head, delved further into the different disorders being screened by the program. Nikki Dela Cruz, Program Development Officer III, outlined NBS program implementation steps. Katrina Canlapan, Laboratory Team Captain, guided the laboratory tour, demonstrating sample processing, analysis, and interpretation equipment.
The orientations emphasized the importance of early detection, diagnosis, and management of heritable disorders, equipping future doctors to make informed patient care decisions and educate families on timely screenings.
