Bridging clinical care and lived experiences in Psoriasis Management: a coffee table discussion with medical students

At the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH), learning to heal means looking beyond the diagnosis. Recently, Year Level 7 medical students participated in a dynamic "Psoriasis in Primary Care" session that challenged them to confront the everyday human reality of the disease. Integrated into the Public Health course for the Integumentary Module and led by Dr Jennifer Lavina Ngo, a dermatologist and Research Fellow for the International Psoriasis Council – this unique coffee table discussion seamlessly wove together medical fundamentals with the complex, systemic challenges of psoriasis care in the Philippines. 

Grounding Medicine in the Patient Perspective 

While mastering the pathology of psoriasis is a crucial step for any future doctor, it was the focus on the lived experience that truly captivated the room. Dr Ngo was joined by special guest Josef De Guzman, Founder and Chair of PsorPhil, whose firsthand account anchored the discussion in what matters most to the people behind the diagnoses. Together, they brought to light the profound impacts that are too often invisible in a clinical setting. They unpacked the heavy burden of social stigma, the hidden emotional toll, and the severe disruptions to daily life, school, and work. Above all, they confronted a harsh reality: that timely, life-changing care remains frustratingly out of reach for too many Filipinos. 

From Individual Care to Systems Thinking 

As the discussion progressed, the conversation naturally pivoted from individual primary care to the broader healthcare ecosystem. Students and speakers critically tackled the bigger picture, examining referral pathways, access barriers, and the systemic gaps that ultimately dictate who gets treated and who is forced to wait. 

This enriching session is a testament to ASMPH’s commitment to shaping physicians who are not just outstanding clinicians, but empathetic leaders ready to drive systemic change in public health. The event's success was driven by the coordination and vision of faculty members Dr Annie Alvarez-Angeles, Dr Ched Cancio-Cruz, and Dr Paulo Jose Lumicao, who champions a curriculum that boldly prioritizes holistic, patient-centered learning.