FEU-NRMF GRAD PLACES 8TH IN MEDTECH BOARD EXAM

Overcoming the woes that the COVID-19 pandemic had wrought, a Far Eastern University-Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation (FEU-NRMF) graduate breezed through in the latest Medical Technologists licensure examinations by placing 8th among the 1,268 passers nationwide.

Currently an incoming third year medicine student of the FEU-NRMF Institute of Medicine, John Christian Petilla Tan attributed his excellent licensure exams performance to the motivation that spontaneously developed inside him to do his best while reviewing for the licensure exams of one of the country’s underrated professional fields, the Medical Technology.

Tan witnessed for himself how medical technology practitioners were underrated especially during the global COVID-19 pandemic where the healthcare sector’s role was highlighted at levels never seen in the past. This underrating of the Medical Technology profession, Tan said, pushed him to do better in the exams where he never expected to be one in the top 10 among the successful examinees.

Sharing his own experience, Tan explained that he did not graduate with Latin honors. However, in the first semester of his third year he was granted a full scholarship by FEU-NRMF. And in his fourth year, the university’s medical technology alumni association granted him a full scholarship.

The eighth placer admonished those who entertain the view that only during the review should one be focused. He emphasized that focus should start during the first year of studies until graduation for there are many things to learn while pursuing the entire course just like what he did.

This gave him the needed confidence when he actually took the licensure exams so much so that the world at that point was reeling from the ill-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic where classes and even the review were held virtually.

“The pandemic was already a big challenge. Taking the exams during the pandemic doubled the challenge even more,” Tan stressed.

Aside from the usual mnemonics and use of flashcards, Tan said, during the review he also made use of the Pomodoro technique wherein he studied and focused for 25 minutes then took a five-minute break after. He would repeat this cycle four times then rest for about 30 minutes. After resting, a new cycle will begin again. He added that he slept six to eight hours a day if time allowed.

The FEU-NRMF School of Medical Laboratory Science posted in the last exams a 75.86 passing percentage compared to the national passing percentage of 46 percent.

Tan is the son of Albert and Connie Tan of Quezon City.