The University of the Philippines Manila College of Medicine received a $100,000 donation bestowed by the Zuellig Initiatives Philanthropiques during an appreciation and turnover ceremony held on 28 February 2023 at the UPCM Henry Sy Sr. Hall.
A donation of $70,000 was made for the establishment of two professorial chairs: the (1) David and Hazel Zuellig Professorial Chair in Community-based Medicine and the (2) David and Hazel Zuellig Professorial Chair in Basic Sciences; and another $30,000 student assistance fund.
The David and Hazel Zuellig Student Assistance Fund will provide financial assistance to UPCM medical students who are assessed to be in need of financial support brought on by personal economic difficulties, disasters, or other unforeseen situations or emergencies. These funds may also be used for programs that will support students in distress or with mental health problems.
The desire to enhance healthcare delivery in the country is a goal that neurologist and UPCM class 98 alumna, Dr. Hazel Zuellig, and her husband shared from the beginning of their relationship which remains to be the focus of their lives. When the couple formally started their philanthropic foundation in 2022, they found it fitting that their first grant be given to the College of Medicine to support faculty and students.
"I came to know about the UP College of Medicine from the many stories my wife shared with me… how every patient shaped her values and made her the caring UP doctor that she has become,” David said. “She has always been exceptionally proud of this College, no matter where in the world we ended up going," he added. Dr.Hazel also expressed her gratitude to UPCM for allowing them to “make the symbolic first grant to the school that started it all.”
UPCM Dean Charlotte Chiong thanked the Zuelligs not only for this donation but for their long history of philanthropy that benefitted the underserved and future physicians. “We hope that this partnership will grow,” Chiong said.
In his message, Vice Chancellor for Planning and Development Michael Tee mentioned that little is known about how David and Hazel helped during the pandemic. Tee said that the couple provided the start-up fund for the PGH Bayanihan Na!Isolation Unit, donated ventilators and hi-flow oxygen machines, and PPEs, among others. "They did that without fanfare and this is an opportunity for us to thank the couple for the kind of silent help that was both timely and responsive to the immediate needs of our people," he remarked.
In recognition of their fervent support to the university, its professors, and scholars, Dwan Chiong awarded the couple the LadyMed Statue. Consul General David Zuelligs is one of the 38 awardees of the prestigious Oblation Medal given by UP President Danilo L Concepcion on January 17, 2023. The citation was given in recognition for the awardees’ ready response to the needs of the University, helping it to: expand services to internal and external publics, surmount and act on the pandemic and disasters; construct, upgrade, and preserve facilities; acquire equipment; manage utilities; and, support academic, artistic, and athletic excellence. The medal, which was received by UP Manila Chancellor Carmencita Padilla on their behalf was turned over by Vice Chancellor Tee to Consul General Zuellig.
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