Our Team
Penafrancia Cano, MD, DPBA, FPSA, EDRA
Dr Peňafrancia Cano is currently the head of the Section of Regional Anesthesia (RA) and an Associate Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine-Philippine General Hospital. She was the one who spearheaded the creation of the Section of Regional Anesthesia in 2017 and later, the fellowship program in Regional Anesthesia in the same institution. She has also served as the Section Chief of Ambulatory Anesthesia from 2001 to 2008 and Orthopedic Anesthesia from 2008 to 2017. She is also presently a consultant of the Department of Anesthesiology at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center and San Juan de Dios Hospital.
Noel Aypa, MD, DPBA, FPSA,EDRA
Dr. Noel S. Aypa took his preparatory medical education in the University of Santo Tomas College ( UST ) with a degree of Bachelor of Science in Biology. He then went on to fulfill his dream of becoming a doctor at the UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery . Looking for a change in scenery and platform, he finished his internship at the Capitol Medical Center, a tertiary private institution.
Nathalia Montemayor, MD, DPBA, FPSA
Exhibiting an exceptional drive to practice and propagate the art and science of Peripheral nerve blocks (PNB) in the country, Lia was inspired by the art and science of peripheral nerve blockade at her Yale University New Haven Hospital’s One Day Surgery Unit rotation in 1996-1997 under Dr Roberta L. Hines, Dr Sorin J. Brull and Paul G. Barash. Inspired by the use of the Peripheral Nerve Stimulator upon returning to the Philippines, she ventured doing PNBs based initially on external landmarks and fascial clicks. Then with a Peripheral Nerve Stimulator, which turned out a good success rate, though not perfect. Eventually, she learned the art of using the ultrasound for nerve blocks under the tutelage of Dr. Paul Jesus Montemayor, one of the Philippine pioneers of Clinician POCUS (Point of Care Ultrasound).
Mae Anne Tabberrah, MD, DPBA, FPSA
Mae Anne Tabberrah, MD is a graduate of the University of Santo Tomas Faculty of Medicine in surgery, where she obtained her medical degree. Dr. Tabberrah further developed her interest in peripheral nerve blocks during a short preceptorship at The Christ Hospital, Cincinnati Ohio, USA. This paved the way for her to seek a further training program for ultrasound guided peripheral nerve blocks. This landed her a position as Honorary Clinical Associate at Queen Mary and Duchess of Kent Hospitals under the Hong Kong University. During her stay there, Dr. Tabberrah focused on ultrasound guided peripheral nerve blocks, anesthesia for adult and pediatric orthopedic surgery. As part of her continuous medical education she has travelled and met with other physicians abroad to further pursue and improve her skills and proficiency in this field which is her passion.