Dr. Sylvia S. Jacinto, MD, FPDS is the Chairman Emeritus, one of the founders of the Skin and Cancer Foundation, Inc. and fondly known by the SCFI graduates as ‘Nanay.’ This year of 2019 has proven a significant year for SCFI and Nanay as it was Nanay’s 80th birthday and the year of her retirement from clinical practice. She has, time and time again, proven herself a great doctor, teacher, mentor, friend, nanay and person to her patients, students, residents, children and everyone around her.
She has been a consistently outstanding student, daughter and physician. She started her medical career as a scholar at the University of the Philippines (U.P.) specializing in pre-medicine, where she continued her post-graduate studies in Medicine, graduated and received the Enrile Award of Distinction by placing third in the Philippine Board of Medical Examination. She then completed 2 years Internal Medicine residency at U.P.-Philippine General Hospital (PGH) then went on to train with American dermatology legends like Rudolph Baer, Bernie Ackerman, Al Kopf, Alexander Fischer, Norman Orentreich, and Perry Robbins at New York University-Bellevue Medical Center where she ended up as Chief resident.
She has the pioneering spirit as an educator in dermatology. She came home from New York University to Manila and served as an instructor for 5 years at the UP-PGH Section of Dermatology, and then started teaching as a preceptor for the Philippine Dermatological Society from 1974-84, which led to the increase in practicing dermatologists at that time. With Dr. Vermen Verallo-Rowell, Dr. Judy Cuaso and Dr. Manuel Fernandez, Jr., she founded the Skin and Cancer Foundation Inc (SCFI) in 1984. SCFI was the second PDS approved residency program, and she was the chair, executive director and president from 1984-2006, and is the Chairman Emeritus, teaching and instructing our residents to become ethical well-rounded compassionate dermatologists. Currently, SCF has graduated more than 200 amazing dermatologists in the past 35 years, serving all regions of the Philippines from Tuguegarao in the north, to Pagadian and Zamboanga in the south and other Southeast Asian countries.
As a dermatologist, Nanay is one of the best clinical dermatologist we know and a matchless physician. She was nominated most outstanding physician by the UPMAS, and was conferred Most Outstanding Physician by the Philippine Medical Association.
Dr. Jacinto is a part of PDS history. She was founding director and incorporator in 1974, was a board director for at least 5 terms, and was PDS president for 2 terms, from 1975 to 1978. During her term, the PDS committee on accreditation was formed to raise the quality of dermatology residency training programs. The PDS hosted the Philippine Congress of Dermatology where Southeast Asian delegates came to the Philippines for the first time to attend a dermatology conference. She chaired the committee on constitution, board of accreditation, ethics committee, COMELEC, PDS advisory council, the Task Force on the safe and competent practice of dermatology, and was a member for many years before chairing the Philippine Board of Dermatology. She has been a member of the board of accreditation and the JPDS editorial board. More importantly she chaired the Task Force Merger in 2002-2004 which successfully merged the Philippine Society of Cutaneous Medicine with the PDS and has led to our current strong dominant specialty society.
She is an avid author and researcher and was the Founding Editor of The Philippine Journal of Dermatology and Dermatological surgery. She has published journal articles in the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology, Cutis, International Journal of Dermatology, Journal of Investigative Dermatology, Dermatologic Surgery Journal and the Journal of Cosmetic Science. Her seminal article on Pityrosporum folliculitis has been cited in the textbooks of Habif and Andrews. She wrote the chapter on Diseases of the Skin, in Fe Del Mundo’s Textbook of Pediatrics and Child Health.
She is most proud to be featured among many famous global dermatologists, in a textbook called Dermographies, Autobiographies in Dermatology by Dr. Benjamin Barankin. She published the first dermatology atlas in brown skin called “A Clinical Atlas of Dermatology in Brown skin” in 2007. She also authored a spiritual book called “Why Good Things Happen to Bad People and Vice Versa” in 2011. She is a much sought after speaker and has given dozens of lectures both locally and internationally.
She is a member of many societies including AAD, ISD, ACDS, WDS, ACCS, ASDS, and was on the advisory board of the ISDS and the Skin Cancer Foundation New York.
Dr. Sylvia is a renaissance woman and a master of many talents and skills. Apart from her brilliant medical mind, she is also multi-talented. She loves to paint and dance flamenco. She grew orchids and she studied clothes pattern making at Parsons New York, and is a graduate of the Sheffield school of interior design. She was active as president of the White Plains Homeowners association for 2 terms, president for 2 terms of the White Plains Ladies association and Zonta international.
Most of all, She taught us many valuable life lessons. Precious treasures like “all is God, God is all”, and “everything we do should be offered to God”. She taught us to love our country and countrymen. She taught us integrity, and that we should always keep our word, and mean what we say. She taught us compassion, like never charging professional fees to religious workers and missionaries from any church or religious background. She taught us that there are only 2 types of people in the world: Those who serve themselves, and those who serve others. She is definitely one of those who serve others—she has dedicated her life to make the Philippines a better place by helping to establish the PDS and make it a force to reckon with. This is the beloved PDS as it stands today and that we enjoy and benefit from—a strong PDS built on a foundation of excellence and integrity, and a resolve for unity, progress and the betterment of Philippine Dermatology.
It will forever be an honor to have been taught by one of the greatest and as her students and SCFI ‘anak’ we hope tocontinue your legacy to teach and be a pioneer, uphold your teachings and values and make you proud.
Happy Retirement, our dearest nanay!
Love, your SCFI family
Monday, July 20, 2020 at 03:32AM 
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