Manila Central University takes pride in its long and rich history of academic excellence through the legacy of its founders, Filemon Tanchoco and Purificacion Gallego. Both education pioneers that gave flesh to a vision through hard work, professionalism and camaraderie. Believing that values-based education offered salvation from poverty, co-founder Filemon Dionisio Tanchoco dedicated his life to making that vision a reality for many young Filipinos and for the nation he loves.
More than a century later, the fruits of the university’s solid foundation has nurtured thousands of minds and produced notable alumni who have been acknowledged on an international level. One pride of the university is Dr. Johnah C. Galicia DMD, MS, PhD, recipient of a $17,467 grant for his proposal entitled “Genome-wide gene expression profile of inflamed dental pulp in humans: implications in clinical diagnosis and symptoms of pulpitis.”
This has led to a published study on SARS-CoV2 and the dental pulp it alongside an additional past educator fellow and RSAC member, Dr. Asma Khan. This may very well be the first study exploring Covid-19 and the dental pulp.
A more recent accomplishment of Dr. Galicia is his contribution to the study, The influence of cbct-derived 3d-printed models on endodontic Microsurgical Treatment Planning And Confidence Of The Operator, with Shreyas Oza, Gordon Lai, Ove A. Peters, Bekir Karabucak, Raymond Scott. The study reached the conclusion that the availability of 3D printed models did not alter the participants’ surgical approach but it significantly improved their confidence for endodontic microsurgery.
Dr. Galicia previously served as the Director of the Graduate Program in Endodontology at the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in California, USA and at the Eastman Dental Institute of the University College of London in the United Kingdom. He was also elected as a New Practitioner Trustee on the American Association of Endodontist (AAE) Foundation’s Board of Trustees from 2020 to 2022 . This love for education also extends back home in the Philippines, where he is now a Professor 2 and an Associate Dean of MCU’s College of Dentistry. Aside from teaching and mentoring residents, Dr. Galicia also serves on multiple AAE and American Dental Association (ADA) committees.
Building the foundation at MCU
MCU has been educating young and passionate minds for almost 118 years and is the first school run by Filipinos to offer Pharmacy. Other than its allied health programs, MCU has expanded its scope to Business Administration and Information Technology, teaming up with professionals and experts to provide relevant, quality education and experience for students that’s essential to an industry’s standard. MCU also offers Pre-school, Primary, and Secondary Education ( PAASCU Accreditation Level II).
Dr. Galicia earned his D.M.D. from the MCU in 1996. After passing the dental licensure examination in Manila, Dr. Galicia practiced general dentistry and earned a diploma in clinical dentistry from the University of Rennes in France in 2000, followed by a Ph.D. in Oral Biology from Niigata University in Japan in 2006. During this time, Galicia served as a faculty member at MCU.
“MCU provided me with a good and supportive environment and with opportunities to prosper as a student and as a new faculty member back then. With MCU as my roots, I was able to be mentored well during my Dentistry student days. When I became a junior faculty right after I passed the Dental Licensure Exams, I was supported by MCU to study abroad in France and then in Japan.
Then President Lualhati T. Gonzalez, Dean Elisa G. Puzon and my co-faculty members showed me how kindness and support to young educators could really make a difference in someone’s future. It still makes me tear up when I think about how grateful I am to the people who made an indelible mark in my life,” shares Dr. Galicia.
After more than a century of educating young minds, MCU has no plans of slowing down. In fact, it’s all geared up for the future. In addition to exciting modern upgrades in its system and tools, the university is having an overall renovation in partnership with Palafox for its aesthetic render. Apart from this, In line with better student experience, MCU has adapted multiple learning modalities to ensure better learning experiences, learning continuity, and to promote mastery learning.
The school continues to apply and elevate its educational standards from their different courses to produce globally equipped students.
“You do not need to pay enormous amounts of money or to be the number one student in the country to succeed in life. I realize now that I am back at MCU that this was the dream of our Founder, Filemon D. Tanchoco,” imparts Dr. Galicia.
