FORMER Senator and Philippine Red Cross chairman Richard Gordon is urging the scholars at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine to strive to be extraordinary citizens by becoming the nation’s best doctors.

The former lawmaker made the statement during the Memorandum of Agreement signing between the PRC and the University of the Philippines-College of Medicine or UPCM for the second batch of scholars under PRC’s Medical Scholarship Program.

“UP must always show the way and lead, step up the plate… put your mind where your mouth is,” Gordon said.

He stressed that UP and PRC share the same goal to provide service to as many Filipinos as possible.

“Sa dami ng problemang kinakaharap ng bayan, kailangan nating pag-igihin ang ating pagmamahal sa kapwa —that’s the commonality of UP and PRC, we share the same goal,” Gordon added.

The PRC said eight medical students of UPCM have availed themselves of the program, which is the university’s biggest full scholarship grant.

PRC is currently supporting 16 scholars of UPCM.

Some of the new scholars are enrolled in the Doctor of Medicine-Master of Public Health double degree program.

The new program aims to equip the emerging generation of physicians with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to manage many concerns in the setting of the Universal Health Care Law.

These concerns include prevalent health issues in the Philippines, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory and kidney diseases, cancers, and mental health disorders; emerging and reemerging infectious diseases, outbreaks, and pandemics; disasters; regional health security; aging; and climate change.