Introduction

Have you ever wondered how our dreams of fixing the healthcare system evolve once we’re actually in it?

When I was a medical student, I had a fire in my chest—a vision of how we could truly serve patients better. Medical school and clinical training in the Philippines sharpen more than just your clinical skills; they wake you up to the structural challenges in our system.

Now, as a countryside orthopedic specialist, I find that our oath to heal often stretches beyond the hospital ward. In the provinces, that oath demands creativity, courage, and commitment to reforms that we once only spoke about in training.

But how far have I come since those days of dreaming?