Some years ago while I was then Chief Resident of the PGH Department of Medicine, a senior gastroenterology consultant asked me what fellowship program I was planning to get into. “Endocrinology,” I replied. And he said, “Tsk, tsk, you’ll turn sour there!” During the fellowship qualifying interview, they asked me if I had brought my broom. I don’t get around on a broom, and I certainly haven’t turned sour, but the transformation is now complete – I’ve become an endocrine witch.
Faculty of the PGH Section of Endocrinology have long been called witches. Don’t ask why, unless you’d like to be turned into a frog! I’m the first one though to declare myself an endocrine witch on the Web. One of my mentors even quipped, “At proud ka pa!” I guess after Harry Potter, witches no longer keep to the shadows. I don’t know who John Majdoch is, but he’s been quoted –
“These days, the witches are hardly old crones with twisted noses. They’ve got fishnets and you’d just want to jump in their cauldrons.”
I always have something brewing. I just finished an MS in Health Informatics and I am keeping active in Philippine endocrinology. This website gives you a glimpse of the spells I’m weaving in endocrinology and informatics – an attempt to immortalize the ephemeral bubbles from my cauldron!
The Endocrine Witch aka Iris Thiele Isip Tan MD, MSc, FPCP, FPSEM. If you’d like the cut-and-dried version, here’s my LinkedIn profile.
Graduated BS Biology (magna cum laude) at UP Diliman. Graduated from the UP College of Medicine (ranked 7th in class). Passed (but did not top 🙂 ) the Physician Licensure Exam. Had Internal Medicine residency at the Department of Medicine, Philippine General Hospital where I also served as Chief Resident. Finished Fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism in the same hospital, also as Chief Fellow. Valedictorian of the Radioisotopes Techniques Training Course (not that it counts 🙂 ). Awarded the Ramon Abarquez Most Outstanding Fellow. Various research awards for work in diabetic foot infections and gestational diabetes.
Certified Diplomate and Fellow of the Philippine College of Physicians. Certified Diplomate and Fellow of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology & Metabolism. Certified Clinical Densitometrist. Completed Masters of Science in Health Informatics (Medical Informatics track) where I was the first graduate of the track (Don’t ask how long it took me 🙂 ). My thesis was on eLearning in medical education.
Clinical Associate Professor at the UP College of Medicine (serving without compensation, aka WOC). Consultant Coordinator of the Straight Internship in Medicine program (Learning Unit 7, Track C). Guest lecturer at the Ateneo School of Medicine & Public Health (where I get a little compensation 🙂 ). Third year residency Coordinator, Internal Medicine residency in PGH.
Consultant at the PGH Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism. Visiting consultant, Manila Doctors Hospital.
Former Board member of the Philippine Lipid & Atherosclerosis Society (PLAS). Former Board secretary of the Philippine Society for the Study of the Aging Male, Inc. (PhiSSAM). Former Board member of the Philippine Society of Endocrinology & Metabolism. Member, Diabetes Philippines. Former informatics editor, Diabetes Watch. Informatics columnist (The Wifi Witch), PSEM Updates.
Recently appointed I’ve been Chief of the UP College of Medicine Medical Informatics Unit since 2012. Ran out of excuses for the Dean after I completed my MS in Health Informatics. 🙂 As Chief, they promoted me to Associate Professor. I now have a part-time salary to do full-time work. 🙂 Especially since now I am also Director of the UP Manila Interactive Learning Center. I got tenure!!
I co-founded #HealthXPH and have successfully helmed three #HealthXPH Social Media and Healthcare summits (#hcsmPH) as scientific chair.
Married to a nephrologist. Two sons (so all I need to do is plant a tree and write a book, I guess).
