Professor Valentin C. Dones III, PhD, Director of the Center for Health Research and Movement Science and academic researcher of the Department of Physical Therapy, was named the Outstanding Professional of the Year 2024 in the field of Physical Therapy by the Professional Regulation Commission, which conferred the awards on August 2, 2024 (Friday).
In a message to the Thomasian community, Dones called on Thomasians to 鈥渂e driven by a passion to serve others as a gift from God,鈥� to whom he dedicates the victory, along with his family. As a lifelong member of a Dominican academic community, Dones shares the importance of prayer and 鈥渙ffering every action as a form of worship.鈥� Dones said: 鈥淲e are called to perform our duties with love, thank those who support us, forgive those who have wronged us, and see every task as an opportunity to thank and praise God.鈥�
Dones was nominated by the accredited professional organization, the Philippine Physical Therapy Association (PPTA), which vetted nominees based on qualifications, professional activities, character, and most importantly, contributions to the profession. Dones鈥檚 nomination by PPTA emanated from the nominations of CHRMS academic researchers Asst. Prof. Lyle Patrick D. Tangcuangco and Inst. Mark Angel B. Serra.
Dones is a research fellow at St. Luke鈥檚 Medical Center and is involved in two projects funded by the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (PCHRD) of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). His various research projects address issues such as hospitalized COVID-19 patient outcomes, hepatocellular carcinoma risks, hypertensive urgency and emergency, and the delivery of blended teaching in health science programs.
Also an innovator, he is the Chief Executive Officer of PainFree Management and Consulting, Inc., which is a grant awardee of the DOST-PCHRD and an incubatee of UST鈥檚 own TOMASInno Center, the in-house technology business incubator.
