The Program Head of the Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy of Holy Child Central Colleges, Inc. (HCCCI) earned the Best Oral Presentation Award at the Bandung Annual International Conference on Medical and Health Sciences (BICMHS) 2025, held in Bandung, Indonesia, through an online oral research presentation on October 11, 2025. 

This international engagement is one of the many endeavors under HCCCI’s internationalization flagship program, ORBIT (Opportunities for Reskilling, Bridging, Internationalization, and Training), which provides avenues for global exposure, research collaboration, and cross-cultural learning.The event served as a global platform uniting experts, researchers, and academic scholars to present studies focused on medicine, public health, and community well-being.

The Bandung Annual International Conference on Medical and Health Sciences stands as an annual convergence of scholars and professionals dedicated to improving health systems worldwide. Guided by the theme “Clinical and Community Health,” the conference underscores the importance of research-based practices, global cooperation, and sustainable health solutions that address the needs of communities across nations. It highlights research that drives innovation, informs policy, and enhances public health outcomes.

Representing Holy Child Central Colleges, Inc. in this prestigious international forum was Kimberly Jean B. Surmion, RPh, MSPH, Program Head of the BS Pharmacy program. Her participation brought great honor to the institution as she showcased her expertise and research on hypertension management—contributing to the advancement of public health knowledge and professional practice—where she was recognized as one of the Best Oral Presenters.

Her study, titled “Knowledge, Skills, and Practices of Community Pharmacists on Hypertension Management in Koronadal City,” explored the role of community pharmacists in addressing one of the world’s most prevalent health concerns—hypertension. The research assessed their knowledge of clinical guidelines, as well as their skills in medication management, disease education, and patient counseling. It also evaluated their practices in promoting medication adherence and non-pharmacologic interventions. The findings revealed that while pharmacists possess commendable knowledge and skills, there remains a need to enhance disease state management and patient counseling to optimize hypertension care.

This research strongly aligns with several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)—particularly SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being, which advocates ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages. It also supports SDG 4: Quality Education, through continuous professional development of healthcare practitioners, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals, by fostering global collaboration in healthcare research.

The outcomes of the study serve as a foundation for improving pharmacy practice and patient care within Koronadal City while also offering insights valuable to the international medical and pharmaceutical community. It demonstrates how knowledge shared across borders can inspire advancements in public health and strengthen collaborative efforts in disease prevention and management.

According to Surmion, the opportunity to present her study before international health experts was both humbling and inspiring. She expressed pride in carrying the name of Holy Child Central Colleges, Inc., noting that the experience strengthened her commitment to improving public health systems and highlighting the critical role of pharmacists in the community.

Moving forward, HCCCI remains steadfast in providing opportunities for research, innovation, and global engagement, anchored in its core values of excellence, service, and integrity.

By nurturing researchers like Surmion, the institution continues to empower its students and alumni to become catalysts for change in their fields—both locally and internationally.

This accomplishment once again underscores HCCCI’s unwavering commitment to innovation, integrity, and service, as it continues to produce globally competent professionals dedicated to advancing science and uplifting communities—living proof of HCCCI’s spirit as Champions of Health and Humanity.