Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla is an Emeritus Professor, College of Medicine, University of the Philippines (UP) Manila. She is an international consultant on rare diseases and newborn screening. She received her MD from UP College of Medicine. After her residency training in pediatrics at the Philippine General Hospital, she completed a fellowship in clinical genetics at the Royal Alexandria Hospital for Children in Sydney, Australia. She also pursued a Master of Arts in Health Policy Studies from the College of Public Health, UP Manila. She is a pioneer in genetics in the Philippines and the Asia Pacific Region having established genetic services at the Philippine General Hospital and help found the Asia Pacific Society of Human Genetics. She initiated NBS for the country and has developed a sustainable NBS system that serves as a model for developing programs. She currently assists in developing NBS programs in the Asia Pacific Region.
Her service to the country has included holding many key positions including Chancellor, University of the Philippines Manila (2014-2023); Founding Director, Institute of Human Genetics (2000-2010) and Newborn Screening Reference Center of the National Institutes of Health (2006-2014), UP Manila; Executive Director, Philippine Genome Center (2011-2016); President of the Asia Pacific Society for Human Genetics (2008-2010); and Vice President/Treasurer of International Society of Neonatal Screening (2013-2016).
Dr. Padilla has received numerous awards, including being chosen as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipina Women in the World by the US-based Women’s Network. The President of the Philippines recently honored her with the title of National Scientist, National Academy of Science and Technology.
She is responsible for lobbying efforts for the passage of the Newborn Screening Act of 2004 (Republic Act No 9288) and the Rare Diseases Act of 2016 (Republic Act No 10747).
