I am Angelica Faith B. Idanan, a Registered Medical Technologist and a first-year medical student.
I earned my Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science from Our Lady of Fatima University in Valenzuela and successfully passed the Medical Technologist Licensure Examination. Working for a year as a Chief Medical Technologist gave me valuable experience in laboratory medicine, patient care, and collaboration within a healthcare setting.
That experience strengthened my appreciation for accurate diagnosis and compassionate care. I chose to pursue Doctor of Medicine to connect my foundation in laboratory science with my goal of serving patients more fully as a physician.
REGISTEREDRMTMEDICAL TECHNOLOGIST
02EDUCATION
Foundations
Two disciplines. One direction.
FOUNDATION
Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Science
Our Lady of Fatima University, Valenzuela
A scientific foundation built on accuracy, analysis, and responsibility.
PRESENT
Doctor of Medicine · Year 1, MD 1-1
Manila Central University College of Medicine
Expanding laboratory knowledge into clinical understanding and compassionate care.
LABORATORY SCIENCE+CLINICAL MEDICINE=PATIENT CARE
03EXPERIENCES
Field notes
Where earlier experience meets new understanding.
Each experience represents another layer of my formation, connecting professional responsibility, scientific understanding, and compassionate patient care.
ENTRY01
Professional practice
Chief Medical Technologist
My year in laboratory practice taught me that every result carries responsibility. Accuracy, patient safety, and teamwork are not merely abstract standards. They directly shape the quality of care each patient receives.
Working closely with patients and healthcare professionals also strengthened my desire to understand the clinical story behind every laboratory value.
ENTRY02
Collaborative learning
Growing Together Through the Grind
Long hours of reviewing, sharing notes, explaining difficult concepts, and encouraging one another made the demands of medicine feel lighter.
Between coffee, stressful nights, laughter, and small victories, I learned that teamwork and perseverance are also part of becoming a physician.
PHOTO NOTESMoments behind the learning
Growing together through the grindA thoughtful post-exam treatLaboratory roots
04LEARNING LOG
Prelim chapters
Lessons recorded as they changed me.
Select an entry to open the full reflection.
JULY23
Biochemistry and Medicine · Water and pH
Building the Foundation
Our introduction to Biochemistry helped me realize that the subject is more than memorizing chemical reactions and pathways. It explains the processes that allow the body to function and helps connect scientific concepts with patient care.
Classroom momentKahoot made the lesson more engaging while showing me which ideas I still needed to review.
I initially struggled with Water and pH because of the different concepts and equations. Eventually, I understood how water, buffers, and pH are essential in maintaining the body’s homeostasis. Changes in pH and fluid balance can occur in dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, and acid-base disorders, making these concepts important in understanding and managing patients.
As a former medical technologist, I appreciate how Biochemistry helps me connect laboratory results with what is happening inside the patient’s body. This topic reminded me that a strong foundation in Biochemistry will help me understand diseases and make better clinical decisions in the future.
I also enjoyed our Kahoot activity. It made the discussion more engaging, tested what I had learned, and showed me which concepts I still needed to review. It reminded me that studying can be both challenging and enjoyable.
QUIZ01 & 02
Adjustment and progress
Learning Through the First Challenge
Taking Quiz 1 and Quiz 2 was challenging but meaningful. I struggled with Quiz 1 because I was still adjusting to Biochemistry and learning how to approach the questions, but passing Quiz 2 showed me that my efforts were beginning to pay off.
This experience reminded me that struggling with a topic does not mean I cannot understand it. It encouraged me to study more consistently, focus on understanding rather than memorizing, and learn from my mistakes. Passing Quiz 2 gave me the confidence and motivation to keep improving as I continue my journey in medicine.
SGD01
Fluid balance and clinical reasoning
The Mystery Behind Waters
This SGD taught me to look at how a patient’s symptoms and body processes are connected. Vomiting and diarrhea may appear simple, but when they continue, they can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and disturbances in acid-base balance.
I also learned how metabolic changes can affect the respiratory system as the body tries to compensate and maintain a normal pH.
What I appreciated most was applying our classroom concepts to an actual patient case. It helped me understand that the signs and symptoms we observe are often connected to underlying physiological changes. The activity taught me to view the body as a whole and recognize how different systems work together to maintain balance.
JULY31
Communication skills
The Art of Asking
Our group activity placed us in a doctor-patient scenario and allowed us to practice communication in an interactive, realistic way.
I learned the importance of open-ended questions because they encourage patients to share more about their symptoms, concerns, and experiences. This gives doctors a clearer understanding of the patient’s condition while building communication and trust. The activity helped me appreciate how effective communication contributes to better assessment and care.
SGD02
Anemia and clinical interpretation
When Iron Is Not Enough
This SGD became a self-directed learning activity because of the class suspension. As a former medical technologist, I was happy to connect my laboratory experience with what we were learning in Biochemistry.
The discussion on anemia and iron reminded me of working with CBC results and interpreting hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell indices. What made the activity more meaningful was learning the biochemistry behind these values. Hemoglobin and myoglobin helped me understand oxygen transport and the role of iron in protein structure and function.
Before, I often thought that low hemoglobin mainly suggested iron deficiency. Now, I understand that anemia is more complex and that iron is only one part of the picture. Parameters such as hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCV, and MCH can provide clues about the underlying cause. A CBC is not simply a set of numbers. It offers important evidence about what may be happening inside the body.
VIDEO01
Summative communication activity
Words That Heal: The Power of Communication in Medicine
Filming our communication skills video showed me how powerful open-ended questions can be during patient evaluation.
Instead of limiting patients to simple yes or no answers, open-ended questions encourage them to freely share their symptoms, concerns, and experiences. This helps doctors gather more complete and accurate information while making patients feel heard and understood.
AUG06
Introduction to Labster
Learning Through Simulation
Labster was not completely new to me because I had encountered similar virtual laboratory activities during my undergraduate studies. Experiencing it again as a medical technologist gave me a new perspective.
Working in an actual laboratory taught me the importance of proper procedures, accuracy, and understanding the principles behind every test.
Although we only had an orientation and had not yet used Labster for our Biochemistry lessons, I became curious about how it could complement my laboratory background. Virtual simulations can help us visualize biochemical processes that cannot be directly observed during routine testing, bridging the concepts discussed in lectures with their practical applications.
LESSON01
Amino acids, peptides, and primary structure
The Building Blocks of Life
This lesson helped me understand how amino acids, peptides, and proteins perform essential functions in the body and in medicine.
I found it overwhelming to memorize the different amino acids, particularly their structures and properties. I also struggled with determining protein primary structures because the process required careful understanding and analysis. Despite these challenges, I learned that amino acids are the building blocks of proteins and that their sequence affects protein structure and function. As a future physician, I know this knowledge matters because abnormalities in proteins can contribute to disease. The experience reminded me that struggle is part of learning, and consistent practice will help me improve.
AUG14
Quiz 3 and Quiz 4
Progress Through Persistence
I struggled with several concepts, especially the determination of protein primary structure, but I worked through the difficulty and passed Quiz 4.
This experience reminded me that proteins are essential in medicine because they function as enzymes, hormones, antibodies, and many other vital molecules. Passing the quiz strengthened my confidence and showed me that even when a topic is challenging, consistent effort and genuine understanding can help me improve.
AUG23
Review class
Until the Last Lesson
Doc Alvin generously dedicated his time to reviewing us and finishing our lessons so we could prepare for our examinations.
2:19 AMStill learning, still listening, and staying until the end of Doc Alvin’s review.
It was my first time attending a class until almost 2:30 AM, and I was one of the students who stayed until the end. I felt proud that I remained despite being tired, and I deeply appreciated Doc Alvin’s commitment to ensuring that we understood the lessons. The experience reminded me that a teacher who genuinely cares can make a meaningful difference in the journey of future doctors.
AUG27
Hemoglobin and myoglobin
Beyond the Laboratory Value
This discussion helped me understand the roles of hemoglobin and myoglobin beyond the numbers I usually encountered in laboratory results.
As a former medical technologist, I was already familiar with hemoglobin through CBCs and its importance in assessing a patient’s condition. Learning its biochemical structure, oxygen-binding properties, and relationship with myoglobin gave me a deeper appreciation of how these proteins function.
Hemoglobin is not simply a reported value. It is a complex protein that transports oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and helps carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs. Understanding how pH and oxygen affinity affect hemoglobin helped me connect biochemical properties with physiological function. Learning about myoglobin also showed me how oxygen is stored and made available in muscle tissue during increased demand.
What I appreciated most was connecting the laboratory knowledge I already had with the biochemical and physiological processes beneath it. Behind every laboratory result is a process happening within the body, and these processes are essential in maintaining oxygen supply and supporting normal cellular activity.
SEP03
Prelim examination review
Pressure, Support, and Perseverance
As the preliminary examination approached, I could feel the pressure and anxiety building. After our Histology prelims, we attended an online review from around 5:00 PM until 11:00 PM.
Although I was exhausted and stressed, I was grateful to Doc A for continuing to guide us through the important lessons. I knew that every effort mattered.
The night became more memorable because my friends stayed up and studied with me until the exam. It was tiring, but knowing I was not alone gave me the motivation to continue. Medicine can be difficult, but people who support and encourage us make the hardest moments lighter. I felt proud of myself for pushing through despite the exhaustion.
MORE01
Learning to Fight
My Journey Through Biochemistry
One of the greatest lessons Biochemistry has taught me is that I cannot always control how difficult something will be, but I can control how I respond to it.
I may not understand a topic on the first try. I may answer questions incorrectly or have days when I feel tired and discouraged. But I am learning to stand up again, review what I missed, ask questions, and try once more. Every mistake has become an opportunity to identify what I still need to improve.
Most importantly, Biochemistry is teaching me how to fight. Not against the subject, but against the part of myself that tells me to give up whenever things become difficult. I am learning to be patient with myself and understand that progress does not always mean earning the highest score.
Sometimes progress is opening my notes again after a disappointing exam. Sometimes it is choosing to study even when I am exhausted. Sometimes it is simply telling myself, “I will try again tomorrow.”
05REFLECTION
“
Struggling does not mean I am incapable. It means I am still learning and growing.
My long examination and preliminary examination experiences challenged my confidence, but they also taught me to keep improving, learn from my mistakes, and understand each lesson more deeply. Every setback can become an opportunity to return stronger.
A memorable part of our examinations was receiving pencils and Oreos from the Biochemistry Department. It was a simple but thoughtful reminder that our professors understood the pressure and were supporting us through it.
I may be struggling now, but I will keep moving toward the physician I hope to become.
Angelica Faith B. Idanan, RMT
Year 1 · MD 1-1 · Biochemistry E-Portfolio
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