Home | Historical Background
In 1990, Fr. William H. Kreutz, SJ, president of the Ateneo de Zamboanga, called together members of the medical profession and civic-minded community leaders for a series of consultations to determine if there was a need to establish a medical school for the region. In these consultations health data of the region were looked at, leading to the following conclusions:
- Western Mindanao has the highest infant mortality rate in the Philippines.
- Of the nearly 100 municipalities and 3,000 barangays in the region, more than 80% lack medical attention.
- Zamboanga City has enough doctors with training in specialty areas who can be tapped to teach in the medical school.
These series of consultations led to the consensus that there was indeed a need to establish amedical school for the region and that this school should be in Zamboanga City. Subsequent to this, a corporate body was established to affiliate with the Ateneo de Zamboanga. Thus, the Zamboanga Medical School Foundation, Inc. (ZMSF) was finally incorporated as a non-stock, non profit corporation. It’s 15-man Board of Trustees is composed of seven doctors, five civic leaders, and three educators. During the first few years of its operations, the ZMF will be using the facilities of the Ateneo while a building for the medical school is planned once a sufficient financial base is established.
The Ateneo de Zamboanga University throughout these years has a formation team which is handled by the Assistant to the President for Formation. The Director of the team reports directly to the President.
The team is composed of Heads/ Directors of all the units (Grade School, High School and Colleges) and Offices that handles the formation of the students and faculty and staff.
Over the centuries, the Ignatian Spirituality has given us a particular structure, being and action to the Good News. Such particular charism or gift the first Jesuits received is also given to us to continue the mission. Our aim in the formation is to allow our faculty, staff and students discover their own talents and giftedness: people are gifted to renew, re-interpret and re-vitalize our charism and mission. In our community, we are gifted with the following:
1) Common story to enter – Life of St. Ignatius/ADZU History
2) Language to speak – Ignatian Core Values
3) Group to where we belong – ADZU community
4) Way how to pray – Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius
5) Way of proceeding – Examen (Discernment)
6) Mission to undertake – Frontier: Intellectual Apostolate/Peace and Development
7) Face of God to see. – Preferential Option for the Poor/Inter-Religious Dialogue
In 1990, Fr. William H. Kreutz, SJ, president of the Ateneo de Zamboanga, called together members of the medical profession and civic-minded community leaders for a series of consultations to determine if there was a need to establish a medical school for the region. In these consultations health data of the region were looked at, leading to the following conclusions:
- Western Mindanao has the highest infant mortality rate in the Philippines.
- Of the nearly 100 municipalities and 3,000 barangays in the region, more than 80% lack medical attention.
- Zamboanga City has enough doctors with training in specialty areas who can be tapped to teach in the medical school.
These series of consultations led to the consensus that there was indeed a need to establish amedical school for the region and that this school should be in Zamboanga City. Subsequent to this, a corporate body was established to affiliate with the Ateneo de Zamboanga. Thus, the Zamboanga Medical School Foundation, Inc. (ZMSF) was finally incorporated as a non-stock, non profit corporation. It’s 15-man Board of Trustees is composed of seven doctors, five civic leaders, and three educators. During the first few years of its operations, the ZMF will be using the facilities of the Ateneo while a building for the medical school is planned once a sufficient financial base is established.
The Ateneo de Zamboanga University throughout these years has a formation team which is handled by the Assistant to the President for Formation. The Director of the team reports directly to the President.
The team is composed of Heads/ Directors of all the units (Grade School, High School and Colleges) and Offices that handles the formation of the students and faculty and staff.
Over the centuries, the Ignatian Spirituality has given us a particular structure, being and action to the Good News. Such particular charism or gift the first Jesuits received is also given to us to continue the mission. Our aim in the formation is to allow our faculty, staff and students discover their own talents and giftedness: people are gifted to renew, re-interpret and re-vitalize our charism and mission. In our community, we are gifted with the following:
1) Common story to enter – Life of St. Ignatius/ADZU History
2) Language to speak – Ignatian Core Values
3) Group to where we belong – ADZU community
4) Way how to pray – Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius
5) Way of proceeding – Examen (Discernment)
6) Mission to undertake – Frontier: Intellectual Apostolate/Peace and Development
7) Face of God to see. – Preferential Option for the Poor/Inter-Religious Dialogue
