CDU celebrates 50th anniversary this year, eyes expansion for global recognition

CEBU CITY – Cebu Doctors’ University (CDU) celebrates its 50^th founding anniversary this year with year long activities kicking off on January 31 until November 2023 in time for the birthday of it founder, Dr. Potenciano Larrazabal and eyeing expansion for global recognition as a health-and-service-oriented educational institution from Cebu with the highest standards of transformative practice.

“I want the University to become global even as we have plans to offer new courses applying the proven CDU formula. We can make a difference not only in health-related courses but in other courses, so we can make a greater difference,” CDU president and chairman of the board, Dr. Philip Anthony S.D. Larrazabal said during the press conference and kickoff event at the CDU boardroom on January 31.

Larrazabal added that the University has gone a long way since Dr. Potenciano Veloso Larrazabal Jr. opened the College of Nursing, then School of Nursing in October 1973 to serve the need of the Cebu Doctors Hospital for nurses.

CDU’s oldest employee who worked at the registrar’s office, Bayani Patiluna, saw how the university grew.  He recalled that the School of Nursing had between 200 and 300 students. He had initiated the creation of a university basketball team called CDU White Stallions that had become champion three times. He also taught computer classes as a part-time instructor. He recalled that the university started accepting foreign students in 1980.

Patiluna added that the University first held classes at the current building at Mandaue Reclamation in May 2007.  Patiluna has retired from regular employment with the University but is retained as consultant assigned to the Registrar’s Office for the College of Medicine.  He also continues to teach computer and informatics at the CDU Graduate School.

To address the shortage of doctors, Dr. Potencian Larrazabal Jr. then established the College of Arts and Sciences in 1975, offering the BS Biology program, as a preparatory course for medicine and subsequently established the College of Medicine on April 21, 1977.

Other courses followed such as the Graduate School, College of Dentistry and College of Optometry in 1980; College of Allied Medical Services in 1982; College of Rehabilitative Sciences in 1992; College of Pharmacy in 2004 and Senior High School in 2016.

With its expansion plans, Larrazabal bared that CDU continues to pursue its mission of upholding the highest standards of education that is rooted in the University's shared values of wellness, integrity, service, and excellence in the attainment of the individual's full potential through the embodiment of a ‘transformative culture.’

The University, however, is still doing research on what other courses it will offer but the goal is to bring the quality education it is known for to the new courses.  To achieve this goal, CDU will continue to upgrade its facilities and get certifications not only from local but international certifying bodies for all its courses, Larrazabal added.

Cebu Doctors’ University plans to get higher levels of accreditation from the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) and the Philippine Association of Colleges and Universities Commission on Accreditation (PACUCOA).

“My goal is to have all courses accredited,” he said.  Aside from getting local accreditation, the University is also seeking ISO accreditation.

CDU’s College of Nursing was granted Level III status by the Philippine Accrediting Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities (PAASCU) last year. It is the first College of Nursing in Cebu and 2nd in Region VII to have been granted this level of accreditation.

The University’s Doctor of Medicine program has been granted by PAASCU a three-year accreditation until 2025.  The University will also pursue more international affiliations with other schools and hospitals. “Our vision is to be globally recognized,” Larrazabal said.

CDU over the years

Over the years, the University has been able to offer courses, most of which are among the top five or top 10 courses in the Philippines. “All of the courses we offer are of excellent quality.  In the past, one had to go to Manila to get quality education but currently CDU students are assured of quality education. In fact, we have some students now coming from Manila,” Larrazabal pointed out.

The University has an in-campus dorm, which has a curfew for out-of-town and foreign students to assure parents of the safety of the students.

The structure being constructed beside the existing building enables CDU to achieve its expansion plans.  The building will have 15 levels and can be upgraded to 17 that include six levels of parking with 1,200 slots, laboratories, gym and multipurpose area as well as jogging paths at the top.

It will house the administrative offices and at the ground floor, the outpatient services such as optometry, rehabilitation, dentistry, radiology and outpatient laboratory.  The senior students will be manning the outpatient services with the guidance of the faculty.

The new building will also feature basketball and badminton courts and will be named PVL building, in honor of the University founder.

To celebrate its 50th founding anniversary which the theme “CDU @50: Providing Transformative Healthcare Education,” the university will have monthly activities with a grand celebration towards the end of the year.

The celebration’s opening salvo was held on January 31 at the CDU North Atrium with the ribbon cutting and opening of the exhibit of the university’s history through the years.  Looking towards the future, Cebu Doctors University will continue to pursue its shared values – the acronym WISE which means Wellness, Integrity, Service and Excellence. (Photos: MBCNewman)