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MANILA, Philippines — Childbirth is often described as a woman’s most joyous milestone, but it is also her most vulnerable moment. The old adage that a mother has "one foot in the grave" during labor still echoes today, fueling the anxieties of many expectant parents.
Thankfully, obstetrics and gynecology have advanced in modern times, thereby shifting the narrative. Maternal care today extends beyond safe delivery, encompassing continuity of care, personalized support, and lifelong women’s health. In the Philippines alone, the number of mothers who die during pregnancy has declined from 204 in 2000 to 84 in 2023 per 100,000 live births, according to the Gender Data Portal of World Bank Group.
Yet, beyond the clinical data and medical leaps, the true heart of maternal safety lies in the caring hands of the practitioner.
For Dr. Nelly Quintin-Dela Cruz, obstetrician-gynecologist at Manila Doctors Hospital (MDH), the goal is to ensure no mother walks that path alone. She guides her patients through a shared journey that begins long before, and extends far beyond, the delivery room.
“Medicine is not only about precision but also about presence. It is this balance of competence and compassion that anchored me in my practice,” Dr. Dela Cruz said in an exclusive interview with Philstar.com.
Grounding her roots
Flashback to 1995, Dr. Dela Cruz first set foot in MDH as a newly-grad medical student, dreaming of becoming a surgeon. She started on her duties and took rotations across different specialties.
“Even during medical studies, I had always envisioned myself becoming a surgeon. However, at that time, only a few women were accepted into surgical training, shaped by the long-standing notion that surgery was a man’s world,” she recalled.
Dr. Dela Cruz was then assigned to the OB-GYN department where she discovered a “different kind of surgery.” She explained, “It was not only about removing pathology from the body, but also about bringing new life into the world. In those moments, I witnessed what was often the most joyous experience for a mother, and I realized what a profound privilege it was to be part of that journey.”
Her path set, Dr. Dela Cruz spent her early years building a strong foundation at MDH. One of the very first and most important principles the hospital instilled in her was patient-centered care. As a young doctor, she learned that “beyond diagnosing and treating disease, it is essential to understand the patient as a whole, their fears, values and circumstances.”
She also embodied integrity and accountability, as well as the drive to never stop learning. “I realize early on that competence required continuous study, and openness to new knowledge. I should stay updated so I can provide the best possible care.”
Championing women’s health
Her career now spanning three decades at MDH, Dr. Dela Cruz has become a champion for women’s health, providing continuous, holistic and individualized care in each stage of a woman’s life.
Dr. Dela Cruz is one with MDH as it celebrates 70 years of healing and providing care for generations.
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She explained, “It begins in early reproductive years where the focus is education and guiding adolescents in understanding their body, fertility, contraception and overall wellness. As they get pregnant, the care becomes a partnership, supporting them physically, emotionally and psychologically.”
She particularly felt attached to mothers who faced infertility or recurrent pregnancy loss, and then conceived and successfully delivered their babies.
“Being present at that moment when the mom finally meets her baby after months or years of uncertainty feels deeply purposeful,” she shared.
In this regard, Dr. Dela Cruz is optimistic about the advancements in the field of OB-GYN, including assisted reproductive technology such as in vitro fertilization. “This has given hope to many couples struggling with infertility,” she said.
New medicines also treat gynecological diseases otherwise needing surgery in the past. She also mentioned the introduction of minimally invasive procedures that shorten hospital stay and improve recovery after surgery.
Beyond the delivery room, women go through menopause, and during this time, Dr. Dela Cruz is present as well. She helps her patients understand hormonal changes and manage symptoms. She also promotes menopausal hormonal therapy, which according to her helps women with bone health, cardiovascular and emotional well-being.
For decades, Manila Doctors Hospital has embedded a continuum-of-care approach into its clinical practice, recognizing women’s health as an interconnected and ongoing process. True to its promise of being “with you every step of the way,” Dr. Dela Cruz walks with her patients and ensuring that they feel heard, supported and cared for at every stage.
Care for generations to come
Today, Dr. Dela Cruz is one with MDH as it celebrates 70 years of healing and providing care for generations. From the newly grad medical student, she now mentors young OB-GYNs at MDH.
“We don’t really teach empathy and excellence, we model them. Every patient encounter, these young doctors watch how we speak to patient, how we handle difficult conversations and how we respond when things don’t go as planned. When they see me take time to listen and explain with patience, and treat every patient with compassion, that becomes their standard of care,” she related.
MDH also invests on education and training of its physicians to ensure that their practice remains aligned with the latest evidence-based guidelines. In terms of infrastructure and facilities, the hospital implements upgrades on new technologies and equipment, as well as introduces specialized tests like prenatal screening tools.
“These upgrades improve the safety accuracy and better patient outcome,” Dr. Dela Cruz noted.
Looking ahead, the now successful OB-GYN knows that there’s still room to grow in her career. She promises to commit to the hospital’s standard of excellence, and together deliver a strong and efficient patient-centered care.
“I hope in the future, we will have more doctors who are not only technically excellent but also deeply empathic, adaptable and committed to life-long learning. For the hospital, technology will continue to transform practice. Advance imaging, AI-assisted diagnostics, minimally invasive surgery or robotic surgery will become more refined and accessible,” she enthused.
Most importantly, Dr. Dela Cruz will continue to champion women’s health, saying, “We will move towards integrated, multidisciplinary women’s care that includes mental health, endocrinology, oncology, primary care. After all, women’s health is interconnected across her lifespan.”
By investing in its people, facilities and future-ready systems, Manila Doctors Hospital ensures that every generation of women receives care that is not only clinically advanced, but deeply human.
About Manila Doctors Hospital
Manila Doctors Hospital is a premier tertiary hospital founded in 1956 by a group of physicians. As one of the leading healthcare institutions in the country today, Manila Doctors Hospital offers holistic care and wellbeing to its local and international patients by providing them with one of the most advanced facilities and healthcare technology in the Philippines.
Strategically located at the heart of Manila, MDH continues to revolutionize the healthcare industry by accelerating the quality of the medical profession and embracing the challenges of providing accessible, comprehensive, and quality healthcare in the country. For more information, visit Manila Doctors Hospital at www.maniladoctors.com.ph, follow www.facebook.com/maniladoctorshospital, email info@maniladoctors.com.ph or call (+632) 8558-0888.
Editor’s Note: This #BrandSpace story is created with Manila Doctors Hospital. It is produced by the Advertising Content Team that is independent from our Editorial Newsroom.
