Membership to the American Surgical Association exclusively by nomination and iinvitation. During the recognition ceremonies, Dr. Hilvano was recognized as the pioneer of endoscopic surgery and laparoscopy in the Philippines, trailblazing the establishment of the said fields in the country, and in South Asia. Dr. Anthony Whittemore, the President of the ASA, gave the following introduction to Dr. Hilvano as he received ASA's award:

Serafin Hilvano,  Chair of Surgery at the University of the Philippines and Chief of Surgery at the Philippine General Hospital, has led surgery into the 21st century,  by introducing laparoscopy in 1990 and serving as the #1 surgical diplomat of the Philippines over the last two decades.

Dr. Hilvano received his bachelor’s and medical degree from the University of the Philippines in 1971. Following his surgical residency at the Philippine General Hospital he spent time at MD Anderson, Sloan Kettering, and UCLA.  Returning to Manila, Dr. Hilvano rose through the ranks of his University, becoming a professor in 1996, and assuming the Chair of Surgery in 2007. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and is a frequent visitor at the annual meeting. He has contributed broadly to the international peer reviewed literature in biliary and endoscopic surgery

More importantly,   Dr. Hilvano introduced endoscopic surgery and laparoscopy to the Philippines, and - became one of the leaders of laparoscopic surgery in South Asia.  He was a co-founder of the Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of Asia He has emerged as the leader of hepatopancreatobiliary surgery in the Philippines, and  helped create the Asian Hepatopancreatobiliary Association, a chapter of the International organization.

A son of the Philippines, Serafin Hilvano understands the need for community service, for giving back to the community from which he emerged.   He has raised money to buy endoscopes for his hospital, to bring it up to date,   when internal resources were lacking.  He persuaded pharmaceutical companies to deliver millions of dollars of much needed medicines to the poor, who would otherwise have remained untreated for common curable infectious diseases.

And lastly, Dr. Hilvano is an ardent sportsman and has won many tennis championships over several decades.  The American Surgical Association is proud to honor its first member from the Philippines, Dr. Serafin Hilvano, Chairman of Surgery at the University of the Philippines.

Congratulations to Dr. Serafin Hilvano for a reaching a rare feat and a glorious first for the Filipinos all over the world. 

Dr. Hilvano's photos from the American Surgical Associations 129th Annual Meeting:

Dr. Hilvano at the ASA's 129th Annual meeting at Hyatt Grand Champions, Indian Well, California, USA

Dr. Hilvano with Dr. Frank Moody (left)