In celebration of the National Women’s Month 2021, Nerissa M. Gerial, a nurse and a Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Education, and the current Deputy Executive Director for Nursing Services of the National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) as well as the Founding President of the Urologic Nurses Association of the Philippines (URONAP) was identified and recognized as one of the Most Iconic Women of Quezon City by the Quezon City Gender and Development (GAD) Council thru the Office of the Honorable Mayor Joy Belmonte & the Quezon City Tourism Department.
The Quezon City Tourism Department has recognized Filipino women for their work and achievements. Aside from Dr. Gerial, other awardees include Former Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago, Former DENR Secretary Regina Paz “Gina” Lopez, Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2018 Michele Therese Gumabao, renowned Filipina Chef Margarita Fores, Former CEO of Pag-Ibig Fund Atty. Darlyn Berberabe, Former Filipina Pediatrician Dr. Fe Del Mundo, ABS-CBN News Correspondent Chiara Zambrano, Former Chair Commission of Education Patricia Licuanan, Former Chair of Philippine Commission on Good Governance Haydee Bofill Yorac, First Female Mayor of Quezon City Adelina Rodriguez, National Wushu Athlete Agatha Wong, Filipina Journalist and Newspaper Publisher- The Philippine Star Billie Mary Go-Belmonte , Executive Director, Likhaan Center for Women’s Health Dr. Junice Demetrio Melgar, LivClean Founder Pinky Yee among others.
This award embodies her unparalleled contributions in the society as she has exemplified outstanding performance in her field of expertise; and embraced her individuality and used her voice in certain causes timely to the needs of her area of influence. Through this recognition program, the city envisions to inspire and support women to be an excellent role model in their place of service and leadership, and also serve as a continual reminder of the accomplishments which have also meaningfully impacted the city.
Born and raised in San Miguel Bulacan, Dr. Gerial started to actualize her dream of becoming an established nurse. She graduated from St. Jude College in 1992 with a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing and started her valiant journey as a well-rounded medical-surgical nurse. Along with the advancement of her career, she was also able to maintain balance with her personal life as she started to raise a family of her own. Consequently, while working in the Operating Room, she persevered and was able to finish her Master’s in Hospital Administration at the University of the Philippines-Manila, and with further edification, was conferred Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing Education Major in Leadership and Management at St. Paul University Manila. Furthermore, she became one of the few nurses in the Philippines who is Career Executive Service Eligible; a distinction that requires arduous work and unfailing determination. More than that, her contribution to the Nursing profession encompasses not only to NKTI but also to the whole country as she established the Urologic Nurses Association of the Philippines (URONAP), opening windows of opportunity for nurses not only in Metro Manila but in provinces and suburban areas to broaden their expertise on this subspecialty. She even partnered and collaborated with the European Association of Urology Nurses (EAUN) automatically linking the membership of URONAP to the said international organization to strengthen and foster the highest standards of urological nursing care.
Her love for lifelong learning has been attested with the various trainings and education she has attained despite the high demands from her executive duties. She is a Certified Nephrology Nurse under the Department of Health (DOH) Nurse Certification Program and a Certified Nurse Manager under the Association of Nursing Service Administrators of the Philippines (ANSAP), and also a Fellow of the Philippine College of Hospital Administrators (FPCHA), Philippine Society for Quality in Healthcare (FPSQua) and of the Association of Nursing Service Administrators of the Philippines (ANSAP). Likewise, she had undergone several Leadership and Nursing Management Programs and Courses from Ateneo Graduate School of Business, Ateneo Professional Schools, Harvard University, Taiwan International Healthcare Training Center, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital in Taiwan and Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, Pakkret Nonthaburit, in Thailand to name a few. On top of the countless positions that she holds in various nursing organizations, she is also a member of the Rotary Club of Chinatown Circle. The impact of her humanitarian and philanthropic endeavors and deeds has led her be endowed with a Leadership Award during her term as an All-Star President (ASP), year 2016-2017. She has received several other recognitions on the bearing and impact of her services as follows: Best in Public Image, Best in Vocational Service , Best in Economic & Community Development, Outstanding Project in Literacy and Basic Education, Outstanding Project in Maternal and Health and Best in Club Fellowship. Through the projects she has initiated, such as blood donation programs, several medical missions and donation drives, etc., she was able to aid the community and people from different walks of life.
Even with the threat and challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, she remained steadfast in fulfilling her commitment to her profession and to the people under her leadership. Correspondingly, she eagerly accepted invitations as lecturer and guest speaker from different medical and nursing organizations and hospitals to share the NKTI Nursing Services’ experience, patient safety protocols and best practices pertaining to the pandemic. Over the years, her achievements and the advocacies she has led, has without doubt created a significant impact in the lives of her subordinates and in the lives of the patients that she has in some way or another touched through her selfless exploits and unwavering service. For that reason, she was recently awarded by the Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) as one of the MOST INFLUENTIAL FILIPINA WOMEN IN THE WORLD 2019 and was honored in the INNOVATOR AND THOUGHT LEADER award category to recognize her professional work and civic engagement in the community as she has broken new grounds in her field of expertise. Many of the awardees have reached the pinnacle of their careers breaking the “glass ceiling” at the C-Suite and Executive Management Level.
This recognition was featured thru a gallery of portrait presenting the 39 Most Iconic Women of Quezon City alongside a short citation of their accomplishments. A photo shoot was spearheaded by the renowned conceptual photographer, Mr. Niccolo Cosme, and his team from the Head Shot Clinic. The photo exhibit was first launched at the Quezon City Hall and was later moved to Eastwood Mall in Quezon City, as part of the initial leg of the exhibit caravans.