Dr. Thelma E. Tupasi, RITM Director from 1983-1985, has transitioned peacefully on June 12, 2019.

Dr. Tupasi had a vision of building a tropical disease research and development plan for a healthy nation. In her leadership, RITM’s research activities expanded to community-based, biomedical research activities for acute respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, meningitis, schistosomiasis, malaria, Hepatitis B, dengue, AIDS, and leprosy.

She thrived as a public health researcher and was recognized for her significant contributions to knowledge in the treatment and prevention of various infectious diseases in the Philippines.

Dr. Tupasi was a recipient of the NAST Outstanding Young Scientist in 1980; Ten Outstanding Women in the Nation’s Service award in Medicine in 1983; and PCHRD Outstanding Health Research Award in 2000. In 2006. Dr. Tupasi was elected to the National Academy of Science and Technology as Academician.

Her friends and family commemorated her life at the Loyola Memorial Chapels and Crematorium on June 12-16, 2019.