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The Ruth Foundation

About
Background + History
Mission + Vision
Our Values
Our Board
Our Team
Our Partners
Services
Plan for Hope
Care Encounters
Community Empowerment
Other Services
Trainings
CCK
Compassionate Community Kitchen
Information
Palliative and Hospice Care
Reports
Get Involved
PalCollab
Share HOPE
Careers
Stories
Updates
The Medical Philosopher
Hopefull Magazine
Support Our Mission
Ricky So
October 1, 2019

Medical Creativity

Ricky So
October 1, 2019
Medical Creativity

One must be able to adapt to circumstances, because each patient is unique. A totally new and innovative therapeutic modality may be discovered by an inquisitive mind.

Tagged: TMP, The Medical Philosopher

Ricky So
September 15, 2019

Music and Chronic Illness

Ricky So
September 15, 2019
Music and Chronic Illness

Exposing palliative and hospice care patients to music has been shown to result in a decrease in pain and breathlessness.

Tagged: TMP, The Medical Philosopher

Ricky So
August 31, 2019

Kidney Failure at the End of Life

Ricky So
August 31, 2019
Kidney Failure at the End of Life

Kidney disease, and its subsequent development of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), is the 7th leading cause of death among Filipinos.

Tagged: TMP, The Medical Philosopher

Ricky So
June 17, 2019

When Breath Becomes Air: Making Sense of a Shortened Life

Ricky So
June 17, 2019
When Breath Becomes Air: Making Sense of a Shortened Life

One of the best books I have read on the end of life was given to me by my good friend and boss, Dr. Mae Corvera of The Ruth Foundation. 

Tagged: TMP

Ricky So
June 1, 2019

The Microbiome, Aging, and the role of Probiotics

Ricky So
June 1, 2019
The Microbiome, Aging, and the role of Probiotics

The aging process is full of complexity, and many studies have been made in an attempt to understand the processes involved in it. Genetic and environmental factors play vital roles in its development.

Tagged: TMP

Ricky So
May 31, 2019

Living With A Positive Memory

Ricky So
May 31, 2019
Living With A Positive Memory

Twice a year, The Ruth Foundation invites the relatives of hospice patients who have recently passed away (usually within the last 6 months or so) to share their experiences and feeling about losing a loved one…

Tagged: TMP, The Medical Philosopher

Newer Posts
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The Medical Philosopher

Featured
Walking Through the Narrow Door
April 7, 2026
Walking Through the Narrow Door
April 7, 2026

As a physician, I have learned that medicine is not merely a science or profession; it is a vocation of service. The “narrow door” in my life is often the choice to listen when I am tired, to show compassion when it would be easier to remain detached, or to admit when I do not have all the answers. In a field where knowledge can so easily become a badge of superiority, I am constantly reminded that humility is not weakness — it is wisdom.

Read more →
April 7, 2026
Bridging Distances in Healthcare Delivery
March 11, 2026
Bridging Distances in Healthcare Delivery
March 11, 2026

The distance between the patient and the health facility often becomes a distance between illness and recovery, hope and despair.

Over the years, however, the landscape of health care delivery has begun to shift. The rapid improvement of internet connectivity and the emergence of telemedicine have opened new doors to care, learning, and connection.

Read more →
March 11, 2026
Faith, Leadership, Healing
February 10, 2026
Faith, Leadership, Healing
February 10, 2026

When I read the passage in Luke 11:1–4, where Jesus teaches His disciples how to pray, I am always struck by how profound and simple the Lord’s Prayer is. In those few verses—“Father, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation”—Jesus provides a model not only for prayer but for living.

Read more →
February 10, 2026
Sustaining Wellness for Chronically Ill Patients
October 21, 2025
Sustaining Wellness for Chronically Ill Patients
October 21, 2025

Chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. While medical treatments are essential, long-term outcomes for these conditions largely depend on prevention and lifestyle management—consistent medication use, proper nutrition, physical activity, stress reduction, and regular medical follow-ups.

Read more →
October 21, 2025
The Future Doctor’s Dilemma: Navigating a Continuum of Challenges from Molecules to the Biosphere
September 22, 2025
The Future Doctor’s Dilemma: Navigating a Continuum of Challenges from Molecules to the Biosphere
September 22, 2025
Read more →
September 22, 2025
The Role of Gadgets, Tools, and Mechanical Aids in Hospice and Palliative Care
August 4, 2025
The Role of Gadgets, Tools, and Mechanical Aids in Hospice and Palliative Care
August 4, 2025
Read more →
August 4, 2025
The Ethical Considerations of Palliative Extubation
July 3, 2025
The Ethical Considerations of Palliative Extubation
July 3, 2025

Palliative extubation, the withdrawal of mechanical ventilation in terminally ill or critically ill patients when further life-sustaining treatment is deemed non-beneficial or burdensome, is a profound medical decision grounded in the principles of ethics, compassion, and respect for human dignity.

Read more →
July 3, 2025
The Role of Fathers in the Provision of Hospice and Palliative Care
June 3, 2025
The Role of Fathers in the Provision of Hospice and Palliative Care
June 3, 2025

Fathers bring a unique blend of emotional fortitude, spiritual leadership, and practical support that plays a vital part in the care of terminally ill loved ones.

Read more →
June 3, 2025
Loving and Respecting Our Mothers at Life’s End: A Reflection on Ruth the Moabite
May 5, 2025
Loving and Respecting Our Mothers at Life’s End: A Reflection on Ruth the Moabite
May 5, 2025

The story of Ruth the Moabite isn’t just a tale of ancient loyalty—it’s a living guide for how to love, serve, and honor our mothers at the end of their lives. When we combine her example with the compassionate principles of palliative and hospice care, we are invited into a sacred calling: to walk with our mothers through their final days with grace, dignity, and love.

Read more →
May 5, 2025
Greatness and Grit: How faith helps us rise above challenges
March 28, 2025
Greatness and Grit: How faith helps us rise above challenges
March 28, 2025

Remember your purpose and your core beliefs when your authority or expertise is challenged. As Christ never wavered in his belief and desire to cast out demons, even if others were skeptical, so must be also have the trust and confidence in our desire to do what is best.

Read more →
March 28, 2025

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