From Seoul training to national fellowship, Dr. Zandro Paolo Plateros advances limb salvage and wound care in Central Visayas
When a diabetic wound refuses to heal, it threatens more than just skin — it threatens a limb, a livelihood, and a life. For many Boholanos, that threat meant traveling far for specialized care.
Now, advanced care is coming closer to home.
Boholano physician Dr. Zandro Paolo Plateros, MD, recently achieved two major professional milestones that strengthen his advocacy for advanced wound care, diabetic limb salvage, and regenerative medicine in Bohol. From August 31 to September 6, 2026, Dr. Plateros completed specialized training and certification in stem cell-based therapies in Seoul, South Korea, under the mentorship of Prof. Byungsun Kim of the renowned Reborn Clinic for Regenerative Medicine. The intensive training focused on emerging regenerative approaches for chronic wounds, musculoskeletal conditions, and soft-tissue problems — knowledge that complements established medical and surgical treatments.
Days after his return, on September 12, 2026, Dr. Plateros was conferred as a Fellow of the Philippine Orthopedic Wound Care and Limb Society (POWCLS), a subspecialty society under the Philippine Orthopedic Association. The recognition affirms his commitment to evidence-informed wound management and limb preservation.
These developments are timely and highly relevant for Bohol, where patients with diabetic wounds, chronic non-healing wounds, infections, pressure injuries, and complex soft-tissue conditions often require specialized, multidisciplinary care.
At the center of this vision is the Holy Name University Medical Center – Advanced Wound Care Center (HNUMC-AWCC). Through its continuing development, Dr. Plateros aims to integrate modern wound assessment, advanced wound-bed preparation, and limb salvage strategies with carefully selected regenerative therapies.
These complementary approaches include High-Intensity Laser Therapy, platelet-based therapies such as activated platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), and selected regenerative medicine or stem cell-based treatments — all to be used responsibly, with proper patient selection, scientific support, safety measures, and ethical standards.
He emphasizes, however, that innovation will never replace fundamentals: infection control, vascular assessment, pressure off-loading, metabolic optimization, and sound surgical care remain the cornerstone of treatment.
“My goal is to contribute to the development of HNUMC-AWCC as a center for advanced wound care, diabetic limb salvage, and regenerative medicine in Bohol and the Central Visayas region,” Dr. Plateros said.
With these milestones, Dr. Plateros brings not just new technology, but new hope — that Boholanos suffering from chronic wounds need not lose hope, nor limbs, to get the care they deserve.
