Our History:

The Society of Adolescent Medicine of the Philippines, Inc. (SAMPI) was established after 1987 by Dr. Alicia B. Tamesis following her specialized training abroad. She assembled a multidisciplinary group of advocates—including pediatricians, obstetricians, psychiatrists, and ENT specialists—to form a non-profit organization dedicated to the total well-being of Filipino adolescents. The society’s core objectives focus on advocating for the youth, formulating health guidelines, and fostering communication among professionals across various disciplines to improve adolescent service, training, and research.

To advance the field, SAMPI launched its first Scientific Convention in 2000, which evolved into a biennial event providing up-to-date information on emerging adolescent issues and global health trends. Under different leadership terms, the society introduced several educational initiatives, such as “An Evening with an Expert” and traveling seminars designed to train pediatricians nationwide on holistic care. SAMPI also focused on reaching the youth directly through projects like the Teen Health Journal (first published in 2008), summer camps, art contests, and vocational programs like “Scrap to Craft”.

SAMPI has become a recognized authority, collaborating extensively with government agencies like the Department of Health (DOH) and international organizations like UNICEF to develop clinical manuals and e-learning tools like ADEPT and ASSIST. The society also works closely with the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and other medical groups to facilitate training on adolescent sexuality and anti-tobacco campaigns. Now over 20 years old, the organization continues to serve as a primary advocate for adolescent health and transition care in the Philippines.