From ranking ninth place in the Medical Technologist Licensure Examination in 2018, Dr. Justin Riley Yap Lam duplicated his success by moving notches higher to land on the top spot of the 2023 Physicians Licensure Examination with a score of 89 percent.

The doctor who hails from Cagayan de Oro City in the Province of Misamis Oriental said that the feat is the fruit of all his sacrifices and self-discipline while pursuing medical studies at the Cebu Institute of Medicine.

He said that he had to dedicate 10 to 12 hours daily in preparation for the exam.

He also enrolled in a review school despite a previous feat.

He said review centers are a great help when it comes to developing discipline and management of study hours; the trove of study materials is immense and the wisdom of review coaches is unassailable.

Dr. Justin was inspired by his elder siblings to pursue medicine.

He shared that he is the first doctor in the family and is set to fulfill his vow of serving as a family doctor to the people who supported his studies, most especially in the financial aspect as the privilege has given him the comfort while standing up to various challenges in medical school.

His achievement could have been the best present he can offer to his father, he said.

However, his dad passed away in 2020 so that the gift will now be unraveled by the patients whose wellness and wellbeing will be under his care and compassion.

(By Mark Regie Abella/GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak)