Saint Mary’s University (SMU) proudly congratulates Dr. Melanie G. Sarmiento for co-authoring a research article published in Workplace Health & Safety, a Scopus-indexed Q1 journal in Nursing (Miscellaneous). Dr. Sarmiento is listed as Melanie Gurat in the published article. The article was first published online on September 24, 2026.

Entitled “Beyond Healthcare Facilities: Strengthening Preventive Care Equity Among Healthcare Educators and Academic Health Workers in the Philippines,” the study examines preventive care equity among healthcare educators and academic health workers, highlighting the importance of strengthening preventive health services beyond traditional healthcare facilities.

The publication brings together researchers from higher education institutions and organizations across the region and is one of the scholarly outputs generated through Project COLLAB (Collaborative Opportunities for Linkages, Learning, and Advanced Research Breakthroughs), a component initiative of Project GIGIAMMUAN, the flagship regional research and innovation program of the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office II (CHEDRO II).

The article’s collaborators are Darin Jan Tindowen, PhD (Commission on Higher Education–Region 2); Madeilyn Estacio, PhD (University of La Salette, Inc.); Melanie Gurat, PhD (Saint Mary’s University); Jonalyn Santos, MSN (University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao); Benjamin Jularbal, PhD (St. Paul University Philippines); Pilar Acorda, PhD (Commission on Higher Education–Region 2); Rhean Joy Acupido, PhD (University of Perpetual Help System–Cauayan); Mark Kevin Astrero, MAEd (Northeastern College); Ma. Leodevina Batugal, PhD (Lyceum of Aparri); Djovi Durante, DPA (Batanes State College); and Ruel Flores, MBA (Our Lady of the Pillar College–Cauayan, Inc.). 

Project COLLAB brings together researchers from participating higher education institutions to develop collaborative studies and pursue publication in internationally indexed journals. With four additional HEIs joining in August, including Saint Mary’s University, the initiative has grown to 15 participating institutions.

Dr. Sarmiento’s publication highlights SMU’s commitment to research excellence, collaborative scholarship, and international research engagement, while demonstrating the value of regional partnerships in generating research that contributes to health, education, and societal well-being.

The University Research Center congratulates Dr. Sarmiento and her co-authors on this achievement and recognizes their contribution to strengthening the visibility and impact of Philippine research in the international academic community.

Citation

Tindowen, D. J., Estacio, M., Gurat, M., Santos, J., Jularbal, B., Acorda, P., Acupido, R. J., Astrero, M. K., Batugal, M. L., Durante, D., & Flores, R. (2026). Beyond healthcare facilities: Strengthening preventive care equity among healthcare educators and academic health workers in the Philippines. Workplace Health & Safety. https://doi.org/10.1177/21650799261488833