Sandra Navarra

For over 25 years, Dr Sandra Navarra has served as the anchor of rheumatology at the University of Santo Tomas (UST) Hospital and is widely recognised as the Philippines’ leading authority on the autoimmune disease, Lupus. Her impact, however, goes far beyond local borders. By spearheading major initiatives like the UST Lupus Database and leading pivotal international clinical trials, she has ensured that Filipino patients are represented in global medical research. Her work with institutions like Imperial College London has been crucial in proving the effectiveness of modern medicines, helping to set the standard for how the disease is treated worldwide.

Her contributions have placed her in the upper echelon of global science, earning her a spot on the Stanford University Top 2 Percent Scientists list for 2025. But her most impactful innovations are arguably her support programmes, PEARL and LUISA. These are award-winning initiatives that use a "patient partner" model—meaning she actually brings patients into the classroom to help train the next generation of doctors, ensuring that students learn from real human experiences, not just textbooks.

As an educator, Dr. Navarra is famous for making the complicated simple. Throughout her 40-year career she has championed a philosophy that clinical excellence isn't just about memorising data; it is about empathy. By listening to her patients and empowering her students, she has reshaped the landscape of Philippine rheumatology.