TEODORA FIDELINO AVECILLA

She attended the University of the Philippines and was granted a B.S. in Pharmacy in 1930. After two years as a pharmacist, Dr. Fidelino returned to her Alma Mater and enrolled in the College of Medicine, graduating in 1937. Following her internship at the Philippine General Hospital, Manila, and postgraduate training at Orquieta Maternity and Childrens Hospital, Manila, she went into general practice, mostly internal medicine and obstetrics, up to 1948.

Dr. Fidelino became engaged to Dr. Marcelino J. Avecilla in Manila, and they were married in Honolulu June 4, 1948, at the Church of the Crossroads. After a honeymoon at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, the two doctors went to New York City.

Upon arrival at New York City, Dr. Teodora took postgraduate work in obstetrics and gynecology at the New York Polyclinic Postgraduate Medical School and Hospital and at the New York Postgraduate Medical School from 1948 to 1949. From 1950 to 1951 she interned at Harlem Hospital, New York City, and then served as a medical resident from 1951 to 1956. It was during this time that she was severely injured in an automobile accident, which was a factor in her final illness.

Returning to the Islands in 1956, Dr. Avecilla served as a part time plantation physician at Pepeekeo Sugar Company, Hawaii, until 1958. In November, 1958, she and her husband opened their office in Honolulu with Dr. Teodora doing general practice with emphasis on internal medicine.

In April, 1962, Dr. Avecilla returned to Manila to attend the birthday of her 82-year-old father. She became ill in Manila and was confined at the Veterans Hospital, Quezon City, where she died June 27, 1962, at the age of 55.

She was a member of the Honolulu County Medical Society, Hawaii Medical Association and the American Medical Association. She was an active member of the United Filipino Council of Hawaii, Honolulu Filipino Community Association and Luzonian Aid Association. The doctor was also co-author of several papers published in medical journals in the United States.

In the January-February 1963 issue of the Hawaii Medical Journal, Dr.L. Clagett Beck writes, "Dr. Avecilla was greatly loved by those she served, not only in the Philippines, but in New York and Hawaii as well".

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