A graduate of the Catanduanes State University was recently given the Excellence Award as Chief Nurse of the Year during the Hospital Management Asia 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand early this month.
Everette Zafe, who is the Nursing Director and Data Protection Officer at World Citi Medical Center in Quezon City, was among the three runners-up in the search for Chief Nurse of the Year which went to May Chan of Princess Margaret Hospital in Hong Kong.
She received the Excellence Award along with Maria Lenore Pasol of the National Children’s Hospital (Philippines) and Phan Thi Thu Hoa of Hoan My Thu Duc Hospital (Vietnam) during the annual gathering at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center on Sept. 3, 2026.
A daughter of former Virac Councilor and Mrs. Hermin Zafe of Virac, Catanduanes, the nursing director and healthcare leader submitted as entry her research on “Chief Nurse-Led Flexible Scheduling: Enhancing Staff Satisfaction and Patient Experience.”
In her outstanding career, Everette has focused on nursing leadership, hospital operations, workforce development, quality improvement, patient-centered care, and positive practice environments.
A former executive director of World Citi Foundation, Inc. and former president of Philippine Nurses Association–Zone 3, Inc., she is also an active Toastmasters member and advocate for effective professional communication.
Other HMA 2026 individual winners from the Philippines were: Hospital CEO of the Year (Gold Award winner) – Dr. Ishmael R. Dimaren, Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (Philippines) – Transforming Healthcare Access in Underserved Communities: Dr. Ishmael R. Dimaren’s Leadership in Advancing Cotabato Regional and Medical Center into an Apex Multi-Specialty Healthcare Institution; Hospital CEO of the Year (Excellence Award winner) – Dr. Antonio L. Tamayo, University of Perpetual Help DALTA Medical Center (Philippines) – Built to Last: A Future-Ready Healthcare Ecosystem; Emerging Healthcare Leader (Gold Award winner) – Reden F. Galang, RN, MAN, Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (Philippines) – I.P.C.L.O.V.E. Project: Transforming Regional Infection Prevention Through Leadership, Collaboration, Innovation, and Sustainable Healthcare Excellence; and Excellence Award winner – Al-nazaer A. Usop, Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (Philippines) – Bridging the Gap: Al-nazaer A. Usop’s Framework for Sustaining Quality Outcomes in Dynamic Hospital Environments;
Now on its 25th year, the Hospital Management Asia (HMA) Awards stands as one of the region’s most respected and longest-running recognition programs for healthcare excellence.
Since its inception, the Awards have honored hospitals and leaders across Asia for driving innovation, improving patient care, enhancing operational performance, and shaping the future of healthcare management.
The HMA Awards 2026 spotlighted outstanding projects and leadership achievements across 11 categories, including: Clinical Effectiveness Improvement; Infection Control Excellence; Most Advanced Healthcare Technology; Most Sustainable Hospital; Best in Community Involvement; Best in Financial Improvement; Best in Talent Development; Patient Experience Improvement; Chief Nurse of the Year; Hospital CEO of the Year; and Emerging Healthcare Leader.