Abelaine Venida Tablizo

Abelaine Venida Tablizo, MD, FPDS, is a highly accomplished dermatologist, clinical researcher and public health advocate. She currently serves as the Chair of the Philippine Dermatological Society's Leprosy Interest Group, Head of the Infectious Dermatology and Leprosy Unit at the Rizal Medical Center and Immediate Past President of Rizal Dermatology Services, Training and Research, Inc. in the Philippines. With extensive training, including a mentorship in Infectious Dermatology at the Ludwig Maximilian University in Germany, Dr. Tablizo is globally recognized for advancing tropical medicine. Her work is deeply rooted in advancing leprosy control and stigma reduction. A cornerstone of her public health work includes serving as Principal Investigator and Project Head in developing the First Leprosy Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Philippines. She collaborates closely with the Department of Health, and international and local partners. She acts as the Head of the Leprosy Ad-Hoc Technical Advisory Group initiated by the WHO Philippines and part of the DOH Technical Working Group in Leprosy. Dr. Tablizo demonstrates a profound commitment to clinical education, having trained over 5,000 healthcare workers nationwide on the diagnosis, management and stigma awareness on leprosy. Beyond clinical practice and policy formulation, she is a dedicated patient advocate who founded the Hansen's Disease (HD) Club to promote holistic support and patient empowerment. Her extensive research portfolio features vital publications and clinical trials focused specifically on leprosy and lepra reactions. Dr. Tablizo brings her unparalleled expertise to the WUWHS 2026 to elucidate clinical approaches to managing acute dermatological wounds in leprosy.