Dan On The Go

Dan On The Go is the first and the only OFW-orie">FROM ZERO TO A GLOBAL HERO:
Davaweño inspires expats in Middle East
by: Yul Espartero

The challenges of the past did not hinder Dabaweño Dan Lester S. Dabon to pursue what he has started and continue the ventures he dared to confront. He may have been young so far in terms of years and experience but he initiated the spirit of giving back at an early age. Everything that he has been through never limit his desires to be a person of who is he right now and be an inspiration to the people that they can be somebody to be proud of.

Frustrated at first

The turning point in his career is his acceptance at Burjeel Hospital, his very first job overseas. “I thought I had accomplished enough with my profession as a nurse in the Philippines but when I tried my luck for employment abroad, greater opportunities have opened. At Burjeel, I started as Nurse Assistant until I rose to the rank as Risk Analyst in a span of three months. I pioneered several policies and became instrumental in achieving the hospital’s goals and objectives, both in business and healthcare delivery system. Apart from that, I was the only and youngest Filipino who made it to the list of the executive committee and it is during this time that I found my true passion. I realized that I enjoyed and appreciated the policy-making process and wanted to work as an advocate for quality and risk management to achieve patient safety.”

From zero to hero

He considers his present work as Quality and Risk Manager at IVI Middle East Fertility Clinic, a subsidiary facility of IVI Europe with more than 50 clinics worldwide, as a great sense of pride. “As many already know, IVI, is a world leader in infertility and governed by the World Health Organization (WHO) standards and administered by the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). Having a more than 70% success rate is an accomplishment (international success rate is 40%) and I am proud to be part of the team who gives meaning to life as we are rooted to our ‘Life Begins with IVI’ campaign. ”

Over the last five years in the UAE and his robust experiences in prominent facilities, he now believes in the term called “Zero to Hero”.


The following awards affirmed his commitment to excellence:
Nurses’ Choice Award (2013) - Burjeel Hospital
Joint Commission International Champion (2013) - Burjeel Hospital
Star of Burjeel (2014) - Burjeel Hospital
Top 12 Nurses of the Year - Kabayan Weekly (2015)
Top 3 Most Outstanding Healthcare Professionals in the UAE - The Filipino Times (2015)
Face of Illustrado Magazine (2016),
American Society for Quality UAE Quality Professionals Award Nominee (2016)
Healthcare Professional of the Year - The Filipino Times (2016)

“I adhere to the principle that leaders can only lead if there is consensus in the workforce you wish to inspire and work with. That is why at work, I play the role of an effective collaborator, one who is able to compete in ways that enhance rather than destroy cooperation. I perform variety of duties related to management of potential risks and liabilities within our facility, thus, it is crucial that I develop within them a clear understanding of the standards that needed to be complied with, provide feedback to their compliance or noncompliance and involve them in planning and initiating reforms of policies, when necessary. Others would feel better, empowered and motivated if you give them opportunities to expand their skills and provide them with opportunities to develop. As much as possible, I engage my colleagues in discussions in the policy-making process to achieve harmony, boost their morale and job satisfaction.”

“To ensure patient safety and save lives- that’s what I am called for -, an effective collaborator among the members of the healthcare team, is deemed necessary. I may not be the one saving the life of a dying patient, at least, I am the man behind the success stories of survived patients.”

Family

Dan Lester was born in 1989 in Davao City not knowing how it feels to have biological parents since he came from a broken family. What makes him a role model is how he struggled to achieve success despite the difficulties he had to go through.

“Growing up, I did not have the perfect life as my parents separated when I was still young and I didn’t have a whole lot. Living also in a rough neighborhood, I had a friend (15 years older my age) who was also abandoned by his parents and was able to achieve his goals and this gave me perspective to become an achiever. I sought inspiration from my own role models as well, my grandparents. They preached to me the values of perseverance, education and the importance of active involvement in the community. The advice that they gave me about the importance of giving back continues to resonate within me.”

He took his elementary education at the Saint Mary’s Academy of Caraga in Davao Oriental where he graduated Salutatorian in 2001. He finished his high school at the Holy Cross of Davao College in 2005 and earned his bachelor’s degree in Nursing at the Brokenshire College in Davao City in 2010. He finished his collegiate years with the help of the Lopez and Millete family.

While abroad, he finished his Masters of Science in Health Care Management at the Swiss Business School with high distinction on October 14, 2016. He is the youngest and the only Filipino to receive such award. “I place a very high priority in education as a key to getting ahead in life. Thus, I decided to pursue further studies after obtaining a degree in Nursing and it is through good education and training from my previous employments that enabled me to rise from my humble beginnings in Davao City to a position of prominence in the UAE community. I have this enormous thirst for education because when I was young, my grandparents really struggled hard to send me to school. Their dream is my dream and I will make that dream into a reality.”

“Education is a lifetime undertaking and I was so delighted to have achieved the highest certificate in Healthcare Risk Management as a Certified Healthcare Risk Manager awarded by the University of Delaware, USA in the year 2013.”

Road to success

But if others think the road to success is easy, he disagrees. “I faced forks along the road and there were a lot of times I had to make difficult decisions that would define my life. When I decided to work in Abu Dhabi, I had to brave an alien culture and daily suffer the heartbreak of the family I left behind, especially my grandparents whom I slumbered with since birth until college. I would count the minutes, hours, days, months, and years yearning to see my loved ones because social media accounts, many other gadgets and online applications will never substitute for our lost physical presence. I had to overcome that by believing what I do is for my family and to the people who helped me finish my studies. I failed several times but I always believe that things do happen for a reason. One should not lose enthusiasm, especially when you have already found a career that you are passionate about and you should not stop in fueling that passion with education and experience as your catalyst.”

“This is what I want to share to others to motivate them to strive for greatness, achieve more than you could, to improve your own life, that of your family and the quality of life of other people.”

Paradox of life

“My story is far from the typical young boy who wishes of having a happy childhood playing around and spending time with family and friends. Growing up with a broken family can slowly destroy someone’s perception in the paradox of life. I’ve been in a situation where I needed to stand up and never allow the knot to hold me back and be a burden to the society. At this young age, I inculcated in my heart and mind that learning continuously through experiences and access to scholastic attainment can be a great factor in determining your holistic development. Being a source of inspiration, strength and motivation are eminent hallmarks of being a fulfilled individual.”

“This is not an easy journey reaching this juncture of my triumphs as I have to surround myself with people who can push me to my limits either applauding or depreciatory character. These are just few of the things that I want to impart and instill to my fellow may it be here or in other countries. Age is not a hindrance to succeed, to dream big, to reach out and to inspire people. Having all these opportunities that I earned and will learn are enough reasons to bring home this appellation to create a lasting benchmark for my profession, community and country.”

“I want to dedicate my success to those people who helped me especially my grandparents, who have been and will always be my source of inspiration."

As what my grandmother told, ‘Life is not about a question of survival but a question of purpose’, and that purpose is to where I should come, what I should do and how I should accomplish all the things I have dreamed for all the Filipinos.”