He says yes. He shows up. He sings. He delivers.
These four things—more than any job title—might best describe Dr. Rodney Jimenez, president of the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) and a standout voice– sometimes literally-in the Philippine cardiovascular leadership.
In the PHA-Philippine College of Cardiology 55th Annual Convention and Scientific Meeting’s Presidential Plenary Lecture, Jimenez’ topic “What I Learned by Just Saying Yes”, he emphasized that leadership is not only about power, but more importantly motion.
To Jimenez, it is about serving with purpose, over and over again, even when you’re unsure-especially when you are unsure.
“You grow as you go,” Jimenez told a crowd of doctors, fellows, and advocates.
“You don’t need to be the best—just the one who’s willing to move,” he added.
The Yes That Started It All
Long before he led national projects or helmed an organization like the PHA, Jimenez was simply “the one people turned to.”
A mentor—who had once been a department chair and president of multiple medical associations, by the name of Dr. Norbert Lingling Uy—nudged him toward leadership.
And he said yes.
“The first yes may seem small, but as you keep saying yes, you are suddenly in a room where changes happen,” he said.
A past PHA president, Uy, was a professor at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center.
Getting Things Done—Even Without All the Answers
When the pandemic struck in 2020, Jimenez found himself in a familiar spot—being asked to take on something big: coordinating a national paper on Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) for the cardiovascular disease (CVD) Registry Project.
“I am not big on research but I said yes,” he shared.
He figured it out along the way.
Today, that project stands halfway to completion—a living proof that action often matters more than expertise.
“We always imagine success as something sudden and magical, but in truth, it’s quite steady, built on one decision, one step at a time,” Jimenez said.
Leadership Isn’t About Credit
Unlike traditional models of leadership that focus on hierarchy or ownership, Jimenez believes in passing the baton—not holding onto it.
He knows that titles are temporary. But momentum, when built with care, continues long after you have stepped away.
To him, “Some people call projects their brainchild, but in this kind of organization, there is no such thing. The projects are not yours -- they belong to the organization. Facilitated by the PHA Board of Directors, and executed with care by our Councils, Chapters, Comimitees, leadership is not about claiming it's about moving and continuing.”
On Being the ‘Reliable One’
According to Jimenez, the reliable ones, the busiest ones, the consistent ones—they are the ones who keep getting called on. Not because they have time, but because they make things move.
“If you want something done,” he added, “give it to the busiest person.”
He also called out a culture of inaction masked as involvement:
“There are people who just talk and whine. They don’t really solve anything.”
For him, real leadership is measured not by how loud you are in meetings, but by the quiet, consistent work of solving problems and keeping things moving forward.
Anchored in Purpose
But even the most motivated leaders need something deeper to hold on to. For Jimenez, that anchor is purpose.
“But as you move forward, you will encounter noise. That’s when I have learned anchoring everything in purpose. Stay grounded in the mission and vision. Do not let distraction drain your energy,” he said.
And while he is known for stepping up, he also reminded the audience of another form of strength: knowing when to say no.
“Saying no is part of serving well. Saying no is the only way to say yet to your priorities. That single yes will empower you to say no. Protect your energy and sanity,” he said. “You can’t pour from an empty cup,” he said.
Legacy in motion
For Dr. Rodney Jimenez, leadership was never about personal glory. It is about showing up, doing the work, and creating something that lasts beyond his own tenure.
Aside from being a practising adult interventional cardiologist, Jimenez is the Cardiology Training Officer of St. Luke’s Global City. He still trains students, still sings at medical events, and keeps saying yes.
And maybe that’s the lesson: leadership does not always look like a podium. Sometimes, it looks like a quiet voice saying, “Okay. Let’s get it done.”
Dr. Rodney Jimenez
Fr. L: Drs. Richard Henry Tiongco II, Luigi Pierre Segundo, Ronald Cuyco, Aurora Gamponia, Rodney Jimenez, Walid Amil, Lourdes Ella Santos and Avenilo Aventura Jr.
