Dr. Carmencita D. Padilla is Professor Emeritus of College of Medicine, University of the Philippines (UP) Manila and Emeritus Fellow of the Philippine Pediatric Society.  She received her MD from UP College  of Medicine. After her residency training in pediatrics at the Philippine General Hospital, she completed a fellowship in clinical genetics at the Royal Alexandria Hospital for Children in Sydney, Australia.  She also pursued a Master of Arts in Health Policy Studies from the College of Public Health, UP Manila. She is a pioneer in genetics in the Philippines and the Asia Pacific Region and help found the Asia Pacific Society of Human Genetics. She initiated  newborn screening (NBS) for the country and has developed a sustainable NBS system that serves as a model for developing programs. She is responsible for the lobby efforts for the passage of the Newborn Screening Act of 2004 (Republic Act No 9288) and the Rare Diseases Act of 2016 (Republic Act No 10747). She is an international consultant in genetics,  newborn  screening and rare diseases.

Her service to the country has included holding many key positions including Chancellor, University of the Philippines Manila (2014-2023); Founding Director, Institute of Human Genetics (2000-2010) and Newborn Screening Reference Center of the National Institutes of Health (2006-2014), UP Manila; Executive Director, Philippine Genome Center (2011-2016); President of the Asia Pacific Society for Human Genetics (2008-2010); and Vice President/Treasurer of International Society of Neonatal Screening (2013-2016). She was appointed country representative to the InterAcademy Medical Panel (IAMP) in 2010 and then represented National Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) as elected member of the IAMP Executive Committee from 2013-2016. She currently co-chairs a committee in WHO Geneva, tasked to establish a framework for newborn screening, diagnosis and management of birth defects for integration into routine health services in LMICs.

                Dr Padilla was elected Academician of the National Academy of Science and Technology in 2008.  The President of the Philippines conferred on her the title of National Scientist in 2023 followed with issuance of Presidential Proclamation No. 642 last August 2, 2024.