Biography

Dr. James Sabater Donato finished his medical preparatory course majoring in Psychology in 1967 at Manila’s oldest university, the University of Santo Tomas. He pursued his medical studies at the Far Eastern University – Dr. Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation and obtained his MD degree and medical license in 1973.

Dr. Donato then went to West Germany, where he was admitted to the Department of Anesthesia and Intensive Care at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Iserlohn, and Marien Hospital, Letmathe. To further his expertise, he trained at the Anesthesia and ICU Department of Hagen City General Hospital and Women’s Clinic. During his stay in Hagen, Dr. Donato completed courses in Ear Acupuncture and Ear Electric Stimulation Anesthesia, also known as Auriculo-Electro Stimulation Anesthesia (AESA). After completing the course, he became the first to introduce Ear Acupuncture Anesthesia at Hagen City Hospital. He also trained in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) at the same hospital.

Dr. Donato returned to the Philippines in 1986 and served as a Consultant Anesthesiologist at Waterous General Hospital in Manila. In 1992, he joined Saqr Hospital, Ras Al Khaimah, under the UAE Ministry of Health. In addition to managing the demanding workload of a tertiary hospital, Dr. Donato was selected as one of the Ministry’s examiners and evaluators for anesthesiologist applicants and, at times, served as a member of an investigating panel for anesthesia-related mortalities.

Dr. Donato worked at Saqr Hospital for 23 years. In 2015, he joined Belhoul Specialty Hospital’s Anesthesia and ICU Department, where he served until 2021, and later worked for a short period at Valiant Clinic and Hospital. He also worked at Al Tadawi Hospital and Dubai London Hospital before joining International Modern Hospital on 7 December 2023.