iBalbalan doctor appointed Vice Chair of Neurology at one of America's top public hospitals

Balbalan, Kalinga – An iBalbalan physician added another feather in her cap as she was recently appointed to co-lead the Stroke Center of the NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, one of the largest and most respected public tertiary hospitals in New York City.

Climbing the ranks at this major tertiary medical institution, Dr. Robin Ulep, daughter of Dr. Bong and Dr. Shirley Ulep, was recently appointed as the Vice Chair of Neurology and Co-Director of Stroke Center of the said medical institution.

The appointment marks another significant achievement for the iBalbalan physician, whose dedication to medicine has earned her recognition as a nationally respected vascular neurologist specializing in acute stroke care, stroke prevention, and patient recovery.

Her new workplace is no ordinary hospital.

NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst is a 545-bed tertiary medical center and the second-oldest municipal hospital in New York City. Serving nearly one million residents, it has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a Best Regional Hospital and nationally ranked in several specialties, including stroke, heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, orthopedics, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and hip fracture care.

As Vice Chair of Neurology and Co-Director of the Stroke Center, Dr. Ulep will help lead one of the hospital's most critical medical programs, ensuring that patients experiencing stroke receive rapid, compassionate, and life-saving treatment.

Welcoming her to the leadership team, NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst Chief Executive Officer Alina Moran expressed confidence in Dr. Ulep's expertise.

"Our clinicians are dedicated to ensuring that every patient experiencing a stroke has access to rapid, life-saving, and compassionate care close to home. Dr. Ulep's expertise will further strengthen our nationally recognized stroke program and build upon the exceptional care our multidisciplinary team provides every day to the people of Queens," Moran said.

Back home in Kalinga, the achievement has become a source of immense pride.

The Municipal Government of Balbalan, led by Mayor Almar Malannag and Vice Mayor Regina Munda Cruz, congratulated Dr. Ulep for bringing honor not only to her hometown but to the entire province.

Mayor Malannag described her accomplishment as another shining example of what determination, excellence, and perseverance can achieve, encouraging young iBalbalans to pursue their dreams through education and hard work.

For the people of Balbalan, her success is more than a personal milestone—it is a source of pride and hope. It shows that iBalbalans can stand shoulder to shoulder with the world's best professionals while never forgetting their roots. More importantly, it offers the younger generation a powerful example worth emulating: that with discipline, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to excellence, even the biggest dreams are within reach.