2007 Dr. Luis Ma. Guerrero Memorial Lecturer

VIRGILIO D. SALANGA, MD, MS, UST'67

by Corazon Gemil

Virgilio "Ging" Salanga was an intern at the United States Air Force Hospital, Clark Air Base, and graduated Magna Cum Laude.  Prior to departing for the USA, he passed the Philippine Board of Medical Examiners Physician Complete Examination with the highest score (first place) in 1967.  A year of Surgical Internship and a year of Internal Medicine Residency at the Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center (Chicago) were followed by 3 1/2 years of Neurology Residency & Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic (Rochester).  During his Neurology Residency, he took additional courses, completed a basic research project, and wrote and defended a Thesis, which earned him the degree of Master of Science (Neurology) from the University of Minnesota.  He is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, American Board of Clinical Neurophysiology, and American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine.  He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and American Heart Association-Stroke Council.

Virgilio Salanga, MD

   Dr. Salanga was invited to join the Professional Staff of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (Ohio) in January 1973 immediately after completion of his residency.  Besides an active neurology clinical practice, he held various institutional leadership positions, while in Cleveland, Ohio:  Head, Section of Adult Neurology; Vice Chairman, Department of Neurology; and Neurology Residency Program Director.  In 1988, he was one of several physicians chosen to start a new Cleveland Clinic in Florida (Fort Lauderdale suburb).  As Neurology Department Chairman at Cleveland Clinic Florida, he and his colleagues met the challenges of building another practice from zero, recruited other excellent neurologists to build a new department, and started a new Neurology Residency Program.  The Cleveland Clinic Florida is now firmly established in beautiful clinic and hospital buildings and campus in Weston, Florida.  His leadership positions in this institution over the years were numerous:  Neurology Department Chairman, Member Board of Governors, Graduate Medical Education Chairman, Neurology Residency Program Director, Electrodiagnostic Medicine Fellowship Program Director, etc.  In Ohio and Florida, he held clinical faculty appointments (Associate Professor) in several medical schools: Case Western Reserve University, Ohio State University, University of Miami, Nova Southeastern University, and University of South Florida. 

   In January 2007, Dr. Salanga relinquished his leadership posts and now works part time as a senior neurologist 3 days a week.  Ging’s professional career faithfully embodied the mission of the Cleveland Clinic, the only institution he has worked for: “…to provide the best medical care to patients (be an excellent clinician); to study their problems (do research); and to teach those who will serve (education of residents and fellows)”.

   Dr. Salanga is the first and current Chairholder of the John and Margaret Krupa Chair in Neurology, established in 2000 with a multimillion dollar endowment gift from his grateful patients.  Other honors bestowed on him include Outstanding Intern of the Year (Michael Reese Hospital), Distinguished Service Award (Cleveland Clinic), How to Find the Best Doctors in Florida (Castle Connolly Guide),  The Best Doctors in South Florida (Miami Metro Magazine), Teacher of the Year Awards (voted by the neurology residents), The Outstanding Medical Alumnus Award in Education (UST, 2002),  Teacher Recognition Award (American Academy of Neurology, 2004), and Physician of the Year - Educator Award  (Cleveland Clinic Florida, 2005). 

   He has authored and co-authored many scientific papers, abstracts, and book chapters, on various neurology topics such as cerebral blood flow and stroke, neuropathies, myopathies, motor neuron diseases, epilepsy, headache, electrophysiology, and pelvic floor neurophysiology, etc.  He remains actively involved as Principal Investigator or Co-Investigator in many ongoing clinical research projects pertaining to new therapies for neurological illnesses such as stroke, epilepsy, dementia, Parkinson disease, headaches, and diabetic neuropathy, etc. 

   Ging is looking forward with deep humility and honor to deliver the Dr. Luis Guerrero Memorial Lecture on December 7, 2007.

Apart from his professional accomplishments, Ging derives even greater joy and pride for his personal life achievements.  Married to Caroline (Cara) whom he met in Chicago, they celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary last week.  They have 2 sons, a daughter, and 2 granddaughters.  Edward, their older son practices with a law firm in Phoenix, AZ, where he and his wife, Rachel, are raising their 2 daughters, Caitlyn and Lucy.  Matthew, their younger son, was a US Marine reservist, and presently is working on his PhD in Molecular Biology at the University of Arizona (Tucson).  Their daughter, Catherina, is working on her PhD in Biochemistry at the University of California (San Diego).