(MAR. 3)—In the next five years, the UP Health Service (UPHS) will serve as one of the leading models of an effective, excellent, fair and empowering primary care facility in a schooI setting.

This was the goal set by Dr. Myrissa Melinda L. Alip, the new UPHS Director, who was appointed on Feb. 22, 2021.

During the online public forum to select the next UPHS head, Alip (the sole nominee) laid out a 5-point holistic agenda for her term.

The first is Comprehensive Wellness, which she intends to achieve through: health promotion; physicians as wellness advocates; physical fitness; nutrition; stress awareness; environmental sensitivity; and disease prevention and health maintenance.

The second is collaboration with other Units and healthcare facilities within the UP system and in relation with external health care facilities accessible to the university constituency.

The third is to improve programs related to psychological and emotion health, cooperating with organizations such as the National Center for Mental Health and the College of Human Kinetics.

The fourth is to keep UPHS health care professionals’ skills up-to-date with continuous learning, training and capacity building.

The fifth point is to enhance the university’s health service requirements by promoting a fully functional infirmary health care facility that is responsive to the needs of the community; and establishing critical methods to comply with the regulations of government and professional organizations.

Alip is an expert in diabetology. She earned her Doctor of Medicine and Master in Hospital Administration from UP Manila.

A part of the UPHS 25 years, Alip was its former Chief of Clinics. She is also a faculty member at the Institute for Studies on Diabetes Foundation, Inc.

“Ang ultimate outcome ay isang learned and empowered community. Ito ay magsisilbing modelo ng isang epektibo, mahusay, patas, at nagbibigay ng sariling kakayahan sa kanyang kinasasakupan para maalagaan nag kanilang kalusugan nang sa gayon ay magsilbing modelo ng isang pagamutan ng isang Unibersidad,” Alip said of her plans.

Alip will serve until Feb. 21, 2024.