Imelda “Doc Ime” Cruz-Banting, M.D., P.T.
Vice President and International Medical Missions
Dr. Imelda Cruz-Banting is a full time Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist (physiatrist) and President of her own private practice in the Bronx, New York, U.S.A. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey (inactive). She is joined in her practice by two other specialists, an orthopedic and a pain medicine doctor. “Doc Ime” is a Physician certified to use Acupuncture as well as being a licensed Physical Therapist. She is currently affiliated with two hospitals in the Bronx, Montefiore Hospital North Division and St. Barnabas Hospital and caters to patients with disabilities resulting from neurologic, orthopedic, rheumatologic, sports injuries, chronic pain and other musculoskeletal disorders.
Before becoming a doctor, Imelda attended the Royal Pontifical University of Santo Tomas in Manila, Philippines, and completed Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy with honors (Cum Laude). She is licensed to practice in the Republic of the Philippines as well as in the USA both in the States of Florida and New York. She pursued her studies in the University of the City of Manila (Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila) and earned her post-graduate degree as Doctor of Medicine, ranking first in her class. She is still licensed to practice medicine in the Philippines and is in the process of affiliation with the upcoming Diliman Doctors Hospital in Quezon City, Philippines.
Dr. Cruz-Banting finished her four-year residency training under the program in New York Medical College. She has gained vast professional experience during her completion of her rotation in prestigious hospitals in New York such as Westchester County Medical Center in Valhalla, Metropolitan Hospital in Manhattan, St. Agnes Hospital in White Plains (for pediatric rehabilitation), and Montefiore North Hospital in the Bronx (formerly Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center). She was then elected “Chief Resident” during her senior year of medical training. Right after her residency training, she was appointed “clinical instructor” in the Dept. of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation of New York Medical College, and received various invitations to give lectures to the program physician residents. She furthered her training in pain management by fulfilling the course requirements at New York Medical College to finally become a “Physician Certified to use Acupuncture.”
Coming from a family with humble yet highly motivated parents both self-made in business, “Doc Ime” lives her life by the saying “If there’s a will, there’s a way.” She always strives and finds the right measures on how to handle difficult situations and most of the time succeeding. Growing up in a non-affluent neighborhood in Manila, her heart never fails to empathize with indigent people. And now at this stage in her career, she gives back to the needy with no reservations. Whenever she returns to her native home, the Philippines, she never fails in donating her expertise to participate in voluntary services in government hospitals and typically leads medical missions. Joining Project Michelangelo Foundation as a Board of Director for International Medical Missions even gives her more wings to fulfilling her charity missions in using her capacities either as a medical doctor or plainly as a humble and passionate individual. Add to these, “Doc Ime” even supports different civic organizations like “Smile Train”, “The Arthritis Foundation”, and “Food for the Poor.” A devout Christian, she is always active in the Filipino Catholic Parish Church in the Bronx and recently joined Couples for Christ with her husband, Roman Banting.
A multi-talented person, “Doc Ime” enjoys singing and playing piano, organ, or guitar. Her musical interest began when she served as Student Catholic Action Choir head during her senior year in high school at the Royal Pontifical University of Santo Tomas as well as serving as a church organist in their community in Manila for more than two decades. She loves reading motivational books which keep her desire to help incessantly burning. She is married with two kids and takes care of her mother whom she emulates for being an excellent educator. Aside from trying to follow the Golden Rule “to love another as one loves the self”, “Doc Ime” epitomizes the Christian ideals to “always be a blessing to others” and “always see good in everyone.” Project Michelangelo Foundation is truly blessed to have the likes of such a loving servant-leader like Angel “Doc Ime”.