Ponce Medicine: Philanthropy, Community Service, Research, Students, News, Ponce, Puerto Rico

Meet Dr.Lisa Norman Professor of Public Health at Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Leonardo Valentin — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 03:07:00 GMT

Emergency Medicine Interest Group Meeting a Success!!!

Enoc Fernandez — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 01:12:00 GMT

The PSM group Emergency Medicine Interest Group (EMIG) held a conference last week, February 2, 2011, on EKG readings with guest speaker, Dra. Carene Oliveras, an attending in San Lucas Hospital. Approximately 15 students were expected but over 40 students attended!
In one hour, the doctor covered physiological and pathological readings. And even after the one hour conference, many students stayed on because they wanted to know more. Some students even inquired about shadowing ER physicians during their first and second years of medical school.
For many, the last semester of medical school is the first exposure medical students have to Emergency Medicine. As a result, unfortunately, many senior medical students decide very late in the matching process that they want to switch to Emergency Medicine as their new focus. This can cause much unneeded stress arising from a last-minute complete overhaul of applications and interviews. Providing the students with more exposure to Emergency Medicine before the last semester of their final year in medical school is really the main priority for Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences' Emergency Medicine Interest Group. By providing successful conferences such as this EKG class, the EMIG believes that they can reach that goal.
Last week success could not have been achieved without help from Dr.Carlos Garcia Gubern, Residency Program Director of Emergency Medicine in San Lucas Hospital, and Doctor Carene Oliveras.

For any questions or for more information on EMIG, please contact Jonathan Rakofsky at jonrako@gmail.com

Jonathan Rakofsky- 3rd year President of Emergency Medicine Interest Group
Adelle Iusim Sharon- 2nd year EMIG president
Juan Carlos Vasquez 1st year EMIG president
Gustavo A Diaz, 1st year EMIG president

Breast Cancer Awareness Fundraising Sale at the Research Building Lobby

Enoc Fernandez — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 23:01:00 GMT

On October 26-27 from 9:00 AM- 4:30 PM, the graduate students of Dr. Matta's Toxicology Research Laboratory and GSABS will have a fundraising for Breast Cancer Awareness in the Research Building Lobby.This fundraising will include: handcrafted natural soaps and ''Hope of Wings Angels'', goodies, snacks, and breast cancer items ( i.e. ribbons,brazalets). In addition, everyone will have the opportunity to participate of a raffle that will take place in these 2- days event activity. All sale profits will be donate to the Susan G. Komen PR branch. So please feel free to stop by and come support this noble cause. We need your help to spread awareness about breast cancer in the entire scientific and academic community of PSMHS. Hope to see you there!!!

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The Student Council of Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Enoc Fernandez — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 19:41:00 GMT

The Student Council at Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences was established to represent the student body and provide a voice for them, acting as a liaison with the administration. Our current president, Jason Nieves, has established a relationship between the two and has voiced the concerns, dislikes, and ideas that students may have to improve our school. This has led to finding new ways where the students can communicate more effectively with the student council in order to take those concerns to the people who can make changes. One way is by starting a blog where the students can write a question and it can reach the administration. Until the blog is up, feel free to write a comment using your school emails. It is imperative that you use your school emails so we can know that you actually attend the school.

Alobar holoprosencephaly associated with abnormal chromosome 17: Findings of craniofacial pathology on prenatal ultrasound.

Leonardo Valentin — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 11:35:00 GMT

Leonardo I. Valentin, MD, Luis Rodriguez-Ruiz, MD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Radiology, Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ponce, PR, USA.

Abstract
We present a case of alobar holoprosencephaly, a complex human brain malformation, identified by obstetric sonogram at 23 weeks gestation in a G1P0 mother. Alobar holoprosencephaly is recognized as the most severe variant of the condition within the entire spectrum of holoprosencephaly. Fetal karyotype analysis was performed, which showed a fetus with an abnormality on chromosome 17. Two infectious processes, during the first trimester of pregnancy, were environmental risk factors identified. At the time of this report gestation was in progress and further genetic studies were pending. To our knowledge this case presents a unique association of environmental risk factors and a genetic abnormality never reported in a case of alobar holoprosencephaly.

Case Report
We present the findings of a screening fetal ultrasound performed at 23 weeks gestation in 23 years old, grava 1, para 0 patient. Patient reported a negative past medical history negative except for gastroesophageal reflux disease and allergic rhinitis. Patient denied use of alcohol, tobacco or illicit drugs. In addition, no significant family history was present for genetic disease or congenital anomalies. Screening for sexually transmitted disease was negative.
The prenatal history for this patient was positive for two infectious processes early in pregnancy. For the first visit, retrospectively calculated at 2 weeks gestational age, the patient came to clinic reporting sore throat and ear discomfort for which patient was evaluated and treated with oral antibiotics. Next visit was at 6 weeks gestational age—during which pregnancy was confirmed with a ß-hCG—in which patient reported generalized malaise and body aches. Patient also reported an episode of fever and chills the night before. Upon examination upper respiratory tract infection was confirmed. Guaifenesin and acetaminophen were prescribed for upper respiratory tract infection symptoms. Based upon patient's reported LMP 45 days previously, this correlates with a gestational age of 6 weeks 3 days.
On the obstetric ultrasound performed at 23 weeks gestation, findings consistent with severe facial deformities were noticed (Fig.1). These included a single primitive ventricle (Fig.2), cleft palate (Fig.1), hypotelorism and absence of the interhemispheric fissure (Fig.4). Biparietal diameter of 7.12 cm was recorded, a measurement large for gestational age. On a posterior view a lesion suggestive of a spinal pathology was also noted (Fig. 3). The imaging findings are consistent with a diagnosis of alobar holoprosencephaly, the most severe form of holoprosencephaly.
After detection of craniofacial malformations consistent with alobar holoprosencephaly, parents were oriented on prognosis. Outcome and prognosis issues like facial deformities, learning disabilities and survival risk due to endocrine and neurological complications after birth were addressed. Counseling regarding termination and genetic screening was given. Patient decided to continue pregnancy. Fetal chromosomal analysis was performed in which karyotype showed additional genetic material on chromosome 17. Parents will be evaluated for chromosomal translocations. At the time of this report, gestation was in progress and MRI imaging was not available due to insurance constraints.

Discussion
Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is a malformation of the brain, which is thought to be a consequence of an interruption in the normal growth and differentiation of the embryo. Although the precise mechanism of this defect is yet unknown it is thought to occur between the third and eighth week of development. The etiology is quite heterogeneous, since genetic and environmental factors have been identified. These range from chromosomal abnormalities, viral infections early in pregnancy, teratogenic substances and prenatal radiation to endocrine disorders (1). Up to 25%-50% of individuals with HPE will have a numerical or structural chromosomal abnormality. The most common risk factor/teratogen known to cause HPE in humans is maternal diabetes mellitus. Infants of diabetic mothers have a 1% risk, about a 200-fold increase, for HPE (2).
The prevalence of HPE is of about 1.3 in 10,000 births. The incidence of HPE has male:female ratio of 1.4/1 (3).
When the embryo fails to develop and to undergo the process of septation of the midline central nervous system HPE can occur. The normal process involves the migration of neural crest cells along the neural tube. These cells move and arrange in predetermined positions in order to complete the closure of the rostral and caudal neuropores. The primordial brain normally divides into two hemispheres. When a disturbance of this intricate process occurs fusion or failure of septation can occur in several of the central nervous system structures. This failure of septation includes ventricles and cerebral hemispheres.
Several types and gradation of HPE exist. Although the pathology is thought to be a continuum and clear distinction is not always possible, four general variants are usually recognized. Based on the degree of separation these variants are categorized as: lobar, semilobar, alobar. A Middle Interhemispheric Variant (MIHV) in which the posterior frontal and parietal lobes are not entirely separated has also been described (4).
Lobar HPE is considered a mild presentation of the condition, in which the right and left ventricles are separated and fusion is only seen on the prefrontal cortex. Semilobar as the name implies present with partial separation, but a single ventricle.
Total absence of midline forebrain division, presence of a primitive ventricle and fusion of cerebral hemispheres characterizes Alobar HPE, the most severe form. Neonates with alobar HPE frequently expire soon after birth (5).
The initial diagnosis in patients with no previous history of HPE or genetic abnormalities (low-risk patients) is done by prenatal ultrasound. Although ultrasound is the screening test of choice as well as the initial diagnostic test during the prenatal period, the MRI is considered to be the confirmatory test for holoprosencephaly in the postnatal period. CT-Scan has also been used for postnatal testing, but MRI remains the preferred method.
Prenatal ultrasound can detect anomalies of the central nervous system and a facial deformity of severe HPE as early as the first trimester, but is less sensitive for detection of milder forms of HPE. Therefore, the use of prenatal MRI has been increasing for diagnosis of the milder forms of HPE after suspicion on ultrasound findings. Molecular analysis screening should be used for high-risk cases, with previous history of HPE. Moreover, the genetic heterogeneity and multihit origin of the cases linked to mutations make the task of genetic counseling a very difficult one. In addition, a study found that 13% apparently sporadic cases could have recurrence (6)(7).
The care of a child with HPE requires a multidisciplinary approach. Prognosis depends upon different complications the child can present at birth including: endocrine disorders, cardiorespiratory alterations, and/or seizures. Some reports suggest seizures occur in 52% of the cases. While, diabetes insipidus has been described to occur in about 72% of the cases. In that same study, by Plawner and colleagues, temperature instability occurred in 32% of the cases (8). Physical and occupational therapy is recommended, as for children with other brain defects. It is important to have in mind that some these children with milder cases of HPE may only have mild learning and/or behavior problems with few motor impairments. Therefore, some children with HPE will have a long life span, learn, and have meaningful lives.
Clinicians must be prepared to offer parental counseling about this condition. Counseling should mention that most HPE cases have an uncertain etiology and prognosis. Genetic screening should be encouraged in all cases, even when environmental risk factors have been identified. This multifactorial scenario makes the task of prenatal diagnosis and counseling on HPE a particularly challenging and difficult one for both the clinician and parents.

REFERENCES

1.   Barr M Jr, Hanson JW, Currey K, Sharp S, Toriello H, Schmickel RD, Wilson GN. Holoprosencephaly in infants of diabetic mothers. J Pediatr. 1983; 102: 565–8.
2.   Croen LA, Shaw GM, Lammer EJ. Risk factors for cytogenetically normal holoprosencephaly in California: a population-based case-control study. Am J Med Genet. 2000;90:320–325.
3.   Blaas, HG, Eriksson, AG, Salvesen, KA, Isaksen, CV. Brains and faces in holoprosencephaly: pre- and postnatal description of 30 cases. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2002; 19:24.
4.   Picone, O, Hirt, R, Suarez, B, et al. Prenatal diagnosis of a possible new middle interhemispheric variant of holoprosencephaly using sonographic and magnetic resonance imaging. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2006; 28:229.
5.   Dubourg C, Bendavid C, Pasquier L, et al. Holoprosencephaly Orphanet J Rare Dis. Feb 2 2007;2:8.
6.   Odent S, Le Marec B, Munnich A, Le Merrer M, Bonaiti-Pellie C. Segregation analysis in nonsyndromic holoprosencephaly. Am J Med Genet. 1998;77:139–143.
7.   Alex M.-C. Wong, Larissa T. Bilaniuk, K.-K. Ng, Y.-L. Chang, A.-S. Chao, Y.-Y. Wai. Lobar holoprosencephaly: prenatal MR diagnosis with postnatal MR correlation. Prenatal Diagnosis. 2005; 25: 296-299
8.   Plawner, L.L., Delgado, M.R., Miller, V.S., Levey, E.B., Kinsman, S.L., Barkovich, A.J., Simon, E.M., Clegg, N.J., Sweet, V.T., Stashinko, E.E., Hahn, J. S. Neuroanatomy of holoprosencephaly as predictor of function: Beyond the face predicting the brain. Neurology 2002 59: 1058-1066

FIGURES

Figure 1: Obstetric Ultrasound at 23 weeks gestation depicting multiple facial deformities suggestive of holoprosencephaly.

Figure 2. Obstetric Ultrasound at 23 weeks gestation view of biparietal diameter measurements.

Figure 3. Prenatal ultrasound view, at 23 weeks, of fetus spine depicting
possible spinal lesion.

Figure 4. Obstetric ultrasound view of the head of fetus at 23 weeks gestation.

ABBREVIATIONS
HPE = Holoprosencephaly
US = Ultrasound

QUESTIONS
Teaching Point: Ultrasound Detection of Craniofacial Pathology can be related with the brain malformation known as Holoprosencephaly. HPE is a rare brain malformation in which the Alobar subtype is the most severe presentation.

1) Which of the following is the most severe form of HPE ?
a)   Lobar
b)   Semilobar
c)   Alobar
d)   Middle Interhemispheric Variant (MIHV)
e)   All are equally severe
Correct Answer: c

Explanation: Severity is related to the degree of fusion, and inversely proportional to the degree of separation.
A. Lobar HPE is considered a mild presentation of the condition, in which the right and left ventricles are separated and fusion is only seen on the prefrontal cortex.
B. Semilobar as the name implies present with partial separation, but a single ventricle.
C. Alobar, the most severe, in which there is a single ventricle and no separation of the cerebral hemispheres
D. Middle Interhemispheric Variant (MIHV) in which the posterior frontal and parietal lobes are not entirely separated
E. As seen from above explanations, every classification carries a different prognosis.

2) The most common risk factor associated with HPE in humans is:
a)   Maternal hypercholesterolemia
b)   Viral infection
c)   Bacterial infection
d)   Maternal diabetes mellitus
e)   None of the above
Correct Answer: d
Explanation:
Of the above, maternal diabetes mellitus has been identified as the most common human teratogen linked to HPE. Maternal hypocholesterolemia not hypercholesterolemia, is thought to predispose to HPE. All other answer choices have been associated with HPE, but are not the most common cause.

3) Question: Which of the answer choices is false? Sonographic findings seen in HPE include:
a)   Snowstorm pattern (false)
b)   Hypotelorism (true)
c)   Primitive ventricle (true)
d)   Cleft palate (true)
e)   Cyclopia (true)
Explanation
Snowstorm pattern on US is not a characteristic finding of HPE, this finding is usually associated with hydatiform moles.
4) Which the following is the most common complication of newborns with HPE?
a)   Seizures
b)   Limb amputation
c)   Diabetes insipidus
d)   Temperature instability
e)   Diabetes mellitus
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Diabetes insipidus has been described to occur in about 72% of the cases. While seizures are commonly described in HPE, reports indicated that they occur in 52% of the cases. Limb amputation is not commonly associated with HPE. Temperature instability has been report to occur in 32% of the cases. Diabetes mellitus is not a commonly associated complication with the HPE patient.

5) The preferred confirmatory test for Holoprosencephaly is
a)   CT- Scan
b)   MRI
c)   Ultrasound
d)   X-Ray
Correct Answer: B
Explanation:
Although ultrasound is the screening test of choice as well as the initial diagnostic test during the prenatal period, the MRI is considered to be the confirmatory test for holoprosencephaly in the postnatal period. This applies more for cases of semilobar and lobar variants in which the diagnosis cannot be determined with certainty by ultrasound imaging. MRI is not necessary in cases of evident alobar holoprosencephaly on ultrasound. CT-Scan would be an alternative to MRI for postnatal testing. The use of prenatal MRI has been increasing for diagnosis of the milder forms of HPE after suspicious ultrasound findings.

Antonio Paoli: El León de Ponce

Leonardo Valentin — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 01:02:00 GMT

Por: Giancarlo R. Valentín

¿Quién fue Antonio Paoli?

Antonio Paoli se considera el primer puertorriqueño en obtener reconocimiento internacional en cuanto a la música se refiere. Por ser el tenor favorito de los reyes del mundo Paoli fue denominado como "El Rey de los Tenores y El Tenor de los Reyes".

Infancia:

Antonio Paoli nació en Ponce el 14 de abril de 1871, hijo del caballero corso Domingo Paoli y de Amalia Marcano. La ciudad de Ponce fue ideal para el desarrollo musical del joven Paoli. Durante el siglo diecinueve, Ponce se convirtio en la capital financiera y cultural de Puerto Rico. En específico el Teatro ponceño se hizo el centro de recibimiento de artistas internacionales. Fue precisamente en el Teatro la Perla donde, luego de ver al tenor italiano Pietro Baccei, Antonio supo que dedicaría su vida a la música. Aun así, Paoli no necesitó salir de su casa para recibir buen aprendizaje ya que su padre y su hermana estaban muy versados en las artes musicales.

Para el 1878 los Paoli se vieron solos ante el fallecimiento de ambos de sus padres. Su hermana, Amalia Paoli, se hizo cargo de la familia y logró conseguir audiciones musicales ante la realeza Espanola. A raíz de su audición Amelia forma una amistad con la princesa Isabel y consigue dos becas para sus hermanos. De esta forma el joven Paoli ingresó como estudiante en el Real Monasterio del Escorial, con una beca de la Reina María de España.

Debut:

En 1899 Antonio Paoli debutó en París con la ópera Guillermo Tell de Antonio Rossini. Al dia siguiente los periódicos lo declararon como una sensación. El periódico 'El Figaro' expresó que "debemos declarar a Paoli como el Tenor de Francia" y el 'Cahiers du ópera' publico el titular "Antonio Paoli, la Nueva Sensacion De La ópera Moderna".

Luego de su debut, la fama de Antonio Paoli creció rápidamente por Europa, Latinoamerica y los Estados Unidos.

Primer disco de ópera en el mundo:

En 1907 grabó en acetato la ópera "Payaso" de Leoncavallo; la primera ópera que se graba en su totalidad en formato de disco. El siguiente video presenta un fragmento de dicha grabación.

¡El Rey se pone de pie!

En el 1910 fue reconocido "Primo Tenore" de la Scala de Milán. En 1912 tuvo el honor de cantar en el Teatro Imperial de Viena al emperador de Austria, Fransico José. Al finalizar su presentación, el emperador rompió todos los protocolos al ponerse de pie para aplaudir al tenor ponceño.

Con la Primera Guerra Mundial entrando en su estado crítico, todas las óperas del continente se vieron cerradas y Antonio Paoli se vio obligado a abandonar a Europa.

Paoli, quien había acumulado una fortuna considerable, nunca permitió que sus amistades pasaran necesidades. De hecho, su desmedida bondad en combinación con malas inversiones y la aparente pérdida de su voz hicieron que su fortuna se esfumara con rapidez. Encontrándose en el borde de la miseria, Paoli tuvo que recurrir a la práctica del boxeo para poder financiar los costos de su regreso a Europa. En su carrera como boxeador luchó en cinco combates y obtuvo victoria en todos ellos. Pese a eso, en su último encuentro se fracturó su mano derecha y de esta forma terminó su incursión en el deporte del boxeo.

El León de Ponce Ruge Denuevo:

Para 1917, se anuncia en Roma el regreso de Antonio Paoli (de 46 años de edad) . Un miembro de la audiencia recordó lo siguiente:

"Nadie pensaba que Paoli volvería al escenario; todos sabiamos que había perdido su voz. La gente llegó para verlo fracasar. Inclusive vi a personas con tomates y huevos listos para lanzarlos tan pronto Paoli hiciera un error. Pero cuando salió a cantar su aria inicial el público se enloqueció y se levantaron para ovacionarlo. La voz de Paoli sonaba como una de las trompetas que uno espera oir en el dia del juicio final. Su regreso fue tremendo. Tuvo que repetir cada aria dos veces ya que el publico se lo pidió éfusivamente. Paoli se presentó nuevamente por siete noches consecutivas con el teatro lleno a maxima capacidad . Fui a cada una de estas funciones y cada noche su voz era mejor que la anterior. Siempre soñé cantar con Paoli pero no creo que mi voz era lo suficientemente buena o fuerte para cantar con él. Creo que fue el tenor mas grande en la historia."

-- Elvira de Hidalgo (Cantante Española)

Regreso a Casa:

Luego de multiples giras adicionales por toda Europa y América, Paoli regresó a Puerto Rico en el 1922. Por los proximos años se dedicó a establecer una nueva academia de canto para desarrollar dicho talento en Puerto Rico. Más tarde estuvo envuelto en la primera producción de la ópera Otelo, en el Teatro Municipal de San Juan.

En 1929 el tenor comenzó sus esfuerzos a favor del establecimiento de un conservatorio de música en Puerto Rico. A pesar de que sometió planes detallados a las autoridades pertinentes, no logró ver su sueño realizado en vida ya que falleció el 24 de agosto de 1946, a causa de un cáncer.

El Conservatorio de Música que tanto soñó durante su vida vio luz finalmente a mediados de siglo veinte.

Como dijo Jesús Omar Rivera:

"Si bien es cierto que el siglo veinte terminó con una super estrella mundial como Ricky Martin, debemos saber que este mismo siglo comenzó también con una mega estrella en la figura de Antonio Emilio Paoli."

Por esta razón el León de Ponce ocupa un lugar singular en nuestro corazón.

[Para más información sobre Antonio Paoli se recomienda la lectura del siguiente libro cuyo título fue inspiración para este artículo: Atonio Paoli el Leon de Ponce por Jesus M. Lopez.]

Discurso del Secretario de Salud, Dr.Lorenzo Gonzalez, a los Graduados de la Escuela de Medicina de Ponce

Leonardo Valentin — Mon, 31 May 2010 23:51:00 GMT

The Ponce School of Medicine Class of 2010 Graduates in "Teatro La Perla"

Leonardo Valentin — Mon, 31 May 2010 01:29:00 GMT

Dr. Joxel Garcia welcomed the family members of the PSOM Class of 2010 to the Teatro la Perla in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The ceremony began at 7:00pm and counted with the presence of prominent figures like the Puerto Rico Secretary of Health Dr. Lorenzo Gonzalez who gave a speech to the graduates.

The Pearl Theater (Teatro la Perla) is the largest and most historic theater of the Spanish-speaking Caribbean. It has been the meeting place for the most influential Puerto Rican leaders since 1864. The theater was designed by Juan Bertoli Calderoni (an Italian resident of the city) in the 1860's and it bears a neoclassical structure with an impressive six-column entrance.

Puerto Rico Experiences its Strongest Earthquake since 1918

Leonardo Valentin — Sun, 16 May 2010 06:19:00 GMT

The earthquake of 1918 had an approximate magnitude of 7.5 on the Richter scale, the earthquake experienced today (5.7 on Richter, later upgraded to 5.8) was the strongest one experienced by Puerto Ricans since then.

Different from the earthquake of 1918, this one is not expected to cause a tsunami (or tidal wave), which in 1918 was of about 20 feet high.

There is no official report on any deaths or injuries at the moment. Minimal damage to structure was reported across Puerto Rico, with most damage occurring close to the epicenter in western Puerto Rico.

Terremoto en Puerto Rico

Leonardo Valentin — Sun, 16 May 2010 05:55:00 GMT

REPORTE OFICIAL USGS: EL TEMBLOR FUE DE 5.8 A LA 1:16 AM. A 5 MILLAS AL ESTE DE ANASCO. A UNA PROFUNDIDAD DE 68.4 MILLAS.

Un fuerte temblor azotó a la Isla de Puerto Rico en la madrugada de hoy domingo 16 de mayo. El sismo ocurrido a la 1:16 a.m. fue reportado por el USGS a 5 millas al este de Añasco, con una magnitud de 5.7 grados y con una profundidad de 68.4 millas. Un nuevo reporte a las 3:08 a.m. de la Red Sísmica de Puerto Rico indicaba un aumentó en la intensidad del sismo a 5.8 grados.

Hasta el momento hay reportes de varias carreteras derrumbadas en el pueblo de Utuado. Pese a que la Autoridad de Energía Eléctrica reportó que las sub-estaciones no han sufrido daños a nivel de generación y transmisión, hay reportes de que en Aguadilla, Arecibo y Añasco se averiaron las mismas al momento del sismo.

Mientras en el centro comercial más grande del Caribe "Plaza Las Américas" fueron reportados varios daños en la estructura, como cristales y puertas rotas. Los hoteles en las áreas de Mayaguez, Aguadilla, Añasco y San Sebastián, reportaron que no hay daños existentes en sus estructuras.
Los mantendremos informados sobre la presente situación en Puerto Rico...

http://www.prsn.uprm.edu/English/Informe_Sismo/myinfoGeneral.php?ID=20100516051609

Earthquake in Puerto Rico

Leonardo Valentin — Sun, 16 May 2010 05:37:00 GMT

At approximately 1:18 am , Puerto Rico has felt what appears to be one of the strongest earthquakes in its history. As editor of the Ponce Medicine Magazine I was working on some new articles when I suddenly felt the windows shaking and the power starting to fade at my house in the town of Manati, Puerto Rico.

I definitely felt it last for more than 10 seconds, and even saw paintings falling from the walls. After I felt it stopped I immediately posted a comment on Facebook to mark the time and let people know that what they were experiencing was an earthquake.

I have now confirmed that the earthquake was felt equivalently in the entire northern part of the island.

Current official reports are mentioning the actual time was 1:16am with a 5.7 magnitude on the Richter scale, 5 miles to the East of Anasco, Puerto Rico with a depth 68.4 miles.

Official Information from the Puerto Rico Seismic Network

Ponce's Isla Caja de Muertos on CNN

Leonardo Valentin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 00:27:00 GMT

The Islands of Puerto Rico as featured on CNN report on Eco-Tourism. Special Mention is made to "Isla Caja de Muertos" which is part of the Ponce municipality.

Ponce School of Medicine Alumni Association invites you to the 6th Annual Symposium at the Ponce Hilton Hotel and Casino

Leonardo Valentin — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:07:00 GMT

Dr. Laudino Castillo Rojas próximo a ascender de Capitán a Mayor en el Ejército de los Estados Unidos

Leonardo Valentin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 11:18:00 GMT

De una familia compuesta de 4 hermanos y con apenas 10 años de edad, comenzó su motivación y deseo por conocer el campo de la medicina, Laudino Castillo Rojas, actualmente doctor en medicina y próximo a ascender de Capitán a Mayor en el Ejército de los Estados Unidos, luego de pasar una experiencia con su madre, pudo darse cuenta a lo que realmente quería dedicar el resto de su vida. Años más tarde, al culminar un bachillerato en microbiología y un asociado en medicina nuclear, comenzó a laborar como tecnólogo en medicina nuclear, para luego en el año 2000 entrar a la Escuela de Medicina de Ponce, “...ahí fue donde todo comenzó...”

Castillo Rojas, quien se unió a la infantería del Ejército de los Estados Unidos luego de culminar su escuela secundaria, regresó a Puerto Rico para culminar uno de sus más grandes deseos, el estudiar medicina, deseo que tuvo que prolongar por cierto tiempo.

"El óbstaculo mayor fue recursos económicos...", Castillo Rojas desde la escuela superior siempre deseó entrar al ejército e incluso fue su primera opción, pero su madre no accedió, ya que siempre le recalcaba que la educación era lo más importante. "No había suficiente dinero, en una familia de cuatro, para estudiar se requiere recursos económicos...”, situación que hizo que su trayectoria fuera un poco más difícil, ya que no pudo convertirse en médico rápidamente que salió de su bachillerato. Su primer año de estudios fue pagado por becas y luego al ingresar a la Guardia Nacional de Massachusetts, el ARMY ofreció pagar su matrícula. Y es precisamente ésta una de las situaciones que día a día tienen que pasar cientos de jóvenes, situación que provoca que más jóvenes no puedan comenzar o continuar sus estudios independientemente la carrrera que estos seleccionen, la falta de suficientes ayudas en especial económicas pueden llegar a limitar los deseos de convertirse en un profesional, pero jamás tronchar sus deseos. Ya que años más tarde lo pudo lograr, "el regresar a la Isla fue un cambio grande pero fue una experiencia muy buena, no solamente llegué a revivir lo que había pasado hace 12 años, trabajar con la gente puertorriqueña de nuevo y tratar pacientes”, mencionó.

Enfatizando que fue una experiencia sumamente enriquecedora sus años de estudio en “Ponce School of Medicine”, “no solamente tuve la oportunidad de trabajar con los pacientes, tuve la oportunidad de ser parte del liderazgo de la clase", donde Catillo Rojas tuvo la oportunidad de convertirse en presidente de su clase granduanda de “Ponce School of Medicine”, oportunidad que mencionó permitió que sus eneseñanzas de liderazgo durante sus años en la infantería de los Estados Unidos, los pudiera aplicar y poner en acción.

Castillo Rojas, quien actualmente se encuentra culminando su “fellowship” en el área de cardiología del Brooke Army Medical Center en San Antonio, Texas y quien será ascendido de capitán a mayor durante las próximas semanas, mencionó en entrevista con PonceMedicine.com, que definitivamente tiene muchas más oportunidades como médico dentro del Departamento Médico del Ejército de los Estados Unidos, comparado con un médico en una práctica regular o civil y muy pocas las limitaciones que se tienen, en especial cuando se trata de estudios o tratamientos médicos para los pacientes.

"Siendo militar tú no solamente eres médico sino también te consideras soldado, un oficial... te dan la oportunidad de prácticar medicina en el combate, que requiere entrenamiento especial...", quien resaltó que son mínimas las limitaciones que tiene como médico militar, como en ocasiones muchas personas piensan. Y es que tanto en Puerto Rico como en los Estados Unidos son muchos los jóvenes que tienen el temor de adentrarse al ejército de los Estados Unidos por temor a las limitaciones que quizás puedan existir, a esto Castillo Rojas nos dijo: “Obstáculos muy pocos, si quieres establecer una meta ellos te pueden ayudar a llegar a donde ella lo antes posible, siempre hay una persona velando por ti...” "estamos aquí para defender... como médico nuestro trabajo oficial es mantener la fuerza saludable, estas personas que están en combate directamente con el enemigo, nosotros somos los que mantenemos esas personas saludables...”

“Yo me siento que puedo ofrecer mucho más”, quien atiende en las facilidades del Brooke Army Medical Center de 2 a 3 millones de personas entre las edades de 55 años hasta 99 años de edad, que incluyen no solamente a soldados áctivos, sino también a personas retiradas o independientes, con problemas cardiológicos, patológicos y congénitos. Y en donde también ha tenido que pasar por fuertes experiencias médicas, difíciles pero muy gratificantes, como lo fue el caso de un joven de a penas 35 años de edad, con una obstrucción en una arteria del corazón. Situación que marcó la vida de Castillo Rojas. "El me dijo: lo último que me acuerdo fue hablar contigo...gracias por darme la vida de nuevo..." "Ahora tengo un amigo para siempre, el me agradece todo lo que hice pero para mi hice mi trabajo, fue difícil porque era una persona joven, tuve que tomar desiciones rápidas, en primer año de fellowship...la persona fue bien agradecida y pude traer esa persona a disfrutar la vida con su esposa hijos y su mama"

El Dr. Laudino Castillo Rojas, quien trabaja actualmente en un proyecto de investigación donde se intenta determinar con alta tecnología y el mejor equipo de trabajo, el porcentaje en jóvenes con incidencia de arterias coronarias y quien espera poder contar con “Ponce School of Medicine”, junto al Departamento Médico del Ejército de los Estados Unidos.

Por el momento cuenta con dos doctores cíviles cardiólogos, un radiólogo y tres enfermeras, "esto no se ha estudiado y sería bueno comenzarlo en Puerto Rico y la escuela de Ponce sería un buen sitio para comenzar este estudio y expandirlo en toda la Isla, estamos trabajando con los fondos y el personal que necesitamos.”

De la misma manera, Castillo Rojas quien espera visitar a Puerto Rico durante el próximo año, quiso exhortar a los estudiantes de medicina a que continuen en el campo médico por las distintas etapas de desarrollo, ya que serán muchas puertas las que se abrirán durante el transcurso del tiempo. “Medicina es un campo muy grande y muy bonito de estudiar y prácticar, sigan pa' lante hay mucho que aprender todavía...”, culminó.

Por: Sency Mellado / PonceMedicine.com

Dr. Magda Trujillo leader in Autism treatment by Auditory Integration Training Therapy

Leonardo Valentin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 05:04:00 GMT

BY CESAR NEYOY - BAJO EL SOL

Questions about the future weigh heavily on the minds of parents of autistic children — questions that, unfortunately, have not yet been answered by medical science.

For Katheryn Herrera of Yuma, those questions have been particularly burdensome as she waits for an answers about a condition that was diagnosed first in her 8-year-old son Cristo, and then his two younger brothers.

"It's an understatement to say it's very painful, and on top that to multiply it by three," Herrera said. "I have been dealing with it for many years."

Cristo was diagnosed with light autism at an early age, she recalled. "I knew something was wrong with him. Even the way he cried was different, with a bawl that was very exaggerated. He always seemed anxious and afraid."

While there may be no certaintly of finding a cure for autism, science has at least developed a number of therapies that can improve the quality of life for autistic children.

In Yuma, Dr. Magda Trujillo practices one of them. Though not well known in this area, Auditory Integration Training (AIT) is based on the ear's influence on various cerebral functions, behavior and even body movements.

"This training regulates the auditory and vestibular system; that is to say, the ear and the system that helps us in motor coordination," Trujillo said.

She explained that when we hear a sound, the frequency carries from the outer ear to the inner area and the vestibular area, followed by chemical reactions that send electrical charges toward the brain.

"When we do this type of (medical) intervention, we are regulating changes in the patterns in how people listen. It has been observed that people with developmental problems don't hear in the normal way, especially children within the spectrum of autism."

Cristo is undergoing this therapy with Trujillo, and his mother said he is showing improvement in his behavior.

"At first, it was very small, but when he returned to school, they saw a difference from the previous year," Herrera said. "You notice a difference what you compare him with children his age."

A graduate of the Ponce School of Medicine in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Trujillo has been practicing the AIT technique since she started her practice in Yuma in 2008.

"Children listen to music for 10 days, two times a day for a half-hour," she said. "It's popular music pre-tested to present different frequencies in different tones to give flexibility to some of the muscles we have in the middle ear, so that the sounds flow and all the electric charges occur to process the message" and bring about comprehension, she explained.

Developed in France, AIT was introduced in the United States in the early 1990s, Trujillo said.

"There has been a lot of study of this intervention (AIT). It has been tested with children with autism and dyslexia. Studies have found that music relaxes people with those conditions and helps them to make other neural connections."

Herrera said her other two sons have begun the AIT therapy.

The sooner the therapy can be given to children, the better, Trujillo said. "The brain is more malleable, and it can adapt better."

April is Autism Awareness Month, and many myths and misinformation surround the condition, said Trujillo, who added she has diagnosed in almost 70 percent of the youths she treats cases of autism ranging in degree from light to severe.

"There is a lack of information," she said. "People who don't know what autism is see a child screaming and the first thing they think is that the mother doesn't know how to control her child. Autism is a condition where the the child is going to react in a different way according to where he happens to be, and the parents have nothing to do with that."

She underscored that while signs of autism can be varied, parents should educated themselves about the condition so they can seek care as soon as symptoms arise.

"There is always the fear about whether a child can have an independent life, but many people with autism have it."

Trujillo's practice is located in Suite 8 at 2281 W. 24th St. Telephone is 783-0092.

Museo de Arte de Ponce

Leonardo Valentin — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:31:00 GMT

Puerto Rico and Germany Sport Fastest Buggies in NASA's 17th Annual Great Moonbuggy Race

Leonardo Valentin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:02:00 GMT

Through flipsand spills over a simulated moon surface, two veteran contenders finallyfound their time to shine in NASA’s 17th annual Great Moonbuggy Race.The team representing the International Space Education Institute ofLeipzig, Germany, won the high school division; and racers from theUniversity of Puerto Rico in Humacao took first place in the collegedivision.

The teams bested more than 70 teams from 18 states, Puerto Rico, Canada,Germany, India and Romania. More than 600 drivers, engineers andmechanics -- all students -- gathered with their team advisors andcheering sections to take part in the matchup of wits and wheels at theU.S. Space & Rocket Center April 9-10 in Huntsville, Ala.

The race is organized by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center inHuntsville. It challenges students to design, build and racelightweight, human-powered buggies that tackle many of the sameengineering challenges dealt with by Apollo-era lunar rover developersat the Marshall Center in the late 1960s.

The International Space Education Institute, known among moonbuggyracers as "Team Germany," has been a prominent contender in thecompetition since they debuted in 2007 as the German Space EducationInstitute. Their team this year included two Russian students,reflecting the school's expanded international scope.

The University of Puerto Rico in Humacao -- the only school in the world to enter a moonbuggy in every race since the event was founded in 1994-- won the second-place prize in 2009, and finally took home first place in this, their 17th appearance.

The winning teams posted the fastest vehicle assembly and race times intheir divisions and received the fewest on-course penalties. TheInternational Space Education Institute finished the roughly half-milecourse -- twisting curves, treacherous gravel pits and other obstaclessimulating lunar surface conditions -- in just 3 minutes 37 seconds. TheUniversity of Puerto Rico at Humacao posted a time of 4 minutes 18seconds.

AngelaStorey, 256-544-0034
Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, Ala.
Angela.D.Storey@nasa.gov

USS Ponce: The United States Navy Ship named after the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico

Leonardo Valentin — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 03:06:00 GMT

USS PONCE is designated an LPD, Amphibious Transport Dock. USS PONCE is the first United States Ship to be named after the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, which in turn is named in honor of the Spanish explorer, Juan Ponce de Leon. Juan Ponce de Leon discovered the State of Florida and served as the first Governor of Puerto Rico. The ship was constructed by the Lockheed Shipbuilding Company and commissioned on July 10, 1971 in Seattle, Washington.

Interestingly, when you visit the official site for USS PONCE (http://www.ponce.navy.mil) you will notice how it embraces traditional symbols of the city of Ponce to their daily lives. An example of this can be seen in the Lion which is the center of the ships insignia.

USS PONCE’s insignia, as displayed, is comprised of four major elements: a rampant lion signifying the high spiritedness of the Navy-Marine Corps team that serves on her and is the coat of arms of Juan Ponce de Leon which is a continuing reminder of our bond with the people of our namesake city; a trident, emblematic of U.S. Naval power and supremacy; an anchor chain, linking the ship’s name and its designator symbols; and the “commission pennant”, which is distinctive of a ship in active service and serves as the commanding officer’s personal pennant – representative from the days of knighthood and chivalry.

Since commissioning, PONCE has deployed numerous times to include the Mediterranean Sea, North Atlantic, Persian Gulf and operations in the Caribbean.

For more details about USS Ponce visit:

USS PONCE Official Site: http://www.ponce.navy.mil

WIKIPEDIA: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Ponce_(LPD-15)

Introducing PSM Cancer Research Laboratory

Leonardo Valentin — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 15:29:06 GMT

27CDB6E-AE6D-11CF-96B8-444553540000" id="obj1" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" border="0" width="515" height="386">

We would like to introduce a new website for the Cancer Research Laboratory at Ponce School of Medicine developed by medical student Jose F. Vidal Figueroa. For many years, Dr. Jaime L. Matta--the laboratory's research director--has played an important role in the development and advancement of this kind of research in Puerto Rico. He is also well known for his key role and participation in the Moffitt Cancer Center and Ponce School of Medicine partnership.

Our laboratory is based on an interdisciplinary, participatory team science approach aimed at scientific discovery for the benefit of cancer patients, our community and mankind". - Dr. Jaime L. Matta

Direct Link to the Cancer Research Lab at PSM

http://www.psm.edu/CANCER%20RESEARCH/DR.%20MATTA%20WEB/index.htm

Direct Link to the PSM-Moffitt Partnership Latest News

http://www.moffitt.org/mcc-psmpartnership

For more information please contact:

Jose F. Vidal Figueroa , B.S.
M.D. Student and Web Master
E-mail:jvidal@stu.psm.edu

Jaime L. Matta B.S., M.S., D.Sc, PhD
Professor and Principal Investigator
Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Toxicology
E-mails: jmatta@psm.edu
Manuel Bayona M.D., M.S., PhD
Professor and Co– Principal Investigator
Public Health Program Director
E-mail: mbayona@psm.edu

Ponce School of Medicine is awarded $19 million as Regional Extension Center for Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands

Leonardo Valentin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:27:00 GMT

Today, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that Ponce School of Medicine will receive $19,280,796 dollars as part of the Regional Extension Center (REC) grant for the areas of Puerto Rico and the US. Virgin Islands which is part of an innitiative to establish Health Information Technology Centers across the United States.

RECs will enable health care practitioners to reach out to a local resource for technical assistance, guidance, and information on best practices. RECs are designed to address unique community requirements and to support and accelerate provider efforts to become meaningful users of electronic health records.

“Health care in our country is community-based. Today’s awards represent our ongoing commitment to make sure that health providers have the necessary support within their communities to maximize the use of health IT to improve the care they provide to their patients,” said Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

For a direct link from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services click below

http://www.hhs.gov/recovery/programs/recawardees.html

La Fortaleza from Ponce de Leon to Luis Fortuño: The oldest seat of power in Western Hemisphere

Leonardo Valentin — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 03:51:00 GMT

Ponce School of Medicine

Our school carries the name of Ponce, as in Juan Ponce de Leon who was the first Governor of Puerto Rico and the first European to set foot in North America. This video by Elliot Erwitt depicts La Fortaleza, the oldest continous seat of power in the Americas. For more information visit www.seepuertorico.com and enjoy with a great sense of pride the different views of the Puerto Rican archipelago.

Luis A. Ferre 106: Concierto en su honor en Ponce

Leonardo Valentin — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:03:00 GMT

El próximo domingo, 21 de febrero, en el teatro La Perla de Ponce y desde las 3:00PM, habrá un concierto conmemorativo libre de costo denominado “Memoria de un Prócer en el Corazón de un Pueblo”, al son de la orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico y su director Maximiliano Valdés, con la intervención especial de la soprano Magda Lupeschi.

(Ferré murió en octubre de 2003. Tenía 99 años de edad. Gobernó del 1969 al 1973. Fue representante del 1953 al 1957, y del 1977 al 1981 se desempeñó como presidente del Senado. Fundó el Museo de Arte de Ponce y el Centro de Bellas Artes, de Santurce.)

US Senate Candidate from Ponce, Puerto Rico

Leonardo Valentin — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:00:00 GMT

About Maurice from Maurice Ferre on Vimeo.

Terremoto en Puerto Principe Haiti

Leonardo Valentin — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 00:26:00 GMT

Escribe un mensaje de texto con la palabra "HAITI" al 90999 para donar $10 al esfuerzo de ayuda desde tu cuenta de teléfono celular.

O PULSA AQUI PARA HACER UNA DONACION.

Recital de Villancicos de Navidad, Escuela de Medicina de Ponce

Leonardo Valentin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:29:00 GMT

Feria de Salud en Guaynabo

Leonardo Valentin — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:13:00 GMT

New Addition to Ponce Medicine: Lieberman's E-Radiology

Leonardo Valentin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 00:56:00 GMT

Physician Gillian Lieberman faculty at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, has created several in-depth radiological collections based on her own work in the specialty of Diagnostic Radiology at Lieberman’s ERadiology. These sites offer core-learning content for first and second-year medical and dental students, in various formats.

This great educational tool will be featured as one of the links for medical students in PonceMedicine.org. It is truly a great resource for students interested early in their medical careers in radiology, for those considering radiology or just those who want to strengthen their radiologic interpretation abilities. And most important of all, this learning portal is totally free!

The exact URL for this learning portal is: http://eradiology.bidmc.harvard.edu/

Feedback is welcome! Please feel free to contact Dr. Lieberman at glieberm@bidmc.harvard.edu.

PSM Featured on Major News Article: Scientists hope to network Facebook-style

Leonardo Valentin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:51:00 GMT

By WILLIAM KATES (AP)

ITHACA, N.Y. — Social networking is coming to the science lab.

Cornell University and six other institutions will use a $12.2 million federal stimulus grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a Facebook-style professional networking system to link biomedical researchers across the country.

Participants say by making it easier for scientists to find each other, researchers will be able to improve their ongoing studies and forge collaborations that could lead to new discoveries.

The new network will be called VIVOweb.

"Scientists have problems finding each other," said Michael Conlon, interim director of biomedical informatics for the University of Florida and the principal investigator on the project.

"Right now, the best we have are lists of publications ... but that's not the same as who does what and who is interested in what. This is a way for scientists to discover other scientific work going on among researchers on the network," he said.

Presently, scientists use search engines to find others in their fields or people specializing in other areas needed for their research. But those searches are essentially guesses that glean information from a variety of sources, some of which can be unreliable, said Dean Krafft, who is leading the project at Cornell.

The new networking system will include information added by institutions, academic journals, and researchers themselves, said Krafft, who is chief technology strategist for Cornell's library system.

The network will use emerging technology called the Semantic Web — a faster, more searchable next-generation version of the Internet — to make the information available. The public can access the site but some information will be available only to scientists.

Although users will still view the information on what looks like regular Web pages, the open-source software developed by Cornell actually collects the facts a person wants and assembles its own page.

Developed at Cornell in 2003, VIVO allows users to browse or search for information about Cornell faculty and staff across all disciplines, departments and colleges. Similar networks are now in place at other universities and large institutions, but nothing that transcends multiple institutions, Krafft said.

Participants hope to have the network connected across the country within two years. Eventually, it could connect scientists in all disciplines worldwide.

Also helping create the network is Indiana University at Bloomington. Four other institutions — Scripps Research Institute in Juniper, Fla., Ponce School of Medicine in Puerto Rico, Washington University of St. Louis, and Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City — will serve as implementation sites.

Médico Boricua hace historia

Frances Tardy — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 16:45:00 GMT

Por Mildred Rivera Marrero / mrivera1@elnuevodia.com

Para ‘El Nuevo Día’

La cirugía en la que se utilizó un diente para devolverle la visión a una estadounidense hace dos semanas y que hizo historia en el área de oftalmología en ese país fue realizada por el médico puertorriqueño Víctor L. Pérez.

Para hacer el procedimiento, que se desarrolló en Italia y que realizó Pérez por primera vez en Estados Unidos, se escogió a la paciente de 60 años Sharron “Kay” Thornton -que quedó ciega en el 2000 debido al síndrome Stevens-Johnson.

Pérez explicó, en entrevista con El Nuevo Día, que esa condición provoca una quemadura en la córnea, que se cicatriza y queda totalmente sin lágrimas. Como resultado, no le entra luz al ojo y la persona, aunque tenga la retina y el resto del órgano saludable, no puede ver. Puede ser provocada por una reacción a medicamentos, como algunos anticonvulsivos, organismos como el herpes viral, o como resultado de una quemadura química o termal, como les ha sucedido a soldados.

“Es bien triste. Se quedan ciegos en menos de una semana. Son enfermedades bien severas”, declaró Pérez.

En Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, en Miami, “estábamos cansados de no hacer nada con estos pacientes y, después de revisar la literatura, fui a Roma y ahí me convencí”. Pérez fue a adiestrarse con el apoyo del jefe del departamento, el cubano-boricua Eduardo Alfonso, y al regreso “era obvio que teníamos que formar un grupo. Somos tres, el cirujano maxilofacial Yoh Fawatari, el cirujano plástico Tom Johnson y yo”.

El fin principal del procedimiento es permitir la entrada de luz al ojo, lo que requiere poner un cilindro óptico frente a la córnea, pero necesitan un soporte. Para eso es que usan el diente.

Pérez explicó que el procedimiento comenzó con la remoción de un pedazo de mucosa oral, del área del cachete, que se colocó en la superficie ocular para que produzca fluidos que la humedezcan. Luego, sacaron un colmillo, el cual se limó, se agujereó y al que se le colocó un cilindro óptico. Ese diente se ubicó por dos meses debajo de la clavícula para evitar posible rechazo y, luego, se colocó encima del ojo. Esta última etapa se realizó el 7 de septiembre.

“Cuando le quitamos el vendaje, yo creía que (la oportunidad de éxito) era 50 y 50. No sabía qué iba a pasar y fue increíble. Le puse un antibiótico que es amarillo y ella me dijo: ‘Eso es amarillo’ y todo el mundo empezó a llorar”, recordó Pérez.

Pérez, de 45 años, estudió en el Colegio San José, en Río Piedras, luego fue a Washington University a estudiar premédica y, de ahí, a la Escuela de Medicina del Recinto de Ciencias Médicas. Posteriormente, hizo investigación en los Institutos Nacionales de la Salud y estudió las especialidades de inmunología y oftalmología en hospitales de la Universidad de Harvard.

Es especialista en inmunología de trasplante ocular y profesor asociado del Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, que es el Departamento de Oftalmología de la Facultad de Medicina Miller de la Universidad de Miami. El boricua, que tiene tres hijos, dijo que ha ofrecido conferencias en el Recinto de Ciencias Médicas, institución con la que espera colaborar más. Para más información acceda a: www.bascompalmer.org.