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  Dr. Jorge Pérez Rivera, MD

  Associate Professor - Chair Department of Anatomy
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  P: 787-743-3038 ext:248
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  Prof. Miguel Sugranyes, MS

  Instructor
  

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  P: 787-743-3038 ext:273

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  Shirley D. Valentin Berríos, Ph.D

  Chair Department of Microbiology / Associate Professor
  

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  P: 787-743-3038 ext:234
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  Ramón Scharbaai Vázquez, Ph.D.

  Associate Professor
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  P: 787-743-3038 ext:249
• 

  Martha E. García Osorio, MD, MS

  Assistant Professor - Immunologist and Specialist in Virtual Education and Certified Virtual Tutor
  

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  P: 787-249-2015
• 

  Alba Y. Mendoza, B.S.

  Microbiology Laboratory Technician
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  P: 787-743-3038 ext:3213

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  Prof. Griselle Burgos, MS

  Instructor
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  Prof. Ada Cortés, MS

  Coordinator Community Health I and II - Assistant Professor

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  Dr. Michelle Santiago Rivera

  Clinical Skills Director

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  P: 787-743-3038 ext:241
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  Dr. Raúl Ferrer Burgos

  Instructor

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Department of Anesthesiology

The San Juan Bautista Department of Anesthesiology is Dedicated to provide the highest quality of care to all of our patients under the Direction of Dr. Luis R. Novoa.

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  Dr. Angel Rodríguez, MD

  Associate Professor

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• 

  Dr. Enrique Robles García, MD

  Associate Professor

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  Dr. Sonia Ortiz Flores, MD

  Chief Department - Associate Professor

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  Dr. Julio Marrero, MD

  Assistant Professor

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  Dr. Milciades Mercedes Maldonado, MD

  Catedrático Auxiliar

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  Edgardo F. Cartagena Ayala, M.D.

  Assistant Professor

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  Ernesto García Santiago, M.D.

  Assistant Professor

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  Dr. Luis Ramos, MD

  Assistant Professor

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• 

  Dr. Eric Pérez

  Associate Professor

• 

  Dr. Manuel Pérez Pabón, MD

  Medicine Clearkship Director

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• 

  Dr. Fernando Abreu, MD

  Associate Professor

• 

  Dr. José A. Manautau, MD

  Associate Professor

• 

  Iván Q. Pérez Rivera

  Associate Professor

• 

  Dr. José A. Manautou, MD

  Associate Professor

• 

  Jose Rivera Mercado, M.D.

  Student Coordinator

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  Ednise Romón Ruperto, MD

  
  Assistant Professor - Department Coordinator

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  Dr. Erika Benabe, MD

  Chief Department - Associate Professor

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• 

  Dr. José Marti, MD

  Associate Professor

• 
  

  Dr. Edgardo Rivera, MD

  Associate Professor

• 

  Dr. Gustavo Cruzado, MD

  Associate Professor

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  Dr. Ednise Román, MD

  Assistant Professor

  
  

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Department of Clinical Pathology

The Department of Pathology helps in the diagnosis and the treatment of disease. The Department has three major subdivisions: Clinical Laboratory, Pathology Services and medical Students education under the Direction of Dr. Yocasta Brugal Mena.

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  Michelle Moringlane, MD

  Pediatric Clerkship Coordinator - Assistant Professor

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  Héctor R. Acevedo Denis, M.D.

  Assistant Professor

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• 
  
  

  Jorge A. Rosario, M.D.

  Associate Professor

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  Mirian Ramos Mercado, M.D.

  Assistant Professor - Associate Dean of Clinical Sciences

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  Dr. Verónica Del Río

  Associate Professor

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  Dr. Luis Suárez, MD

  Associate Professor

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  Dr. Juan A. Delgado, MD

  Associate Professor

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• 

  Dr. José A. Rivera Velázquez, MD

  Associate Professor

• 

  Dr. John Danet, MD

  Associate Professor

• Dr. Samuel Vázquez, MD

  Associate Professor

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• 

  Luis F. Sánchez-Longo, Ph.D

  Instructor

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  Dr. Marlene Pierantoni, MD

  Chief Department - Associate Professor

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  Dr. Ricardo Arribas, MD

  Associate Professor

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Department of Radiology

The Department of Radiology offers an outstanding education and clinical service program under the Direction of Dr. Francisco Gomez Goytia.

The SJBSM Research Center has Core Laboratory Facilities with state of the art and general equipment available for the use of faculty researchers, mentors and students to carry out basic, clinical and translational research. Also, the Core Facilities serve to provide service and enhance research capabilities by fostering laboratory skill development and expertise needed by basic and clinical scientists.

The SJBSM Core Lab facilities consist of three major laboratory spaces supported by a technician that has been equipped to be used in cellular, molecular and microbiological research. These facilities have available a Gene AMP PCR System, Step One Real Time PCR, water purification system, microscopes, autoclave, Nano Drop One, Gel imager, freeze dryer system, a Fluorescent Microscope, ice maker machine , 4°C refrigerators, -80 °C and -20°C freezers, ultrasonic bath, refrigerated centrifuges, micro-centrifuges, analytical balances, microplate readers and a flow cytometry-based instrument with applications for cell counting, cell health, immunology, cell signaling, apoptosis and cell viability. In addition, a cell culture room equipped with a CO2 incubator, a class II biosafety cabinet, microscopes and water baths, and a microbiological culture room equipped with incubator, a class II biosafety cabinet, microscope and autoclave is available for microbiological research purposes.

Core Lab Facilities Director:

Participating Faculty and Research Interests:

The San Juan Bautista School of Medicine Research Center (SJBSM-RC) is a non-academic structure created with the goal to strengthen and expand the institution’s commitment and efforts to enhance faculty scholarly productivity and collaborative research.

Research collaboration across disciplines, between universities and with the public and private sector is an integral part of its research agenda. Therefore, the primary responsibilities of the Research Center are to strengthen the implementation of the SJBSM Research Strategic Plan to enhance clinical and translational research scholarly productivity and collaborative research. The SJBSM- RC aims to meet the four goals proposed by SJBSM in developing a robust research workforce and culture:

Goals:

1. To build and sustain a productive research culture.

2. To develop and foster a research environment.

3. To enhance and enable access to research infrastructure.

4. To increase productivity through interdisciplinary and collaborative research.

A significant component of the SJBSM- RC activities to increase scholarly productivity is the offering of a Grantsmanship for Independent Research Development (GIRD) Program to talented SJBSM young faculty, early-stage investigators and new investigators. The GIRD program consists of a series of activities including Scientific Writing, Conferences entitled “Integration to Advance Translation” and a Grantsmanship Individual Development Annual Series. Each participating faculty has at least an external mentor in their area of expertise to facilitate the development and submission of manuscripts and mentored competitive grants. The program also has the participation of outstanding senior mentors and advisors who will support our efforts in coaching these talented faculty in becoming independent researchers. Their involvement includes online reviews, invited speakers for conferences and seminars and in-person meetings.

Organizational Structure

The organizational structure of the SJBSM Research Center currently includes a Director that reports to the President/Dean, an Institutional Advisory Committee and an External Advisory Committee, the Office for Sponsored Research, Research Core Laboratories, Clinical Trials Unit, Students’ Research Program and the Research Division of the Puerto Rico Health Justice Center. The Director of the SJBSM-RC lead most of the tasks included in the Research Strategic Plan. The Institutional Research Committee supports the Research Center Director to reinforce the importance of scholarly productivity outcomes such as publications, grants, presentations, awards, collaborations, and partnerships.

Research Center - Organizational Chart (Click here to Download)

The RC Director leads and oversee the prospect and research function, offering support to faculty and staff to help them achieve their research goals. Through these efforts, the Research Center Director maintains close communication with the Academic Dean, Associate Deans and Department Chairs related to faculty interested in research to provide mentoring, coaching, training, networking opportunities and explore ways to increase their scholarly productivity.

Other functions and responsibilities include:

• Develop and oversee goals, budgets and policies and procedures for the Research Center.
• Maintain an awareness of the scientific goals and accomplishments of SJBSM.
• Provide the context that scholarly productivity measured in research outcomes such as publications, grants, presentations, awards, collaborations, and partnerships, are expected and valued for faculty advancement.
• Supervise the Office for Sponsored Research staff. Set the program goals and provide routine evaluations of progress toward these goals.
• Ensure adherence to professional standards and ethics of prospect research.
• Organize a team of internal and external reviewers to support research development.
• Collaborate with the Student research coordinators and develop a yearly plan to increase and develop the esearch studies by student of SJBSM academic programs.
• Support the agreement between the Clinical Trial administrator/director and the President/Dean and provide routine evaluations of progress toward the goals.
• Evaluate Core laboratories’ research tools and emerging technology.

Some of the current areas of interest of SJBSM young faculty researchers are: small molecule and drug delivery systems for cancer therapy; neurodegenerative diseases and inflammation pathways; woman health reproduction, Epigenetics and endocrine disruptors, and cardiovascular diseases and sexual violence. The infrastructure of the institution core laboratories was strongly improved by the creation of new laboratories dedicated for research studies. These facilities will strengthen the capacity of current young clinical and translational faculty researchers to expand their areas of specialization, such as cancer nanomedicine, anti-inflammatory biomarkers, and female reproductive diseases. The Puerto Rico Health Justice Center was created in 2015 to offer comprehensive forensic clinical services to victims-survivors of sexual violence for children, adolescents and adults, from a victim centered, trauma informed, biopsychosocial and public health perspective, through a health justice process. The San Juan Bautista School of Medicine Clinical Research Unit (CRU) is a fully functional clinical research center that provides a research infrastructure to support outpatient clinical trials and works in collaboration with Hospital Menonita Caguas to assure appropriate training and good clinical practices (GCP’s) with each study based on the criteria and guidelines of the protocol.

Research Center Director

Estela S. Estapé, MT, PhD, DHL

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(787)414-0523

Dr. Estela S. Estapé is a Medical Technologist with a PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Puerto Rico -Medical Sciences Campus (UPR-MSC), School of Medicine, post-doctoral training at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY and received an honorary Doctoral degree in Humane Letters (DHL) from t A. T. Still University, Mesa, Arizona. In 2016, Dr. Estape retired from the UPR-MSC after 38 years of experience including being a Merit Review Investigator of the Veterans Administration, Dean of the School of Health Professions and PI & Director of several NIH funded programs and projects. She was a member of the Board of Directors of the Association for Clinical and Translational Sciences until April 2018 and continues to be a member of the Editorial Board of its Journal. Dr. Estape has been very active in the Editorial Board of the PR Health Sciences Journal since 2011, is a peer-reviewer for several national and international scientific journals and is an active grant reviewer for the NIMHD loan repayment program. After her retirement, she continues in the UPR-MSC as Professor and Senior Advisor for research career development and is actively working as Director of the San Juan Bautista Research Center to support building scientific research capacity, including individual and group coaching for grant and manuscript writing from development until submission.

The PR Health Justice Center (PRHJC) provides comprehensive clinical forensic services to victim survivors of sexual violence. We provide the services at the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine through an interdisciplinary work team. This team is comprised of medicine, nursing, psychology, social work, criminal justice, legal and epidemiology experts in their field and sexual violence, while providing the services in a transdisciplinary manner.

VISION

A world where sexual violence is unacceptable and where all victims/survivors receive comprehensive services towards their well-being and justice.

MISSION

Provide transdisciplinary services, that are centered in the victims/survivors, trauma-sensitive and evidence-based. Collaborating with community organizations and agencies to respond to the welfare and justice needs of the participants. Click to visit PRHJC WebPage

PRHJC- RESEARCH DIVISION

As part of the SJBSM-Research Center, the PRHJC Research Division promotes and conducts research to expand knowledge about sexual violence, in all its manifestations and impacts, and from all discipline’s perspectives. Data is obtained from the PRHJC, Government Agencies and Community Programs. All research complies with IRB, State and Federal regulations and approval, and are based on the needs identified form providing direct services that lead changes needed in policy changes, protocols, evidence identification and others. All research must be translational and serve to improve the work done by reducing revictimization, promote healing, and sustain the victimization for the offender accountability from a public health perspective, including justice as an instrument of health.

Health Professions Student Mentoring

Students may participate in case discussions as part of the experience of working in a trauma informed and victim-centered service such as the PRHJC, while learning public policies from Government Agencies in the protection of victims of sexual violence. This may also include community activities such as task forces and seminars. An experience that includes how the health professional can have an involvement in policy development and protocols.

Course completion students: These students work on a research of their own with the PRHJC mentoring according to the discipline of interest, which can be short or long term, retrospective or prospective. These students experience activities in the literature review, data collection and journal clubs.

Extracurricular students and volunteers: These students work by a mutual time plan with the mentor in a manner that it does not affect their curriculum studies but is open to activities while they are learning about sexual violence as a public health problem and how to identify and manage their patients in case of having a violent experience history. These students experience activities in the literature review, clinical case series or reports, statistical analysis, journal clubs, oral and poster presentations and publications.

Linda Laras, MD, MPH, MS, PAG, FACOG, SAFE

Principal Investigator

(787)743-3038 Ext. 3210

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Linda Rose Pérez Laras BS, MPA, MS, DrPH(c)
Research Coordinator
(787)743-3038 Ext. 3210
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Deanship of Research

San Juan Bautista School of Medicine has a solid compromise in promoting research in the biomedical sciences, social/behavioral sciences, epidemiology and clinical sciences. Our institution has biomedical laboratories and clinical research facilities with equipment for the effective development of scientific projects. Main divisions of research include:

• Endometrial Cancer
• Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease
• Bariatric Surgery
• Sickle Cell
• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology of Multiple Sclerosis
• Clinical research
• Epidemiology of Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN)
• Health Services Research
• Among others

The knowledge obtained from biomedical research is essential to understand the chemical, molecular and cell mechanisms in the disease process and to apply this knowledge in improving the health of individuals.  Clinical research projects help to understand and measure the effects of medications and devices in health in order to develop new cost-effective treatments for patients.  Epidemiological studies are aimed to describe the affected populations, understand patterns of disease prevalence, incidence and mortality, and the factors associated to a health condition in order to develop effective prevention and control population-based measures.  San Juan Bautista School of Medicine has also a compromise with our community by developing research in health services.  The information is essential in improving the community access to health services and the overall population health and well-being.

The School has developed strong research affiliations with other higher learning institutions to reinforce our research infrastructure and to promote collaborations with external researchers.  Medical students have the opportunity to learn and to actively participate in research through formal courses and experiences integrated into the four years of curriculum.  The courses offered to the medical students prepare them with the knowledge, skills and abilities in research design, methods, biostatistics, development and publication of scientific reports.  Our students have presented their projects in local, national and international scientific forums. 

The increase in scientific knowledge and innovations in medical research are definitively important to develop new prevention, control and treatment alternatives for patients and the community in general.

Overview

Basic and clinical research courses at San Juan Bautista School of Medicine are intended to meet the growing need for medical students in the methods of basic and clinical research, health services research, clinical epidemiology, biostatistics and informatics literacy.

The courses are intended for all medical students and may or may not have any direct experience with research. These courses provide our medical students graduates with the minimum research skills to become independent in their capabilities to understand the dynamics of research.

Research Courses under the Deanship

First year, Introduction to research (117), this is an introduction to research course that presents the basics concept of research. This course is follow with the Community Medicine and Research (173) in the second trimester along with the capstone experience named Integration Seminar that introduce medical students to research concepts and to put together a research proposal that will help them to identify areas they wish to continue researching through the four years of the medical school.

Second year, the students have a continuation with Community Medicine and Research (207) in first semester and Clinical research ((296) in second semester. These courses are designed to allow the medical student to develop further research skills in both community and clinical research problems. The students are encourage to continue the research proposal prepare by themselves in first year. However they may choose to do research in other topics as well previous meetings with the mentors and the dean for research orientation. Appropriate mentors are assigned to the students including but not limiting to San Juan Bautista Basic and Clinical sciences faculty. Mentors form other medical institution can be assigned previous establishment of collaboration.

Fourth year, the students have a formal clerkship in Research (419) in which they start collecting data and using the methodology and analyses methods previously identified in first and second year research courses. These elective can be use to continue their research interests and to prepare and submit articles to peer indexed journals so the students will have at least one publication before their medical school graduation. The San Juan Bautista School of Medicine Research Deanship faculty includes a broad range of faculty members with experience in clinical investigation, clinical epidemiology, health services research, outcomes research, biostatistics, and other related fields.

Summer Program in Research, This basic or clinical science research program is design to gain a fundamental understanding of the subject under investigation. In this type of research students will be able to develop critical thinking and to expand the knowledge on the basic science subject chosen. The students will be under direct supervision of a proctor expert on the chosen field. Students will meet individually with the research director of their preference to discuss the subject to be addressed and the standards to be followed. Upon completion of the summer research program students will be encouraged to continue their investigation.

In the ever-changing area of health, researchers are indispensable to assure the development of innovative and modern clinical approaches to understand different pathologies. San Juan Bautista School of Medicine has a solid compromise with our community in finding answers to very challenging questions that threaten our health and well being everyday.

Our main effort is being directed towards the development of relevant proposals in behavioral and biomedical areas. As a result, we established a research team that is working in areas such as, Bronchial Asthma, Alzheimers disease, Cancer, HIV, Obesity, Seizures, and STD infections. Affiliations with other high learning institutions are being established to reinforce our research infrastructure and extend collaborations with our researchers.

The Deanship of Research is also committed to our medical students. Our curriculum has been designed in a way that each student will get acquainted with different approaches to clinical research since day one. Basic sciences, clinical sciences and clinical research are integrated as a whole, granting the most comprehensive physician training that characterizes our institution.

We look forward in encouraging future medical students be part of our academic research program and establish collaborations with excellent researchers.

The Vision for the Future

The aspirations expressed in this brochure correspond in many ways with the goals outlined in the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine planning process, particularly in the areas of science and technology, public service, outreach, and international activities.

The Vision for the Future

The aspirations expressed in this brochure correspond in many ways with the goals outlined in the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine planning process, particularly in the areas of science and technology, public service, outreach, and international activities.

Other goals and strategies enunciated in the discussions include the following:

• Enhance the school's capacity to recruit signature scientists. Outstanding young scientists recruitment should be seek and giving them the resources they need to be productive, and rewarding them to ensure that they remain on the faculty.
• Set up a dual mentoring system for new faculty hires. Each new faculty member, especially at the junior level, should be connected to at least one mentor in the clinical area and another in the basic sciences. While a clinical investigator is working in the lab, he or she will be encouraged to think about clinical applications, and vice versa. Such dual mentoring will foster collaborative relationships and will promote the transfer of scientific discoveries from the lab bench to the bedside. This mentorship?s should be sought with intramural and extra-mural mentors in Puerto Rico and other medical school in the US.
• Make strategic faculty hires that benefit more than one program. Many top scientists are working at the intersections of multiple disciplines. As departments consider new hires, they should examine each candidate?s ability to strengthen research and instruction in other programs within the school and departments.
• Expand the school?s involvement in clinical trials. By offering promising new agents and new treatments early in their development, the school can give patients access to cutting-edge care not available in other clinical settings.
• Make greater use of interdisciplinary centers and institutes and give them the resources to chart their own course. It was noted that entrenched departmental structures may be the greatest obstacle to success.
• Reinforce collaborations with Sciences, Health Care related, and other schools. The complexity of current research problems often demands drawing on the expertise of multiple disciplines. The School of Medicine should take greater advantage of the store of knowledge in neighboring schools and departments. Being Puerto Rico such a small island in size, this should be an advantage in the logistics in promoting collaboration with other universities and medical schools.
• Prepare students for leadership in a new era in health and health care. It is clear that the most significant advances in medical science in the coming decades will occur at the crossroads of biology, information, and values. Taking advantage of its proximity to other schools in Puerto Rico and particularly within the San Juan Greater metropolitan area, the school should require courses that combine elements of medicine, law, ethics, and other fields to give students the analytical tools to grasp the complexities of health and health care in our society. With this background, they will have the capacity to redefine public health in the 21st century and to make health a basic human right in Puerto Rico and abroad.
• Serving the Needs of Society

The Envision discussion revealed the School of Medicine?s eagerness to create new strengths in the basic sciences and clinical care, and above all, to create the ideal environment for training the physicians of the future. With its community base approach, its service-oriented culture, and its leadership in collaboration with colleagues across the Grounds, the School of Medicine recognizes that it is uniquely positioned to prepare leaders in medicine who can forge meaningful connections between science and society and who can set the pace for health care in the years to come.

Institutional Review Board (IRB)

The Office of the Institutional Review Board is the administrative body that oversees the conduct of research involving human subjects at the Health System.

The Office provides services in support of clinical research and compliance with regulations governing human subject protections.

IRB Services include:

• Coordination and administration of the Institutional Review Boards
• Guidance and support to investigators who plan to conduct clinical research projects
• Coordination of Institutional Review Board Meetings
• Interpretation of regulatory requirements
• Development of policies and procedures to assure compliance with institutional and governmental regulations
• Maintenance of records on human subject research activities
• Ongoing education on human subject research issues through workshops, seminars, conferences, newsletters and computer based training

IRB CITI Program Training Conflict of Interest Requirement

IRB Policies and Procedures Manual

IRB Application

The Clinical Research Unit (CRU) was established in 2006 under the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine (SJBSM) to promote clinical research through clinical trial expansion. Since 2016, SJBSM-CRU has partnered with The Clinical Research Group of Latin America, a specialist in site-level management, to hire and develop a distinguished clinical research staff, cultivate robust relationships with industry sponsors, and build foundational clinical research successes through a diverse collection of clinical trials.

The San Juan Bautista School of Medicine Clinical Research Unit (CRU) is a fully functional clinical research center strategically located between the facilities of SJBSM and Hospital Menonita Caguas, Inc. The collaboration between SJBSM-CRU and Hospital Menonita Caguas is significant for the success of each clinical study. SJBSM-CRU works very closely with other departments in the hospital (imaging, medical records) based on the criteria of the protocol. SJBSM-CRU also works together with the designated Principal Investigator of each study to assure appropriate training and good clinical practices (GCP’s) are carried out with each study based on the criteria and guidelines of the protocol.

The Center aims to provide a research infrastructure to support clinical trials carried out in Puerto Rico. It delivers quality clinical research services to pharmaceutical sponsors as well as individual investigators and entrepreneurs who are interested in clinical drug trials and device development.Our experienced personnel are on hand to perform phlebotomy, EKG, blood and specimen processing, specimen packaging, shipping, and storage, and a number of other necessary clinical trial functions.

Facilities

• Comfortable waiting room
• Reception area
• Private conference/monitoring room
• Documents storage room
• Web-based library
• Wireless internet
• Six evaluation rooms
• Three treatment rooms
• Temperature controlled room for drug storage
• Crash cart
• Laboratory area
• Laboratory equipment: refrigerated centrifuge, -70° C freezer, dry ice, vortex and laboratory supplies
• Walking distance to emergency room

Patient Demographics

Our Facilities are located in Caguas, Puerto Rico, near to the metropolitan area of San Juan. This area remains one of the fastest growing with a population estimated at 140,500, plus 400,000 population from the eastern area. Clinical trial specialties include Internal Medicine, Oncology, Pediatrics, Gynecology, Cardiovascular, Pulmonology and various other sub-specialties.

Compliance

• IRB
• HIPAA
• IATA
• Good Clinical Practice Training

The Office of Sponsored Research Programs (OSRP) provide advice and support to the School community in the acquisition and administration of externally funded research projects consistent with the teaching, research, and service missions of the School.

The OSRP reports to the Research Center Director and works in collaboration with the Academic Dean. It has the responsibility of handling research proposals and award activity for the School. The Office oversees the School's administrative and support systems for faculty, staff and students in the submission of grants and the conduct of sponsored program activities.

All research done in the School is expected to fit within or be consistent with the following objectives of the School: the education of the students; the advancement of knowledge through research and scholarship; the preservation and dissemination of knowledge; and the advancement of the public welfare.

The OSRP will strive to enhance the competitiveness of researchers by providing customer service-oriented assistance in pre and post awards systems, keeping abreast of sponsor requirements, and utilizing current state of the art science knowledge and technology for preparation of applications and submission . The Office is responsible for implementing sponsored programs policies and procedures and is also dedicated to providing information on funding opportunities, advice, and assistance to faculty, staff and students.

Additionally, the OSRP provides a wide range of support services from assistance in the protection of intellectual properties to compliance with governmental regulations and award conditions, all to assure excellence in research and all other professional and scholarly pursuits.

Mrs. Adelaine Bravo
OSRP Coordinator
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(787)743-3484 ext:260

Estela S. Estape, MT, PhD, DHL
Research Center Director
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(787)414-0523

SJBSM-RC Grantsmanship Independent Research Development (GIRD) Program

For the period of 2018-2020 of the SJBSM Research Strategic Plan, there are four faculty members actively engage in research activities, working in individual and collaborative research projects in their areas of expertise. These talented junior faculty members are the first group of participants in the SJBSM-RC Grantsmanship Independent Research Development (GIRD) Program (2018-2020) to increase peer-review publications and develop biomedical and clinical competitive research. According to their research area of interest, they are working with a team of advisors from other local and national institutions to provide them with support and guidance, as well as senior coaches to help them in their pathway to become independent researchers.

Dr. Yaritza Inostroza-Nieves

Received her B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico, Humacao, PR, in 2007 and her Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus in 2012. Dr. Inostroza-Nieves joined San Juan Bautista School of Medicine (SJBSM) as Assistant Professor and in 2016, completed a postdoc in Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard School of Medicine as Research Fellow in Medicine. She currently functions as Associate Dean of Biomedical Sciences and is in a research track tenured position. Dr. Inostroza-Nieves was the PI of the Abbvie Research Scholarship Program in SJBSM (2017 - 2019). She worked in the field of molecular immunology looking at the biochemical process and signaling mechanisms in the immune system. More recently become interested in the deleterious effects of inflammation in neurodegenerative diseases and potential therapeutics for these diseases. One of her research projects include studying the pro-inflammatory activation of microglia cells by molecules in blood pressure regulation and its role on neurodegenerative diseases. Activated microglia were found surrounding lesions of various neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, muscular amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis. Over activated microglia may accelerate the process of these neurodegenerative diseases. This is a novel mechanism of microglia cells activation and will provide key information to understand neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis. Her goals are to further develop as an independent investigator while facilitating team science and strong collaborations.

Dr. Maricarmen Colón-Díaz

Received a BS in General Sciences from the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico in 2006 and a Ph.D in Molecular Biology in 2012 from the Ponce School of Medicine, followed by post-doctoral studies in microbiology at the Universidad Central del Caribe. In 2012, she started in SJBSM as an Assistant Professor in the Physiology Department and is currently the Chair of the Physiology/Pathology Department in a research track tenure position. She also worked in two collaborative projects with Caribbean Central University focused on the detection of ER Stress markers using a proteomic approach in human prostatic cancer and microglial cells and on the molecular mechanism of apoptosis. At present, she has a laboratory in SJBSM and is working in collaborative research with Ponce Health Sciences University and University of Arizona in the link of environmental factors and epigenetic reprogramming in endometriosis, specifically how exposure to phthalate esters modifies histone modification patterns that lead to alterations in the normal function of the endometrium. After reaching this immediate goal, her long-term professional goal is to build an active research group with a focus on women’s reproductive health, specifically on how epigenetics mechanisms by interactions between genes and external factors shaped women predisposition to suffer from diseases that impair its reproductive capacity.

Dr. Yamixa Delgado

Obtained a BSc in Industrial Chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico (UPR)-Humacao in 2008 and a PhD in Biochemistry & Biotechnology from the UPR-Rio Piedras Campus and Medical Sciences Campus in 2015. Then, she worked as an adjunct professor while she completed a postdoctoral experience at the UPR system. In 2017, Dr. Delgado joined SJBSM as an Assistant Professor and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology. Dr. Delgado is in a research track tenured position and has a vast research experience working in projects focused on: molecular modeling and electron paramagnetic resonance simulations in protein dynamics; development of nanoparticles design, glycosylation of proteins, lipid-protein formulations and drug delivery systems for cancer therapy; and understanding the therapeutic potential of novel metal-based anticancer compounds. She has earned different prestigious fellowships from NASA Space Grant Consortium (NASA-PRSGC), National Institute of Health (NIH), and National Science Foundation (NSF). In addition, her projects were published in different peer-review journals and presented at local, national and international scientific conferences. Her research laboratory at the SJB-Core Lab facility is focused on drug design, development and delivery using nano-formulations for cancer therapy. She is also actively involved in collaborative research with different investigators in PR (UPR System and University Ana G Méndez) and USA (Stanford University) to contribute to the advancement of cancer research and reducing health disparities.

Dr. Linda Laras

Obtained premedical studies from the University of Puerto Rico (UPR)-Mayaguez and medical studies at the Valencia School of Medicine, Spain. She is Board Certified OB GYN and completed successfully two graduate programs: a Master’s in Public Health Maternal Child Health and a post-doctoral Master of Science in Clinical Research at the UPR Medical Sciences Campus. She also did a fellowship in Pediatric Adolescent Gynecology at Boston Children’s Hospital. Dr. Laras is a recognized expert in Sexual Violence as a health problem, has been recognized by national organizations and the legislature for her work, has published two peer review articles, has given multiple conferences. She joined SJBSM in 2016 as an Assistant Professor and Director of the SJBSM Puerto Rico Health Justice Center (PRHJC). Dr. Laras work includes direct patient, education and research. She has a team composed of nurses, psychologists, social workers, community outreach, media communicator, criminal justice coordinator, and epidemiologists. She has a coordinated network of 8 Hospital called SAFE Hospitals that provide services to victims. Currently, the PRHJC has developed a research division where medical students are mentored IRB approved research projects. The PRHJC is structured for translational research, identification of gaps, their impact, development of new interventions and outcomes, all possible due to the follow up from disclosure to prosecution.

The San Juan Bautista School of Medicine is committed to developing a productive research culture. Our goal is to continue to support our faculty and students in building a research workforce that will advance the institution’s agenda in promoting clinical and translational scientific discoveries and innovation.

San Juan Bautista School of Medicine has a strong commitment to promoting research in the biomedical, behavioral, epidemiology and clinical sciences. Our institution has biomedical laboratories and clinical research facilities with equipment for the active development of scientific projects and clinical trials.

San Juan Bautista School of Medicine also has a compromise with our community by developing research that will improve access to health services and the overall population health and well-being. The School has developed strong research collaborations with other academic and research institutions at the local and national level to reinforce our research infrastructure and to promote team science with external researchers.

The San Juan Bautista School of Medicine Research Center was created to guarantee the successful implementation of the activities proposed in the institutional Research Strategic Plan. This plan is the overarching document that outlines the Institution’s vision, mission, and direction towards research. The Research Center will consolidate all the faculty research activities to improve the gathering and reporting of the scholarly productivity data and increase faculty participation in scientific writing for publications, grantsmanship, and collaborative activities.

Research Strategic Plan 2018-2022

Research Vision

To be recognized as an academic institution with a firm commitment in promoting clinical and translational scientific discoveries and innovation with special emphasis on the diverse health issues affecting the community, minority health, and health disparities. We aim to increase our research profile and capacity in areas where interdisciplinary and collaborative contributions can lead to major advances and have an impact on improving community health.

Research Mission

To contribute to the improvement of community health and health equity through leadership and scholarly productivity, integrating research with education and service.

Goals:

1. To build and sustain a productive research culture.
2. To develop and foster a research environment.
3. To enhance and enable access to research infrastructure.
4. To increase productivity through interdisciplinary and collaborative research.

Benchmarks for Success

The evaluation of each goal will include key performance indicators such as:

Goal 1. To build and sustain a productive research culture.

• Presentations at local and national meetings
• Submissions of manuscripts for peer-review publication
• Publications in peer-review journals
• Participation in workshops and training
• Appointments in review boards or peer-review journals

Goal 2. To develop and foster a research environment by

• Developing an institutional Pilot Projects Program
• Submission of external competitive grants
• Approval of external competitive grants

Goal 3. To enhance and enable access to research infrastructure through

• Institutional funding to support the acquisition of new technology
• Agreements with other academic local and national institutions
• Submission of infrastructure and capacity grants

Goal 4. To increase productivity through interdisciplinary and collaborative research by fostering

• Collaborative research agreements
• Interdisciplinary and collaborative research projects
• Joint peer-review publications

SJBSM Institutional Research Committee

The SJBSM Institutional Research Committee (IRC) is an Internal Advisory Committee to the Director, Research Center (RC). It was constituted in May 2018 to provide significant support to the institutional leaders and the RC director in the establishment of policy, evaluation of outcomes and dissemination of information to the faculty, students and the community in general.

Scope:

• To look into research policy and make appropriate recommendations;
• To help create conditions that stimulate quality research and scholarly productivity;
• To advise and monitor the research pilot projects;
• To foster the development of multi-disciplinary research endeavors and collaborations
• To consider other research related matters as indicated by the Director, Research Center

Composition

The Committee's membership includes at least 4 members with expertise in research.  Currently, the IRC is made up of 8 members, including the RC director; IRB Chair; Faculty members (2); RC representatives (2); Nursing Program REpresentative; Student Representative (MS3). The members are recommended by the RC Director and the term of appointment shall normally be one year and may be renewed.

The Chair is invited by the RC Director from the current committee membership and will normally serve for a period of one year, renewable twice. The Chair will help the RC Director to prepare the Proposed Agenda for the meetings and will help to lead the order of the meeting.

The Secretary is in charge of taking notes and preparing the minutes. The position is not fixed and is selected among the members present in the meeting. This is a rotating position and all members should be Secretary at least once/year.

There are seven Ex-officio members:President/Dean,Academic Dean, Associate Dean of Biomedical Sciences, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Associate Dean of Clinical Sciences, Nursing Program Director, and Clinical Operating Manager- SJBSM Clinical Research Unit. The membership in the IRC is an obligation that is given by virtue of the position the person holds. They have the right to discuss and vote, but do not count for establishing quorum.

Meetings

The IRC Committee meets at least bi-monthly or monthly depending on the issues in the agenda. The date and time for each next meeting will be appointed at the end of each meeting. The quorum will be half of the membership (four members) including the RC director.

Accountability

The IRC submits an annual report to the President/Dean and the Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) Committee on research productivity at the Institution.

Counseling and Advisory Services

The Counseling Program is subscribed to the Deanship of Student Affairs and aims to promote the integral development of the student through personal, academic and professional counseling. Through the counseling program you have the opportunity to identify your strengths and weaknesses, evaluate and analyze your personal situation, and identify adequate coping skills. It’s a special place where you have the opportunity to expose and clarify your ideas, break down possible alternatives and evaluate the consequences, so that you may be prepared to make the best decisions in accordance to your needs and circumstances.

Personal Counseling

Individual counseling promotes the search for alternatives to deal with situations that affect your personal, academic and professional development. The process requires that the student, together with the counselor, determine and /or identify the conflict, assess the situation, list possible alternatives and develop a plan of action. This counseling process includes personal, family, environmental and economic situations, among others. This assessment begins upon your admission to medical school. You will be required to complete some assessments during orientation week, and participate of a mandatory interview as a first year student.

Personal counseling services may be requested by students for a variety of problems or circumstances such as depression, anxiety, conflict with family members or peers, mistreatment, academic difficulties, financial stressors, and adjusting to a different culture among others. In occasions, students may be referred to the Counselor by the Academic Advisor, faculty members, peers. These referrals are mandatory.

Group counseling

Group counseling is an important tool for generating changes in human behavior and conflict resolution. The alternative of group counseling where students interact, allows them to learn from others new avenues for facing difficult situations. This facilitates student’s personal growth by allowing them to acquire life skills, and interpersonal skill that help them explore controversial topics.

Confidentiality

Our Counseling services are provided in a safe and confidential environment, with essential reliability in the counseling process as set forth in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.  To ensure compliance, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine has established and published Executive Order 2012-06 titled: Institutional Policy regarding confidential counseling to students, a policy that defines and oversees confidential procedures in counseling. In addition, the Personal Counselor is licensed by the Health Department of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and as such, is governed by the ethical and moral standards of health care providers.

The Counselors office is located in a private area in the Presidential Building and operates during normal business hours. A second office located at the Menonita Caguas Hospital is also available, as after hour appointments as requested. This ensures that as a student seeking counseling, you have the alternative to choose a specific date and time to meet with the school Counselor at your convenience outside of school hours and/or at a different location outside school campus.

All information pertaining guidance and communication between students and the school Counselor is considered confidential. Prior and during the counseling process, students are informed that the privileged information gathered during the interventional process will be kept in strict confidentiality. This information is secured by SJBSM in accordance to ethical and legal standards.

Additional services

The Personal Counselor provides a variety of services aimed at promoting the well-being of students and assisting them with any situation that may arise. Some of the services include:

Applicant Interviews

During the admission process, the Personal Counselor is available to assist the Admissions Committee during the interview process and identifying that applicants meet the technical standards required.

Welcome Package

Upon admission, the Personal Counselor provides the admitted candidates with a series of resources that will allow the students to adapt to the Island / or Metropolitan Area. The Welcome package includes information on Puerto Rico and the city of Caguas, location of basic service providers such as supermarkets and pharmacies; important information regarding housing opportunities and what to look for in a housing contract; among other.

First Year White Coat Ceremony

The White Coat Ceremony was first established by the Arnold P. Gold Foundation in 1993 as a rite of passage for first year students in medical, nursing and physician assistant programs. Its purpose is to welcome students to healthcare practice and emphasize the value of humanism as the core of healthcare. 

Student Orientations

SJBSM has instituted orientation for incoming students to help ease the transition into medical school. This period provides new students with the opportunity to meet fellow students, become familiar with campus services, curriculum and staff

Academic Advising Support

SJBSM’s academic advising system provides students with a layered academic support system integrated that help them achieve their academic goals. As an active member of this system, the Personal Counselor assists in providing assessment and support ensuring that students are capable of meeting their academic goals.

USMLE Exams

The Counselor participates in the assessment of second year medical students to raise awareness about their strengths and weaknesses for the USMLE exam. In addition, an individual strategic plan to deal with test anxiety is developed by the Personal Counselor. and discussed with each student.

Career Advising

In collaboration with the Student Program Director and the Careers in Medicine® program, the Personal Counselor assists students in their career planning providing additional information related to CV writing; interview skills; state licensing requirements; and employment opportunities among other.

Residency Fair

Each year the Personal Counselor with the collaboration of the Student Council organizes a Residency Fair that provides students the opportunity to interact on a one on one basis with program directors and board review programs.  

Student Interest Group Fair

We encourage students to engage in professional organizations and student interest groups to enhance their learning experience and assist them in exploring different specialties. Our traditional Student Interest Group Fair promotes student participation in such activities by providing the opportunity to become familiarized with active interest groups and professional organizations.

  
Referrals

When deemed necessary or upon request, the Personal Counselor may refer a student to other professional and / or aid agencies with the student’s consent.  In addition, she may consult particular cases other health professionals such as psychiatrists, psychologists, with the student’s authorization. When doing so, the Personal Counselor ensures that the health specialist has no participation in student assessment and/or promotion to avoid any conflict of interest. All procedures are aimed at seeking the student’s well-being and are handled with the corresponding confidentiality.

Workshops

Seeking to promote and strengthen cognitive and socio-emotional skills in the student body, the Counseling Office organizes worships on diverse topics such as mistreatment, sexual aggression, diversity, sign language, thanatology, suicide prevention, and general wellness among others.

SJBSM Golden Humanism and Honor Society

In April 2016, San Juan Bautista School of Medicine reaffirmed its commitment to promote the highest humanistic principles and values in health care by carrying out the first induction ceremony of the local chapter of the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine. of the "Gold Humanism and Honor Society". The Personal Counselor serves as Advisor of the Chapter overseeing student nominations, induction ceremony and additional activities that promote humanistic values.

Extracurricular Activities

As part of our wellness program, the Personal Counselor promotes student participation in cultural activities which enrich the curriculum and form part of the student’s comprehensive education.  In coordination with local agencies, diverse activities are coordinated such has visits to local museums, workshops on basic concepts that enable them to be prepared in the event of a storm or hurricane; and how to act in the face of an earthquake, etc.

Prof. Ilsa Centeno Personal Counselor Office #2 787 743-3038 Ext. 275 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Working Hours: 9:00 to 6:00 Monday to Friday
(After hour services available upon request)

Resources:

https://study.com/academy/topic/introduction-to-health-and-wellness.html

http://www.josieahlquist.com/2016/02/25/digitalwellness/

https://www.universalclass.com/articles/health/personal-health-basics.htm

https://www.aamc.org/cim/

https://www.usmle.org/

https://www.noaa.gov/

Registrar’s Office

The Registrar’s Office has the responsibility to maintain and safeguard all students' and alumni academic records, as well as to coordinate all matters related to the registration process. It also offers the services of mailing official grades, transcripts and the Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE) form. The Registrar’s Office looks after the security and inviolability of academic records. No information whatsoever from the files of applicants, students, or graduates is disclosed without written authorization. The School complies with the requirements of the Buckley Act (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended, FERPA), and ensures the privacy of all information regarding applicants, students, and alumni.

Access to Student Records

No information is disclosed without a written authorization from the student. It is the responsibility of the School and the Registrar’s Office to keep these records in strict confidentiality. Any student that needs a copy of his/her academic record should follow these rules:

1. If a student needs an official transcript or a student copy, he/she must complete the application form provided by the Registrar’s Office and pay a fee of five dollars ($5) for each copy at the Bursar’s Office.
2. Official transcripts are sent directly by San Juan Bautista School of Medicine to the institution requesting them. Only student copies are provided to students.
3. Student copies are for personal use only, unless the student requests in writing and authorizes that the copy be given to a specified second person. In this case, the second person must show appropriate identification.
4. Students that have financial obligations with the School will not be issued copies of their academic record. The payment can be made in cash, money order or certified check payable to the School. To receive the copy it is necessary to present the payment receipt at the Registrar’s Office.
5. Students must have all their admission documents on file before the end of the first semester of their first year.
6. Students who have not submitted all required admission documents will not be issued copies of the following: official transcripts, student copy transcripts, MPSE form, study verification certificates, certification to take board examinations, or official grades and any other official document. Furthermore, students with incomplete files will not be allowed to enroll for the next semester.
7. Every application form must be filed in the Registrar’s Office at least ten (10) working days to assure that documents requested arrive within the deadline.
8. Credit transcripts and study verification certifications will be sent by mail within five (5) working days. MSPE form and certificates to take board examinations will be sent within seven (7) working days.

WORKING HOURS: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (Mondays to Fridays)

Mrs. Nildalee Meléndez Rosa
Registrar/SJB Veterans Affairs Certifying Official
(787)743-3038 Ext. 243
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Ms. Erica Jiménez
Auxiliar Registrar
(787)743-3038
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Bursar’s Office

The Bursar's Office is responsible for collecting the tuition and fees student incur at the time of registration, in addition to other fees such as credit transcripts and certificates, among others.

The Bursar’s Office is in charge of processing checks received from Stafford Loans and of generating the checks from the Supplementary Aid Program and other financial aid received by students.

WORKING HOURS: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (Mondays to Fridays)

Mr. Juan C. Castro
(787)743-3038 Ext. 222
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Mrs. Beatriz De León Rivera Financial Aid Director Office #15 787 743-3038 Ext. 268 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Mrs. Frances A. Casillas Financial Aid Officer Office #16 787 743-3038 Ext. 3206 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Working Hours: 8:00 to 5:00 Monday to Friday

Our main goal at the Financial Aid Office is to provide assistance to candidates and students so that they may obtain the financial resources they need to pay their cost of attendance. As a qualified students you may be eligible to the following financial aid programs, according to your academic program:

Federal Pell Grant

A Federal Pell Grant, unlike a loan, does not have to be repaid. Pell Grants are awarded only to undergraduate students who display exceptional financial need, and have not earned a bachelor's, graduate, or professional degree. Eligible students receive a specified amount each year under this program. The amount to be awarded will depend, not only on the students financial need, but also on their cost of attendance, status as a full-time or part-time stduent, and if they plan to attend school for a full academic year or less.

The amount of funds a student may receive over his/her lifetime from the federal Pell Grant is limited by federal law to the equivalent of six years. Since the maximum amount of Pell Grant funding a student can receive each year is equal to 100%, the six-year equivalent is 600%.

Direct Loans

The U.S. Department of Education’s federal student loan program is the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program. Under this program, the U.S. Department of Education is your lender. The available options under this program are:

Direct Subsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate students who demonstrate financial need to help cover the costs of higher education.

Direct Unsubsidized Loans are loans made to eligible undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, but eligibility is not based on financial need. Graduate and professional students may be eligible to receive up to $20,500 per academic year, according to the cost of attendance.  Qualified medical students enrolled in an accredited program, may be eligible to receive a maximum of $40,500 in Unsubsidized Loan per academic year. 

Direct Loan-Plus Graduate Loan: This is a low fixed-interest loan for graduate and professional students to cover their cost of attendance. The Graduate Plus Loan requires a credit verification.

All loan programs have fixed interest rates and origination fees. As psart of the application process, you must submit a master promissory note on line, and complete an electronic entrance counseling at StudentLoans.gov.

Veterans educational and training benefits

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides education and training opportunities for eligible dependents of veterans who are permanently and totally disabled due to a service-related condition, who died while on active duty or as a result of a service related condition. Students can obtain more information at www.va.gov/education.

Vocational Rehabilitation Program

This program seeks to help students with physical or mental disabilities, so that through various phases or stages they are able to develop their capabilities.  The students must contact the regional office corresponding to the area where he/she lives.

National Health Services Corps Scholarship Program

This program is available for medical students students in the primary health care specialties and committed to serving part or all of their career in federally designated health professional shortage area. Learn more about this program at https://nhsc.hrsa.gov.

Military Scholarship Programs

SJBSM is a proud signer of the Department of Defense Voluntary Education Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (the DoD MOU).  If you intend to use a DoD education benefit (Federal or State Tuition Assistance) you must start this process with your unit Educational Service Officer (ESO) or your military counselor. 

Eligibility for the Tuition Assistance program depends on your branch of service. Students must contact the desired program for more information at:

• US Army: 1-800-USA-ARMY or www.healthcare.goarmy.com            
• US Air Force: 1-800-423-USAF or www.airforce.com
• Navy: 1-800-usa-navy  or  navy.com-
• National Guard: 1-800-GO-GUARD
• SJB Veterans Affairs Certifying Official: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Important consideration when taking out federal student loans?

Before you take out a loan, it’s important to understand that a loan is a legal obligation that makes you responsible for repaying the amount you borrow with interest. Even though you don’t have to begin repaying your federal student loan right away, you shouldn’t wait to understand your responsibilities as a borrower. Be a responsible borrower.

• Keep track of how much you’re borrowing. Think about how the amount of your loans will affect your future finances, and how much you can afford to repay. Your student loan payments should be only a small percentage of your salary after you graduate, so it’s important not to borrow more than you need for your school-related expenses. 

• Research starting salaries in your field. Ask your school for starting salaries of recent graduates in your field of study to get an idea of how much you are likely to earn after you graduate.

• Understand the terms of your loan and keep copies of your loan documents. When you sign your promissory note, you are agreeing to repay the loan according to the terms of the note even if you don’t complete your education, can’t get a job after you complete the program, or you didn’t like the education you received.

• Make payments on time. You are required to make payments on time even if you don’t receive a bill, repayment notice, or a reminder. You must pay the full amount required by your repayment plan, as partial payments do not fulfill your obligation to repay your student loan on time.

• Keep in touch with your loan servicer. Notify your loan servicerwhen you graduate; withdraw from school; drop below half-time status; transfer to another school; or change your name, address, or Social Security number. You also should contact your servicer if you’re having trouble making your scheduled loan payments. Your servicer has several options available to help you keep your loan in good standing.

Application process for financial aid

Students interested in applying for federal financial aid must comply with the following requirements and process:

• Have financial need.
• Be an US Citizen or an Eligible Non-Citizen.
• Have a valid social security number.
• Enroll in an eligible program as a regular student working toward a degree.
• Meet satisfactory academic progress standards.
• Register (or have registered) with the Selective Service if you are a male between the ages of 18 and 25.
• Certify that are not in default on a federal student loan and that do not owe money on a Federal student grant.
• Student can not exceed the aggregate loan limit established by the Department of Education.
• Comply with the Entrance/Exit Interview (Counseling)
• Provide all documents and information required by the Financial Aid Office and the Admission’s Office.

Required documents:

Applicants must submit the documentation required by the Financial Aid Office no later than a week prior to enrollment.

First time applicants at SJBSM must complete an Electronic Entrance Counseling, and a Master Promissory Note at www.StudentLoans.gov.

Application Process

1. Fill the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (known as FAFSA) in order to be evaluated for eligibility for federal funds. Go to gov,

• • Deadline for submission is April 15^th
  • SJBSM School code is G31773.  
  • Enter your name as it appears on your Social Security card.
  • Be sure to enter updated information (address, phone number, 
  • email, etc.).
  • You need a FSA ID to sign your FAFSA. To request an FSA ID,
  • please access Federal Student Aid Site.

2. Financial need: Once you submit your FAFSA, the U. S. Department of Education will send an Institutional Student Information Record (ISIR) to the Financial Aid Office, which will be used for completing your financial need analysis. For undergraduate students, the Expected Family Income (EFC) will be considered. The EFC is the amount that the student should contribute toward to his/her cost of attendance. The financial need analysis consists of the following calculation:

(Cost of attendance) minus (EFC) equals (Financial Need)

The Financial Aid Office will take in consideration any other expected financial aid (external funds such as Vocational Rehabilitation, military scholarships, and any other grant or scholarship) when calculating the financial need.

Note: A student cannot receive financial assistance in excess of the determined Financial Need. 

The Financial Aid Office has the authority to request any document to determine the eligibility of the student to receive federal funds.

Notification

The next step is the Financial Aid Notification. Once the financial need analysis is completed and eligibility is determined, the student will receive a notification letter, which will indicate the type/financial aid programs, amounts, and the applications forms that must be completed.

Verification 

Verification is the process used to confirm that the data reported on your FAFSA is accurate. The main reasons for being selected for verification include: that you were chosen randomly, that the information you submitted was incomplete, or that the data you provided is inconsistent. The Financial Aid Office will verify applications selected by the Department of Education (ED), except in cases when of graduate students which will are eligible for unsubsidized financial aid only.

Otherwise, FAFSA applications selected for verification by the ED will be verified in the following items (according to the verification code):

• Adjusted gross income
• Taxed paid
• Specific untaxed income items from tax return: untaxed IRA distribution, untaxed pensions, eduction credits, IRA deductions, tax excemp interest
• Number in family members in college
• Child support
• Other items required by the Departemtn of Education

The student is required to submit the following documents to the Financial Aid Office, within an establihed deadline for submission:

• Verification Worksheet
• Copy of corresponding tax return
• Copy of the corresponsing W-2 form,(s)
• Evidence of wages, salaries, tips, etc, reported on FAFSA
• Other required documents

Note: Financial aid will not be processed until the verification is completed

Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal regulations require that every stuent who receives federal financial aid maintain a satisfactory academic progress toward the achievement of a degree. Progress is measured by the student’s grade point average and credit earned in relation to those attempted and the length of the academic program.

Return of Title IV Funds

Federal student financial aid (Title IV funds) are awarded to students under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV funds that the student was originally scheduled to receive.

A student who withdraws after the 60% point of a semester is entitled to retain all Title IV aid for that payment period. However, if the student withdraws prior to the 60% point of the term, unearned Title IV funds as determined by the federal policy must be returned to the corresponding programs.

Electronic Entrance Counseling and Master promissory Note:

Students must complete an Electronic Counseling and the Master Promissory Note for DL Loans at StudentLoans.gov.  Students are also required to complete an Electronic Exit Counsling before the student changes his/her status from the school (graduation, withdrawal, or dismissal). More information and instructions regarding this process will be provided to the student with the notification.

Students with loans from other school

Students with loans from other school(s), must contact his/her servicer(s) in order to request a  diferrment for the loan(s).

To keep track of all your federal loans, access the National Student Loan Data System (NSLDS) at nslds.ed.gov, the central database for federal student aid. You’ll need to use your PIN number to access your information.

Important links and numbers:

• Fill out your FAFSA on line: www.fafsa.gov
• FSA Information Center: 1-800-433-3243
• Get your FSA ID Credentials: Federal Student Aid Site
• Registration with the Selective Service: https://www.sss.gov
• View your loans: http://www.nslds.ed.gov/nslds
• Manage your federal student loans: StudentLoans.gov

COMMUNITY

Welcome back to your Alma Mater SJBSM Alumni.

Over the past years, SJBSM has graduated more than a thousand health care professionals. Our SJB Alumni are in different places and environments fulfilling our mission as a Medical School. We are proud of all of you!

SJB Alumni remind us of our beginnings, bring fought fond memories and remind us of the importance of our commitment. And looking into our future, we see an alumni community that is engaged in assisting their Alma Mater in perpetuating their legacy in graduating health professionals who are responsive to the health needs of underserved and medically vulnerable populations.

By acquiring your SJBSM Alumni Key, we offer you the opportunity to re encounter old friends, rekindle fond memories, meet new colleagues and become a part of the SJBSM alumni that is actively contributing to the success of students and your Alma Mater.

We look forward to hearing from you.

SJB ALUMNI KEY REGISTRATION

The SJB Alumni Key is only available to individuals who have completed their degree and received the corresponding title as evidenced in the diploma. Graduates from a program where the degree was granted by an institution other than SJBSM; or spouses, widows and other family members of alumni are not elegible for a SJB Alumni Key Registration.

ONE WITH SJB      

• Giving
• Visiting Lecturer
• Career Advisor
• Mentor Student Interest Groups
• Continuous Medical Education
• Issuance of Official Documents

As custodian of student records, the Registrar’s office will issue official documents as requested by students and alumni. When requesting documents from the Registrar’s Office, students or alumni must fill out the corresponding Document Request Form, pay the corresponding fee at the Bursar’s office and return both form and receipt of payment to the Registrar. Payments made be done electronically by filling out the Payment Processing Form. A period of three (3) to five (5) working days will be required for the processing of requested documents.

PROGRAMS AND EVENTS        

• White Coat Ceremony
• Match
• Commencement Ceremony
• Social Activities
• SJB Alumni Chapters
• “Everyone Has a Story” Art Exhibition
• SJBSM Journal 

“Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it.” 
― Lucy Maud Montgomery

Students are the main beneficiaries of the educational mission of the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine. The School has a commitment to its students that encompasses respect for dignity, integrity, and diversity. To ensure the commitment, there are institutional rules and regulations which articulate the rights and duties of the School and of the students. The Student Manual contains a complete description of these rules and regulations.

The School is also committed to ensure the well-being and overall development of students, providing them the services needed to complete their studies in a satisfactory manner. These services include counseling, academic assistance, registration and records, and health services, among others. These services, provided by the office of the Associate Dean for Students Affairs, are described below.

The Counselor has the main responsibility of providing counseling services to students, individually or in groups, with the intention of helping them identify and deal with situations that may affect them, and that, in some way, may obstruct their academic progress and personal development. The Counselor may refer particular cases to other mental health professionals.

Also, faculty members have been identified as mentors, who counsel students regarding problems related to the evolution and increasing complexity of their academic program.

The Counselor’s Office offers the following services to students:

• Individual and group counseling.
• Coordination and referrals to psychological and psychiatric services.
• Coordination of workshops that assist students in achieving their personal grown
• Serves as a liaison between students, Faculty, and administration personnel.
• Provide information related to the USMLE steps and the Puerto Rico Board of Medical Examiners and the dates of the Boards Examinations
• Coordination of cultural activities
• Provide information related to housing.

WORKING HOURS:
8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Mondays to Fridays
(Extended Hours with Appointment)

Mrs. Ilsa Centeno, MRC
Personal Counselor
(787)743-3038 Ext. 275
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Ms. Dalixis Rivera, Psy.D
Academic Advisor
(787)743-3038 Ext. 250
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All students enrolled in the School are required to have health insurance. At the time of registration they must present evidence that they are covered by health insurance. Otherwise, they must join the medical group plan which the School offers. This insurance covers medical services, surgery, ambulatory care, hospitalization, and visits to specialists, laboratories, x-ray studies, maternity services, dental services and prescribed medications.

Students insured by contract with the School’s health insurance provider are covered yearly during three periods: first semester, second semester, and summer session. This insurance coverage extends to anywhere in Puerto Rico twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The premiums may vary according to the coverage selected. This health insurance provides optional coverage for direct dependents of the students.

Disability Insurance

The School, through an insurance company, has established a benefits plan for disability due to illness or accidents that may prevent the student from continuing his/her academic activities. The annual insurance premium may vary depending on the student’s age and smoking habit at the time of registration. The student who has his own disability insurance must present evidence during registration. Otherwise, he/she must enroll through the school's health insurance provider.

Certified student organizations and their goals are described below. For more information, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

General Student Council

The General Student Council is established to encourage and channel the effective participation of students in issues of interest to them and related to the San Juan Bautista School of Medicine.  It constitutes the official forum for the analysis, discussion, and review of students’ needs and aspirations, and for the expression of student perspectives relative to topics and issues within the academic community.

Students who wish to participate as members of the General Student Council must comply with the requirements established in the Student Manual. Each of the academic levels for all three programs has representation in this organization, and students elect their own representatives.

Gold Humanism and Honor Society (GHHS)

The Arnold P. Gold Foundation works with healthcare professionals to ensure that compassion, respect and empathy are at the core of all healthcare interactions. Dr. Arnold P. Gold, founder of the foundation, is a world-renowned pediatric neurologist at Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons. He and his wife Dr. Sandra Gold, and their colleagues began the Foundation in 1988 with the power of an idea – to nurture and preserve the tradition of the caring physician.

Inspiration for GHHS began in the late 1990s when medical educators and residency program directors convened to explore the viability of an honor society to promote humanistic values and behaviors. Since its inception, GHHS has grown in stature and influence to become a vital part of medical school and residency training program cultures throughout the US. A heart-shaped stethoscope became the foundations logo. It represents Humanism in health care, reflected by attitudes and behaviors that are sensitive to the values and the cultural and ethnic backgrounds of others.

Along with the GHHS Advisors, the society will be composed of students who are nominated in the second semester of third year. The selection process has two phases. In the first phase, third year students will have the opportunity to nominate class mates who have demonstrated professional and ethical behavior worthy of imitation. Nominations are submitted to an evaluation committee that makes the final decision. Membership to GHHS goes beyond selection and induction into an honor society; its members have a responsibility to model, support, and advocate for compassionate, patient-centered care throughout their careers. As humanistic healthcare professionals, they are expected to demonstrate:

• Integrity: the congruence between expressed values and behavior
• Excellence: clinical expertise
• Compassion: the awareness and acknowledgement of the suffering of another and the desire to relieve it
• Altruism: the capacity to put the needs and interests of another before your own
• Respect: the regard for the autonomy and values of another person
• Empathy: the ability to put oneself in another’s situation, e.g., physician as patient
• Service: the sharing of one’s talent, time and resources with those in need; giving beyond what is required.

Medical Student Association for Community Health Improvement (MSACHI)

The Medical Student Association for Community Health Improvement (MSACHI) was founded in March 2001, and its main commitment is to conduct activities that provide students with opportunities to share experiences with the Caguas community.  The Association’s slogan is “Caring for our community by promoting health.”  Students from the four levels comprise this organization.  Its program of activities includes conferences and workshops on subjects related to health care.  MSACHI is one effort to comply with the institutional goal of seeking to create an academic community-based medical education environment by promoting active community participation.

Christian Students Association

The Association of Christian Students, a Christian student initiative, was constituted in January 2004; the Association’s main purpose is to encourage students’ spirituality.  The objectives are to provide spiritual support through prayer during times of crisis and to strengthen the spiritual faith of member students.

American Medical Student Association (AMSA)

AMSA is a student-governed, national organization committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training.  With a membership of more than 68,000 medical students, premedical students, interns, residents, and practicing physicians from across the country, AMSA continues its commitment to improving medical training and the nation’s health.

By their active involvement, SJBSM students demonstrate their commitment to the improvement of health care for all people.  Students represent the SJBSM at regional and national conferences, where they share their concerns about health services rendered in Puerto Rico.

Other Student organizations are:

• Internal Medicine Group
• SJB Pediatric Interest Group
• Neuropsyquiatry Interest Group
• “Curitas Pal Barrio”
• Surgery and Surgical Subspecialty Interest Group
• Emergency Medicine Interest Group
• Family Medicine Interest Group
• Anesthesiology Interest Group
• Ophthalmology Interest Group
• Neurology Interest Group
• Orthopedic Surgery Interest Group 
• Obstetrics and Gynecology Interest Group
• Plastic Reconstructive Surgery Interest Group
• Cardiothoracic and Vascular Interest Group
• Psyquiatry Interest Group
• Latin Medical Student Association (LMSA)
• Christian Medical & Dental Association
• Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Group
• “Asociación de Estudiantes de Salud Pública”
• Public Health Students Association

Tutoring Program

The San Juan Bautista School of Medicine developed the tutoring program to offer students assistance in courses in which they are encountering academic difficulties. The tutoring program is mandatory for those students recommended by the Biomedical Sciences faculty course coordinators. The coordinator‘s recommendation is based on the student’s academic record, including first partial exam (score of 70% or less), quizzes, and class participation.

The following stipulations apply to the tutoring program:

• The tutoring program is mandatory, based on the course coordinator’s recommendation.
• Faculty participation in the program is expected and encouraged.
• A faculty member is appointed to coordinate the tutorial program.
• Students who serve as tutors will be selected according to their academic accomplishments.
• Student tutors will receive a stipend for their participation.

The tutorial program in Clinical Sciences differs from that in the Biomedical Sciences. In the Clinical Sciences, professors are responsible for providing or coordinating any help that students may require.

Program to Reinforce the Academic Quality of Students

The San Juan Bautista School of Medicine has revised the system of academic advising for students, integrating the efforts of faculty members, course directors, and student affairs officers with the School’s counseling and tutorial program, to create a comprehensive program entitled: “Program to reinforce the academic quality of students.”

Formal mechanisms for student mentoring and advocacy have been implemented, and the roles of various participants in this advisory and counseling system have been defined and disseminated to students. The program begins with the admission process and continues in successive stages during the academic program to detect and manage academic risks and difficulties. Program actions and activities include workshops, assessment sessions, and group and individual tutorials, among others. All students receive pertinent information about this program during orientation week.

WORKING HOURS: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (Mondays to Fridays)

Ms. Dalixis Rivera, Psy.D
Academic Advisor
(787)743-3038 Ext. 250
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The Office of the Student Programs Director coordinates the Accessibility Services Program for all of our students and the Medical Career Advising Services Program related to the Association of American Medical Colleges Careers in Medicine^® (CiM) Program, Electronic Residency Application Service^® (ERAS), and the National Resident Matching Program^®(NRMP).

Accessibility Services Program

The Accessibility Services Program promotes and ensures that no student with a documented disability is denied the benefits of, excluded from participation in, or otherwise subjected to discrimination under the educational programs and activities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, and applicable state law.

Executive Order 2007-01: Procedure for Student Requests for a Reasonable Accommodation identifies the rights and responsibilities of students seeking an academic adjustment, auxiliary aid or service, or any other reasonable accommodation under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the ADA. Qualified students and applicants who need to obtain a reasonable accommodation must request a meeting with the Student Programs Director to review the application requirements and procedures to initiate the determination process, and submit the Reasonable Accommodations Request Form. The Student Programs Director is responsible for reviewing and approving or denying all requests for accommodations or academic adjustments on an individualized basis and offering workshops on accessibility services for our students and staff. In addition, she provides oversight of compliance with Section 504/ADA and oversees the grievance processes, which are designed to address circumstances of challenge by students dissatisfied with our institution’s disability-based process or response.

All medical records relating to students’ disabilities are kept confidential in a file separated from academic records.

The Medical Career Advising Services Program is mainly based on the CiM Program, which its principal goal is to help students learn how to make well informed career decisions, not only in selecting a specialty and residency program, but throughout their careers as physicians by means of a thoughtful career planning process. The Student Programs Director serves as the CiM Liaison and is responsible for coordinating program activities sponsored by the school, such as workshops and events.

Students are exposed to and familiarized with the CiM resources all through their MD academic program, since the beginning of the first year through the fourth year of medical studies, according to the CiM Student Timeline. Fourth year medical students are advised on the use of the ERAS and NRMP through their residency application and matching process, which culminates with the celebration of our Match Day Ceremony.

• Residency Programs with SJBSM Graduates 2008-2019

WORKING HOURS: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (Mondays to Fridays)

Yaidy L. Cruz Cordero, M.Ed.
Student Programs Director
Main Lobby, Office #10
(787)743-3038 Ext. 233
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Mrs. María M. Rodríguez Camacho
Administrative Assistant
Main Lobby, Office #10
(787)743-3038 Ext. 3212
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Match 2020 Results