Early Disaster Responses

The years 2017-2020 have been very challenging to the people living in Puerto Rico, ranging from two category 5 Hurricanes in 2017 to start the year 2020 with high-intensity earthquakes followed by the recent global pandemic and socioeconomic and political issues. SJBSM is determined to transform those challenges into opportunities for our students and our communities. Our institution's organizational structure based on community engagement and commitment in ways that move beyond our borders facilitated our responses in helping the communities that have survived a disaster. Student’s interest groups and organizations supported by faculty, staff, and community organizations, have been actively involved in several recovery actions.

SJBSM IN THE COMMUNITY AFTER HURRICANES IRMA AND MARIA

Hurricanes Irma and Maria were tropical cyclones that devastated Puerto Rico one after the other on August 30 and September 16, 2017. Both Hurricanes caused unprecedented damage affecting the island’s 3.4 million inhabitants. After the impact of these Hurricanes, the faculty, staff, and students immediatel blood donations, translator services, clinical fairs, and debris collection. SJBSM allied with government agencies, hospitals, foreign universities, international agencies, alumni, and religious entities.y organized themselves to help in the recovery tasks of the most affected communities, while establishing an alternative communication network to guarantee the safety and assess the status of students, faculty and staff. SJBSM served the community for ten months after the Hurricane, impacting people positively in 35 municipalities with the following interventions: triage,

Although SJBSM medical students are continuously participating in community service activities, the students’ experience related to Hurricane Maria was unique. The situation allowed students to provide care with limited resources and gave them front-row seats to emergencies and crisis response. Additionally, as part of the Health Humanities Program efforts, the following activities were conducted: Symposium on Resilience to Disasters; the art exhibition: “Arts, Humanities, Medicine and Recovery - feelings and experiences before, during, and after Hurricanes Irma and Maria”, and "Everyone has a Story” – a collective arts, medicine and humanities project.

DEANS OF THE PUERTO RICO AAMC-MEMBER MEDICAL SCHOOLS: AAMC SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD

Deans of the Puerto Rico AAMC-Member Medical Schools: AAMC Special Recognition Award for their commitment in not only preparing to provide for the education and safety of their students, faculty, and staff, but ensuring Puerto Ricans had access to health care services in the aftermath of the storms (AAMC Website, 2019, https://www.aamc.org/news-insights/2019-aamc-award-winners-honored).

Research Projects

As a result of the efforts made during and after Hurricane Maria, students and faculty participated in investigating different health components that affected communities due to the impact of the natural disaster. We had a total of 13 research projects resulting in the following four publications, seven presentations, and two master theses:

• Brugal Y, Pérez J. San Juan Bautista School of Medicine's Experience in the Aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Acad Med. 2018;93(12):1767–1769. doi:10.1097/ACM.0000000000002391
• Carl Y, Ortiz ER, Cintrón M, et al. Post-Hurricane Distress Scale (PHDS): A Novel Tool for First Responders and Disaster Researchers. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2019;13(1):82– 89. doi:10.1017/dmp.2019.12
• Carl Y, Frias RL, Kurtevski S, et al. The Correlation of English Language Proficiency and Indices of Stress and Anxiety in Migrants from Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria: A Preliminary Study [published online ahead of print, 2019 Jun 21]. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2019;1–5. doi:10.1017/dmp.2019.22
• Diaz C. "Maria" Cover Art and article published on Academic Medicine. February 2020.
• Burgos, B. Shining Light in the Shadows: Mental Health Assessment of Puerto Rico's Homeless in the Aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Poster Presentation. 62nd. PR-AFP Annual Convention of Primary care in Public health. San Juan PR. April 26, 2019
• Franqui L. Health Care Accessibility for Immigrants and Puerto Ricans Living in Santurce, PR. Poster Presentation. American Medical Women Association region 5 meeting. Birmingham, AL. February 16, 2019 and Caribbean Strong: Building Resilience with Equity Summit. San Juan, PR. February 26, 2019.
• Franqui L. Major Depressive Disorder, General Anxiety Disorders and Post Traumatic Stress Disorders in Puerto Ricans after Hurricane Maria. Caribbean Strong: Building Resilience with Equity Summit. San Juan, PR. February 26, 2019.
• Franqui L. Punto de Esperanza Clinic. A different approach to Medical education through Compassionate Service to the Underserved Communities in Santurce, Puerto Rico. Caribbean Strong: Building Resilience with Equity Summit. San Juan, PR. February 26, 2019.
• Rivera, F. A Heart to Heart Experience. Aspiring Docs Blog Diaries. American Association of Medical Colleges. March 26, 2018. https://aspiringdocsdiaries.org/a-heart-to-heart- experience/
• Rodriguez, E. Becoming a Refugee Medical Student. Aspiring Docs Blog Diaries. American Association of Medical Colleges. February 12, 2018. https://aspiringdocsdiaries.org/becoming- a-refugee-medical-student/
• Garcia, M et al. Arts, Humanities, Medicine and Recovery: Feelings and Experiences Before, During and After Hurricanes Irma and Maria. The restorative effect of a Community based Art Exhibit Project. May 25, 2018.
• Andino, Y., Díaz, Y., Díaz, V., Hernández, S., Lugo, A., Meléndez, N., Ortiz, J., Troche, R., Vázquez, D., Vera, A., (2018). Las prevalencias de enfermedades infecciosas luego del huracán María en los sectores Las Piñas y Barriada Morales en Caguas, Puerto Rico. (Unpublished master's thesis). San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico.
• Carrión, M., Chévere, J., Díaz, Y., González, D., Hernández, M., Ortiz, M., Pérez, A., Perales, J., Rubero, E., Vera, A., (2018). Las prevalencias de enfermedades crónicas luego del huracán María en los sectores Las Piñas y Barriada Morales en Caguas, Puerto Rico. (Unpublished master's thesis). San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Caguas, Puerto Rico.

SJBSM IN THE COMMUNITY AFTER THE 2019 EARTHQUAKES

Since December 28, 2019, the island of Puerto Rico has experienced a series of earthquakes. The most intense occurred on January 7, 2020, with an intensity of 6.4. SJBSM has remained active in the community services providing support to the affected municipalities such as Guayanilla, Ponce, Yauco, Guanica, and Peñuelas. Students, faculty, and staff worked in collaboration with non-profit organizations, the National Guard of Puerto Rico, Medical Reserve Corps, and governmental agencies to provide basic needs, as well as medical and psychological needs to older adults, adults, adolescents, and child populations. We served a total of approximately 2,112 people with 16 health clinics. SJBSM continues to work for the welfare of the communities affected in the southern areas by the earthquakes.

Community Liaison Officer
Prof. Grisel Burgos Barreto
gburgos@sanjuanbautista.edu
(787) 743-3038 Ext. 261