Month: September 2017

  • Historic First for Puerto Rico and Women

    Dr. Kenira Thompson joins steering committee of AAMC’s group of research advancement and development

    Ponce, Puerto Rico — Dr. Kenira Thompson, the president of Ponce Research Institute and vice president of research at Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU), has been selected to serve a three year term on the National Steering Committee for the Group on Research Advancement and Development (GRAND) of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).  The mission of GRAND is to provide a national forum for the promotion, development and conduct of biomedical research in medical schools and teaching hospitals.

    “As the first Puerto Rican and first Hispanic woman to be selected to join GRAND’s Steering Committee, I’m honored to represent PHSU, as well as other Hispanic-serving medical schools,” said Thompson who is joining 13 other doctors and academic leaders from medical schools across the country on the Committee.  “One of my goals in this prestigious role will be to share news of the critical contributions that Ponce Research Institute is making towards reducing Hispanic health disparities in multiple therapeutic areas and how these findings impact and benefit patients in Puerto Rico, as well as the U.S. mainland.”

    Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Thompson received a B.A. in Psychology at Interamerican University-San German Campus in Puerto Rico.  She earned a Master of Science in Experimental Psychology and a Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology/Behavioral Neuroscience from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and completed her Postdoctoral Training at Cajal Neuroscience Research Institute at the University of Texas at San Antonio.  Her research findings in such areas of drug addiction, stress, and learning and memory have been featured in a variety of publications – including “Reproductive Sciences,” “Pharmacology Biochemistry & Behavior,” “Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved,” “Ethnicity and Disease” and “Journal of Neurophysiology.”

    Since becoming president and research director at Ponce Research Institute in 2014, Thompson’s responsibilities have included:

    Leading all research operations for PHSU, as well as research oversight at six affiliated hospitals in south central Puerto Rico.

    Overseeing administration of the largest clinical trial unit in Puerto Rico, with participation in over 280 trials in multiple therapeutic areas during the last 15 years.

    Co-directing the Puerto Rico Clinical and Translational Research Consortium, which integrates and facilitates clinical and translational research activities among three medical schools, four hospitals and a network of Federally Qualified Health Centers in Puerto Rico.

    Increasing the number of R01 investigators in Puerto Rico by 33 percent.

    Managing over 70,000 square feet of research space.

    Overseeing an interdisciplinary research team that enhanced research funding in cancer from $50,000 yearly to more than $6 million in five years.

    Overseeing a team that developed the first tumor repository for Puerto Rican patients (PR Biobank), with accrual of over 2,000 biospecimens to date.

    Overseeing a team that executed an electronic medical record implementation plan in over 6,000 primary care practices in Puerto Rico.

    “GRAND is an important program for the Association of American Medical Colleges, bringing together the research leadership from medical schools across the country,” said Ross McKinney, M.D., chief scientific officer for the AAMC. “The challenges that institutions face vary, depending on where they are located, their size and the intensity of the research programs.  Dr. Thompson has a very broad and helpful perspective, having trained in Puerto Rico, Wisconsin and Texas, and she was selected for the steering committee on the basis of both her experience and her insights, as well as her commitment to developing and sustaining a vibrant pipeline of future biomedical researchers whose work will include fundamental discovery, minimizing health disparities and increasing community engagement.  We welcome her passion, perspectives and expertise.”  •

    Source Ponce Health Sciences University

  • PUERTO RICO AND BEYOND: PHSU PREPARES THE NEXT GENERATION OF HISPANIC MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS

    Recognized both in Puerto Rico and abroad for educational service and research achievements, Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) has for 37-years focused on a variety of disciplines including medicine, clinical psychology, biomedical sciences and public health.  In addition, this for-profit medical school has put a special emphasis on bilingual and bicultural training for its students to help ensure their selection for and success in medical residencies.  The following are some of PHSU’s most recent achievements:

    Grads of PHSU’s Master of Science in Medical Science Program Achieve 47 Percent Med School Acceptance Rate

    Graduates from Ponce Health Sciences University’s 2017 class of its Master of Science in Medical Science degree program (MSMS) achieved a 47 percent acceptance rate to medical schools.

    The MSMS degree, which PHSU launched in 2014, is an integrated, multidisciplinary interdepartmental program in the basic medical sciences that’s the first and only one of its kind in Puerto Rico.  It provides students with a broad-based one-year core curriculum that’s designed to improve their academic credentials for admission to medical schools.

    Along with providing students who initially were not accepted into medical or dental school an opportunity to bolster their credentials and increase their understanding of core medical school curriculum, PHSU’s MSMS program is also beneficial for students who don’t have academic science backgrounds and wish to pursue careers in the health care industry after graduation.

    U.S. DOE Approves Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program for PHSU

    Ponce Health Sciences University has received formal approval from the U.S. Department of Education to launch a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. The approval will allow PHSU to create a School of Nursing, which will make its health sciences curriculum available to the undergraduate community in Puerto Rico, the U.S. mainland and other territories.

    Educational benefits to PHSU’s nursing students will include opportunities to:

    •    leverage established relationships with local hospitals

    •    gain exclusive exposure to the school’s research projects

    •    achieve mentorship experience from practicing professionals within the Ponce Health Sciences University Wellness Center

    “While most nursing programs require four years for completion, our academic team has designed an accelerated, innovative and rigorous program that will enable our students to reduce their tuition investment and complete their studies within three years,” said PSHU President and CEO Dr. David Lenihan.

    Prospective students who would like to apply to PHSU’s BSN program can begin the application process http://www.psm.edu/new/nursing-eng/

    PHSU Launches Puerto Rico’s Newest Masters of Science in School Psychology Program

    Last month, Ponce Health Sciences University began offering Puerto Rico’s newest Master of Science (MS) in School Psychology degree.  The program provides graduates with the education, practical training and credentials to offer their services as a social worker or psychologist in an elementary school, middle school, high school or college setting.

    PHSU’s two and a half year MS in School Psychology program is open to students who have a B.A. in any major from a college or university approved by the Council on Higher Education and 15 credits in psychology coursework.   Enrolled students have the option of completing a concentration in Neuropsychology (NP) or in Neuroscience of Learning (NSL) as part of their studies.  After earning their degrees, students will be able to seek licensing in Puerto Rico and in most states across America. •

    Original source: https://www.hispanicoutlook.com/prnewswire/2017/9/25/puerto-rico-and-beyond-phsu-prepares-the-next-generation-of-hispanic-medical-professionals

  • PHSU Launches Website with School News for Students/Families Affected by Hurricane Maria

    Ponce Health Sciences University has launched a website with news for its faculty/students and their families in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

    Ponce, Puerto Rico (PRUnderground) September 22nd, 2017

    It happens that a student brings to the teacher a beautiful, in-depth, perfectly revealing the topic of the essay, and the teacher wraps up the work because of improper design. It is especially frustrating to get such a surprise in front of the test or exam, to which without a valid essay is not allowed. So the design of the essay – it is not a trifle. However 250 word essay, there is nothing complicated in the rules of essay registration. Problems usually arise at first-year students who simply do not yet know how to properly execute an essay (because they were too lazy to find out before handing it in). But this article will help those who did not take the methodology from the department and thought about registration the night before handing in the work – you must agree, a common situation!

    Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) in Ponce, Puerto Rico has launched a new website that will feature news for its faculty and students, and their families in Puerto Rico and the United States.  The site – which is http://phsuhurricanemariaupdates.com – was created due to extensive damage that was caused by Hurricane Maria to the school’s DNS and telecommunications servers.

    The new site will include information for – and updates from – students and staff, as well as additional details regarding such topics as:

    • potential plane transportation from the Island to the US mainland
    • medical care resources
    • airport and road accessibility
    • status of communication options
    • meeting places for students and staff in Ponce

    … and other developments of importance.

    “We’re working diligently to maintain the health and well-being of all of our students, and also to ensure that they’re able to continue their education,” says Dr. David Lenihan, President and CEO of Ponce Health Sciences University.  “Our new site will be a resource for everyone who has questions about what our administration is doing to support our faculty and students as they navigate the difficult road forward following the devastation that was caused by Hurricane Maria.  It will be a challenging journey, but our strength and determination will help us to prevail.”

    For questions regarding PHSU’s site and news for its faculty and students, contact Dr. Lenihan at davidvlenihan@gmail.com.

    Source: http://www.prunderground.com/phsu-launches-website-with-school-news-for-studentsfamilies-affected-by-hurricane-maria/00104615/