2023 Alliance Retreat
The 2023 Alliance Retreat, held on December 7 & 8, featured a warm welcome from Alliance Principal Investigators Dr. Carlos Luciano, Dr. Evangelia Morou, Program Directors Dr. Diana Fernández, and Dr. Pedro Santiago. The distinguished gathering included officials from Alliance Institutions, such as Dr. Kenira Thompson from Ponce Research Institute and President Dr. Waleska Crespo from Universidad Central del Caribe, as well as Dr. Clarisa Cruz representing the University of Puerto Rico. The Retreat’s objectives comprised a comprehensive assessment of progress, reflection on past accomplishments and challenges, and the generation of new ideas and plans for the future. Esteemed members of the External Advisory Committee, Dr. Omar Khan, Dr. Shelia McClure, Dr. Shawn Murphy, Dr. James Padbury (our newest member), and Dr. Sally Hodder, provided thoughtful recommendations.
The event underscored the importance of promoting participation and continuous improvement among Alliance members. The retreat elaborated on highlights from Alliance Cores, spotlighting noteworthy achievements, collaborative projects, and funding opportunities that showcased the Alliance’s commitment to fostering clinical and translational research, particularly in underserved Hispanic populations. The first day featured the participation of a Health Innovation Panel, including Dr. Elba C. Diaz-Toro, Associate Professor, School of Dental Medicine, UPR; Darielys Cordero, Director, Puerto Rico Association of Primary Health Care Providers; Dr. Luis Samuel Abreu-García, Sr. Director, Internal Medicine Field Medical Group, Pfizer; and Dr. Laura M. Deliz, Professor at PHSU and Director of Ponce Autism Center (CEPA).
The event also provided an overview of the impact of the Tracking and Evaluation Core, and the Translational Science Benefits Model. Additionally, it outlined the contributions of the Pilot Project Program Core, Biostatistics, Epidemiology & Research Design Core (BERD), Professional Development Core (PDC), Clinical Research Resources and Facilities Core (CRRF), Technologies and Resources for Research Core Laboratories (TRRCL), Practice Based Research Network (PBRN), and Community Engagement and Outreach Core (CoE), summarizing their accomplishments, challenges, and ongoing initiatives. The two-day event concluded by addressing challenges, opportunities, and future plans for the Alliance, reflecting its dedication to advancing healthcare research and addressing major health concerns in Puerto Rico.
